SAFETY CAMPAIGN

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 375, 5 March 1937, Page 6

SAFETY CAMPAIGN

Minister Issues Statement on Position. Press Association—Copyright. Wellington. Last Night. Gratification with the results of the road safety campaign was expressed by the Minister of Trauspo::, the Hon R. Semple, in a sta9enient to the Pres®: There had been a marked decrease in the number of road accidents but he w J as still concerned with the problem of the intoxicated driver. ‘He is a menace to the nation,’’ said Mr Semple, “and I will not rest until 1 have stamped him out.’’ “During the seven months up -to July 31 an average of 21 persons a month we’re killed on the roads in New Zealand. This represents a rate of 247 a year,” stated the Minister. “From that date till the end of the year the average wU® just over 12 a month, or 146 a year. The sawing- in lives during those five months can be estimated at the rate of 101 a year, which means 42 lives were saved between July and December last as a result of the safety campaign. During the whole of 1936 there were 205 deaths resulting from road accidents. “Up to the present time reports of inquest proceedings on 26 of the per-, sons killed during December and January have been received. From these reports the disquieting fact emerges that intoxicating liquor featured in the loss of 11 of those 26 lives. It is., necessary to issue particular warning to motor-cyclists. Although the total of all traffic deaths has been substantially, rduced during- the last few months the deathrate among- motorcyclists? has remained , constant ,at four a month. Motor-cycles comprise only about one-tenth of the motor vehicles in use during the last seven years, yet they have been involved in nearly a quarter of all the fatal road