Mayor Calls Public Meeting To Form Road Safety Group

Taupo Times, Volume VI, Issue 289, 22 August 1957, Page 1

Mayor Calls Public Meeting To Form Road Safety Group

BOTH motorists and non-motorists will agree that the decision of the Mayor, Mr J. E. Story, to call a public meeting at the supper-room of the Memorial Hall on Thursday, September 12, to set up a road safety committee, is a timely one. Only Providence seems to be responsible for the relatively few major accidents at Taupo, but the time has come when residents must play their part.

In a circular sent to various organisations, Mr Story einphasises that the rapid expansion of Taupo and /its surrpimding area has brought with it a consecjuent increase in the volume of traffic handled by the roads. "The Taupo district, being the primary holiday cehtre for the Nortli Island, also has to contend witli a sudden and immense traffic increase at holiday periods," he says. "Sucli traffic increase brings with it a consequent increase in traffic problems. Loss of Life "Itoad safety committees are now becoming part of the New Zealand way of life, and liave been formed thronghout the country. They liave the baeking of the Road Safety Couneil, and tlieir primary function is to bring to the notice of tlie relevant authorities, any suggestions which will eliminate traffic hazards and tlms reduce tlie heavy loss of life on our roads." It is hoped that a speaker from Wellington will he at. the meeting on Sep- % ****** ♦% ^ ♦ X +*+

tember .12 to explain how road safety eomniil tees work. "The foririation of a committee at Taupo will benelit j the comiminity as a whole," Mr Story says. Statistics taken from the flies of the Transport Department show the mounting death-toll thronghout of the country from January to June 30, compared vich those for the similar period last year. Here they are, witli tlie comparahle figures for 1950 in parentlieses : Total for the period 195 (158). For January 26 (18), February 20 (25), March 30 (35), April 40 (22), May 49 (28), June 30 (30) . On tlie average, from four to five people are killed every weekend, most of them on Saturday night between five and seven o'elock. Main Headings From what the local traffic officer, Mr J. I). Marshal], lias already told the Taupo Borough Couneil, the focalpoint of the local committee's programme will fall nnder four main headings for the time being : © The listing of road hazards, and devising ways and means of overcoming them; the cutting-back of high liedges, for example, to eliminate many l)lind corners in tlie borough ; erection of "Wait" and "Stop" signs at dangerous intersections. © To illuminate the northern-ap-proacli bridge at eacli end.

© To overcome tlie prevalence oi double-parking in tlie commercial area ' during husy periods, and failure by i many pedestrians to use tlie crossings j marked for their convenience and ' safety. © If necessary to enlist tlie help of radar patrols to curh excessive speeds in some localities. Representative Iload safety committees liave been liighly successful elsewliere, and made worth-while contributions to tlie campaign to reduce tlie appalling total of violent deatlis and seriously injured people. Where committees find tliey liave not made Ihe progress they expected, j they submit their difficulties to tlie | parent body, the Road Safety Couneil, which consults the Transport Department and, say, the Main Highway s Board or tlie Ministry of Works, as tlie I case may be. ' v The main aim of the committee is of eourse to try to make every - body realise the importance of a j road-safefy campaigsi, and also that its personnel shali he representative of both the Maori and European races. Mr Story is hopeful of a big attendance at the inaugiiral meeting next | montli.