LICENSE FIRST CAR NEXT

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 43, 15 November 1926, Page 8

LICENSE FIRST CAR NEXT

MOTOR SAFETY SUGGES-' TIONS Dominion Special. Dunedin, November IS. In reference to motor traffic in relation to public safety, an entirely new scheme is now suggested by Mr. S. B. MacDonald, president of the Otago .Expansion League. License- first, car next, is Mr. MacDonald’s _ scheme. "The other schemes,” he said, “start at the wrong end. .. Driving licenses are far too easy to get. No motor vendor should be allowed to sell a car. to a motorist who has not a competency certificate. These competency certificates would be only obtainable from Government training schools, which would be established in central districts. These schools would be selfsupporting, and no cost to the Government. Motor-car manufacturers would be only too pleased to supply cars for the training of potential motorists, as when a motorist had learned to drive one make of car the inference would be that he would purchase that make. A fee of, say, £5 ss. would be charged. This fee might seem high, but I maintain that if a business firm uses a car for business, then that firm should be prepared to pay the fee to get a competent driver and for the knowledge that accident risk would be much lighter. If a motorist drives his car for pleasure then he should be prepared to pay for his pleasure. I think that at least three months would be necessary to make competent drivers. At these Government schools they would be taught the by-laws and the rules of the road, given lessons on acting in emergencies, and instructed in the simpler automobile mechanics. Attendance for new drivers at these schools would be compulsory, but everyone at present driving a motor vehicle would have to pass rigid tests, and if he was found not competent lie would have to go to the Government school. The schools would be worked on so many hours a week principle, and would not iuzterfere with business.”