DRUNKEN MOTORISTS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 154, 25 March 1939, Page 12

DRUNKEN MOTORISTS

Many Road Fatalities Caused By Liquor MAGISTRATES TO HAVE WIDER POWERS The influence of liquor as a factor in mol or accidents was referred to yesterday by the Minister of Transport, Mr. Semple. The drunken motor-driver, he said, was. a potential murderer, and was going to be put off tlie road at any cost. "in one fatality in every three happening at night time during the past six months, liquor has been present,” said Mr. Semple. “In one in every five fatalities during the period, liquor was a factor. Hitherto, only cases in which convictions had been secured wore included in j.he statistics. A more detailed accident report form now shows all cases in which liquor had, in the opinion of the police, something to do with the accident, and it reveals the fact that in tlie past six months, 16 drivers and six pedestrians were involved in fatal accidents resulting from drink. These figures are liable to be conservative as particulars for 10 of the fatalities during the period are not yet available. Policy of Persuasion. “Ever since I have been Minister of Transport I have followed a policy of persuasion and advice rather than coercion. I have always thought it was better to teach rather than force. The efforts made have had a great moral effect and there has been a magnificent response. There is, however, one section that has taken no heed and ignores every rule of the road, treating the law with contempt.

“This type of individual must be singled out for special treatment and I cannot be blamed if I take drastic action against an irresponsible brute, menacing the lives of our citizens. There will ‘be a meeting of the Road Safety Council on March 30, and I propose to discuss this matter with members. Cocktail parties and hip-flasks are responsible for too many of our road tragedies. It is my intention that the licensed victuallers be approached in an effort to tighten up observance of the law in the sale of liquor to travelling motorists. “The nation can no longer tolerate the individual who regards his driving licence as a licence to kill. The magistrates have been most helpful in dealing with this type of individual. I am most grateful to them, but they need wider powers, and a Bill is at present being drafted to bring this about.”

Mr. Semple said that he had done all he could and felt that he had the co-operation of all decent people in the safety campaign. Even so, the drunken driver was still on -the road. He had been much disturbed and horrified by the statistics now released, and he felt that the community at large was just as determined as he and his officers were to clear the roads of the “booze artist.”