CURING BAD DRIVERS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 94, 7 May 1937, Page 6

CURING BAD DRIVERS

-Fini AaBOoifttion.1

Mr. Semple Sending Them to School DEPARTMENT'S SUPP0RT

IBy Telerraph-

WELLINGTON, Last Night. A syllabus of instruction f or motorists plaeed on probation for motoring * breaches of the law was suggested by th« Minister " of Transport (Hon. R. Semple) when referring, in an inter.view to-night, io the suggestion of Mr Moaley, S.M., . tbat certain offenders convicted under the motor legislation bt given compulsory tuition while on probation. The course involves practical and theoretieal instruction in the eontrol of & motor-vehicle, intensive instruction in motor legislation and regulations and instruction in the Toad code. "I had this matter under considera- , - tion when it was first mentioned by.Mr : Mosley, and now the whole question has been investigated I entirely agree witii Ma proposals," said Mr Semple. * 'Every avenue must be explored to reduce accidents and educate the motoring poblic. a "Mr Mosley very wisely qualified Ms suggestion, by emphasising the neces- ! sity to sppoint only special men. to instrnct these probationers. TBb course of instrnctioh. should be as educative as possible. It should also provlde for special instruction according to the * temperament of the individual. ¥e' all know a very nice young follow quite all right in every other respeet but who must get every ounce out of Ms moffir every time he drives. He should,receive . special instruction designed to cure that tendency. Should any probationer be later convinced of a gimilar offence, I am confident the courjja will deal with •that person in the appropriate manner. I suggest the following as a general outiine of the eourse of instruction which should be followed:— '

Vw Jrracticai and tneoretical instruction in the eontrol of a motorvehicle, "• with parfcicular emphasis on minimum stopping distances at various speeds. Accidents happen in a fraciion of * second and all drivers should he eonversant with the number of feet per eecond their veMcle travels at various speeds. A probationer should be required to furnish the veMcle Sucessary fqr this instruction. " (2) Intensive instruction in motor legislation and regulations, again empharising the three cardinal rules of safe drirang— namely, keep to the left at all times, comply with the off-side rule and never travel at a greater speed than will enable you to stop within half of your elear visible distance ahead. " (3) Instruction in the road eode and those fine points in road courtesy which are the hall mark of a really considerate driver. ""While it is very necessary for the ,eourts to stipulate Tninimum period of : mstructions, 3 ' added the Minister, "# •venture to suggesfc the actual course of , lnstrpctiqn be decided upon between the probation officer and the traffie officer, having regard always to the progress made by the probationer. The scheme has such. far-reaching potentialities for the improvement of motoring that I am particularly anxious it will be inaugurated under the most favourable conditions. "The resources of my Department are ayailable to the courts, and my officers ■will keep in close tonch with the courts and wjH giye effect to yaluable suggestions wMch they will, no doubt, receive • from time to time from the Magistrates."