SAFETY ON ROADS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 123, 27 May 1938, Page 8

SAFETY ON ROADS

CAMPAIGN REDUCED ACCIDENTS REVIEW BY MINISTER MENACE OF BAD ROADS. [ Per Pres» Aoauciation.l WELLINGTON. May 26. Reviewing progress made on roads of New Zealand when presiding over a meeting of the Road Safety Council to-day, the Hon. R. Semple quoted figures to show that while motor transport in the Dominion had increased by approximately 30 per cent, during the last 19 months, the accident rate had not increased. This represented a great increase in road safely, and. in addition, it marked an improvement in road courtesy that could be observed throughout the country. New Zealand was the second-highest motorised country m the world. It had the lowest death rate on roads, and it was probably the only country that had shown a reduction in accidents since transport regulations had been enforced. Accident statistics were kept so that danger spots could be located, the Minister continued, and traffic control had been unified. All motor vehicle.'.

were now subject to periodical inspections, and offenders were punished. During the past year there had been a total of 3849 convictions and fines totalling .£6664 had been imposed. Apart from Ihe Council and the Department, said the Minister, the Public Works Department had done a great deal towards road safety. The basis of any road-safety campaign was a proper reading system. It was not right to chastise drivers for accidents caused by bad roads. Every country in the world was faced with the problem ot roads that were unsuitable for modern transport, and those roads had to be made safe. It had been said that his department was making roads into speedways, but that was ridiculous: Transport had changed and roads had to be changed accordingly. The Minister said that he had received messages of appreciation from all over New Zealand and practically all newspapers had congratulated the Council on its work. A few papers had made it a political issue, and he expressed strong disapproval of such action. ' The Council decided to postpone action on a proposal to impose a special speed limit on motor-cycles and prohibit pillion riding.