SAFETY ON THE ROADS.

Wairarapa Age, 9 June 1936, Page 5

SAFETY ON THE ROADS.

POINTS IN THE GOVERNMENT BILL. SUGGESTIONS INVITED BY MINISTER. OBSERVATONfe BY MR. COATES. (By Telegraph—“ The Age” Special.) WELLINGTON, June 8. Though it is' not officially suggested that New Zealand’s road accidents are proportionately more numerous than those of other countries, the fact that in recent times eighty additional motor vehicles are Being placed on the roads daily was a striking point made by the Minister of Transport (the Hon. R. Semple) in. advocating the principles of the Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill, which came under discussion ip the House of Representatives to-day, with the object of securing opinions and suggestions with a view finally to passing the legislation when the session is resumed.

Mr. Semple urged that unless drastic steps were taken, accident risks would rapidly increase. The main points of the Government’s legislation to meet the position were nine, as follows:— (1) Unification of all traffic latos into one simple and easily understood C9de x (2) Heavier penalties for certain offences, such as those of hit and run drivers and the like. (3) Improvement in machinery for ensuring compliance with the traffic taws. (4) Elimination of dangerous level l crossings. (5) Improvements to roads eliminating danger spots, such as sharp corners, bad visibility and slippery surfaces. (6) Improving the mechanical condition of all motor vehicles using roads. (7) Raising the standard of requirements for drivers’ licenses.

(8) Education and propaganda in safety first principles. . (9) Prohibition of sweated conditions in the form of long driving hours and low earnings in public motor transport.

Mr. Semple declared that he approached the subject in no dogmatic spirit, but with an open mind, seeking to bring about a better form of control so that people would be safer. He was not proceeding further with the Bill this session, as he wished to have it considered by local bodies and others who would make useful suggestions. It was not a party question and he would get complete co-operation from all members desirous of stopping this slaughter on our highways. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, who made one of the most important contributions to the discussion, said the Minister's attempt to amend the Motor vehicles Act to assist safety and the proper control of road traffic was to be admired. Everyone would say: “Yes by all means,” but how far they would get was another thing. Mr. Semple: “The hon. gentleman does not suggest it is impossible to improve itf”

Mr Coates replied that he doubted whether they would get so far with the legislation as with improved administration *Ol6 most important side, as he realised from personal experience, was to start before the individual got a licence. He thought we were culpably lacking la our failure to educate youngsters regarding road risks, for they seemed to g 0 looking for accidents. There should be a compulsory educative programme. Most road accidents were due to rank selfishness and the inconsiderate attitude of driv6rS J t °^ rds their fellows «sing the road. The Minister had referred to the necessity of controlling cyclists, as half the motor claims in one period arose from collisions with push eyeles. Mr. Coates commented that he had this Proposal when he was a Minister, but doubted first whether he could get Parliament to approve it and then whether it could bo administered, for cerned WoUld be 150,000 irato P eo P le oon-