UNSAFE DRIVERS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29500, 29 April 1961, Page 9

UNSAFE DRIVERS

Extended Penalty Proposed (NX Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 28. Whether a person with a long and established record as an unsafe driver should be disqualified from driving for an extended period will be discussed by the New Zealand Road Safety Council at its half-yearly meeting next Thursday. The proposal to come before the council is that the Commissioner of Transport should be enabled to apply to the Court to disqualify such persons, for a period to be determined by a Magistrate. This would not be as further punishment for offences which had already been dealt with, but because the driving history showed the driver to be unsafe and because his privilege to drive should be examined. The council will also discuss whether the immediate arrest of a person involved in a case of reckless driving, as distinct from negligent or dangerous driving, is justified. i

This proposal. Involving extending the powers of arrest to cover grossly dangerous driving. drew widespread criticism when it was announced in March. It had been submitted to the Minister of Transport (Mr McAlpine) as one of several future measures for consideration in a concerted effort to put dangerous and unsafe drivers off the road.