MINIMISING ACCIDENTS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 230, 29 March 1928, Page 1

MINIMISING ACCIDENTS.

STRICTER DRIVING TEST. Aim of New Regulations. The Minister of Public Works is evidently greatly concerned at the great loss of life and injury caused through motor traffic, and is hopeful that the recently-introduced regulations will act as somewhat of a deterrent.

In a circular letter to the Morrinsville Borough Council on Thursday the Minister stated that although the statistics of the total deaths in New Zealand caused in 1927 by motor vehicle accidents were not yet available, it seemed clear to those who read the newspapers that the toll of the motor vehicle was increasing and assuming alarming proportions. While it was hoped that the regulations would help to reduce the accidents, it was realised, however, that the mere issue of regulations would not effect a complete remedy, and he was relying on the cooperation of all local authorities in the aim to reduce to the minimum this maiming of bodies and wastage of valuable lives which was recorded in each day’s news. “ It has been represented from time to time that some local authorities are not so thorough as others in the driving tests to which a would-be driver should be subjected on his first application for a license,” stated the Minister. “In fact it has been alleged that certain local bodies do not require a practical test even for a r.ew driver, and that there are cases where a man has been refused a license by one local authority and has thereupon presented himself to another local authority and obtained his license without a test.” The Minister realised that absolute uniformity was unobtainable, but it was hoped that if a list of suggestions which were made were noted by licensing authorities and followed, great improvement would be made.