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Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 December 1938, Page 5

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aV THE MINISTER , OF TRANSPORT i HOPES OF AVERTING MANY TRAGEDIES. UNIVERSAL CO-OPERATION NEEDED. Road Safety Week, promoted with the object of bringing about a reduction in traffic accidents, particularly during the Christmas -holidays, w|as inaugurated throughout the Dominion yesterday. This is the first occasion in which such a week has been observed on a national scale in New Zealand. Many organizations are supporting the scheme, which, it is hoped, will claim the interest and co-operation of every person, motorist, cyclist, or pedestrian. An 'appeal for general co-operation is made by the Minister of Transport (the Hon R. Semple), in the following message:— “Throughout New Zealand, yesterday, we started the celebration of 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. 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 a thousand 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. 1 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 of 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 ox- 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. #■ HOLIDAY DANGERS.

“With large numbers of. people travelling, however, with 25,000 more vehicles on the roads, 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 goodwill to men. Let us be more tolerant and more courteous during the holiday period. “To motorists I can offex- the co-oper-ation and assistance of all Government inspectors. I am \ sure, also, that this assistance will also be forthcoming from all local body inspectors. The inspectors are oxx 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 sheet. I know that we can keep tragedy from the roads if we all do our bit by walking sensibly and driving safely. “The true spirit of democracy is the co-operation of all of the people fox’ the good of all of the people. It should not be necessary to regiment, to instruct, 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 cooperate, with care and courtesy. Every road user must realise his resporxsibility 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. j ELEMENTARY OBLIGATIONS. “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, seme are lawless, some are wilful. If the road safety week impresses these, it will more than have succeeded in its purpose. , “And I 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 othex- road users. The motorist who drives aftex- drinking may be signing somebody’s death-war-rant. , . ~ “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 you motto • during the approaching holiday period —I SHALL WALK SENSIBLY. I SHALL DRIVE SAFELY.”

LOCAL ACTIVITIES

DISTRIBUTION OF LEAFLETS AND MATERIAL. AN INSTRUCTIVE WINDOW DISPLAY. No more impressive evidence of the futility of not observing caution on the roads could be provided than that contained in a group of photographs at present on display in the window of the W.F.C.A. Ltd.. Masterton. Every one of the two dozen photographs tells a tragic story of the folly of excessive speed, cutting in, driving on the wrong side, cutting corners, and many other lapses into which the careless motorist readily falls. In every case there was a toll of killed and injured, and the wreckage of the cars gives mute evidence of the terrific crash that brought tragedy into the midst of the occupants. Messrs J. McGregor (borough traffic inspector and T. A. Russell were busy this morning distributing to business firms leaflets concerning different aspects of road safety. Slogans printed on calico for displaying on the sides of commercial vehicle are also being distributed.