CARE AND COURTESY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 135, 5 December 1938, Page 10

CARE AND COURTESY

MINISTER'S APPEAL

WALK AND DRIVE SENSIBLY

"Throughout New Zealand today, we are starting a Road Safety Week, a special effort by all local bodies, by all motorists, and by all pedestrians, to spread the gospel of care and courtesy on the roads during the coming Christmas holidays," stated the Minister of Transport (the Hon. R. Semple), in an appeal to all today. "From Christmas to the end of January last, 38 persons were killed and more than 800 injured. In a period of six weeks more than 1000 persons were injured on the roads. "If I were to quote from newspapers details of the accidents that happened on the roads last Christmas holidays, I might unduly depress readers. I might make them feel that accidents were inevitable. Personally, I refuse to accept this view. I believe that 90 per cent, of these tragedies can be prevented if we really try to prevent them. "The Christmas and New Year period is a time for rejoicing. With improved forms of transport available, the whole of New Zealand is now open as a playground. Most of us will be going somewhere this Christmas to beaches, lakes, or mountains. We all want to enjoy ourselves, and I certainly want to do everything I can to ensure that everyone has not only a happy holiday but a safe one. With large numbers of people travelling, however, with 25,000 more vehicles on the road, and with many new drivers the risk of accident will be greatly increased. I would appeal to all road users to apply the Christmas message of good will to men. Let us be more tolerant and more courteous during the holiday period. INSPECTORS THERE TO HELP. "To motorists I can offer the cooperation and assistance of all Gov- ! ernment inspectors. I am sure, also, that this assistance will also be forthcoming from all local body inspectors. The inspectors are on the roads to help the motorist and to make the roads safer for all. If any motorist is in difficulty and stops a traffic inspector, he will receive courteous treatment and sound advice. The men will be in uniform and will be easily recognisable. I am arranging for them to | carry specially illuminated signs to indicate " their presence at night time. "As regards the Safety Week, I have received the greatest assistance from public and private organisations and the Press throughout New Zealand, and I want to offer them the thanks of the whole community. I feel that this Safety Week will have succeeded if it does no more than make people appreciate the necessity for care and courtesy on the roads, especially during the approaching Christmas period. No one wants, immediately after Christmas, to have to read a long list of traffic tragedies. I hope we shall have practically a clean gheet. I know that we can keep tragedy from the roads if we all do our bit by walking sensibly and driving safely. CO-OPERATE WITH CARE AND COURTESY. "The true spirit of democracy is the co-operation of all of the people for the good of all of the people. It should not be necessary to regiment, to 5n-

struct, and to regulate in every detail the habits of motorists. The idea of the road safety campaign is freedom from restriction, provided all road users co-operate with care and courtesy. Every road -user must realise his responsibility for his own safety and for that of the traffic in which he moves. Regulation and control may simplify and clarify this responsibility but cannot remove it. It is a responsibility that calls for constant vigilance; it requires knowledge of* the rules of the road; it demands habitual and careful obedience to them. "These are three elementary obligations, yet they are commonly neglected and commonly the neglect is a cause of accident, injury, and death. Some road users are blind; some are ignorant; some are lawless; some are wilful. If the road safety impresses these, it will more than have succeeded in its purpose. IF YOU DRINK—KEEP AWAY. "And 1 would make one very special appeal. If you want to drink on Christmas or New Year's Eve, keep off the street and keep out of your car. An intoxicated pedestrian is a menace both to himself and to other road users. The motorist who drives after drinking may be signing somebody's deathwarrant. "Take the opportunity during the next week to learn the rules of the road. Preach road safety and practise what you preach. Remember that in the last analysis there is only one rule for safety on the road—think. Make your motto during the approaching holiday period: i shall walk sensibly. I shall drive safely."