BEER & BENZINE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 March 1939, Page 5

BEER & BENZINE

'♦ — . DENOUNCED AS A BAD MIXTURE MR SEMPLE ON NIGHT ACCIDENTS. APPEAL FOR CO-OPERATION IN ROAD SAFETY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A further appeal to road-users to exercise all possible care was made by the Minister of Transport, the Hon R. Semple, last night. “One point .1 want to stress,” said Mr Semple, “is that more accidents are occurring at night, and these night accidents are as a general rule the more serious. “From figures, night driving is four or five times more dangerous than daylight driving, and one accident in 13 is fatal at night compared with one in 22 during daylight. This proves that excessive speed takes its toll; speed which is much too fast for the limited visibility.” “Everything goes to show that drivers ' should be more careful a£ night, and remember —this applies to us all,” said Mr Semple. “The second point is drink. By this I do not mean only intoxication. We are out after the drunken driver, and with the support we are receiving from' the courts. I think we will be able to deal with him. “The driver who is causing us most concern is the one who has a few drinks and then takes the wheel of a car. He is not drunk, but his judgment and ability to control a car are very seriously affected. He is in a mood where he is insulted if told he is not in a fit state to drive. “In a large number of road tragedies there is a background of cocktail parties and other so-called gay gatherings. We have to accept the fact that ‘beer and benzine don’t mix.’ I have declared open war on this menace to public safety, and I will not relax till the work is finished. It is not my concern whether anyone takes liquor, but it is definitely my responsibility to see that its influence is kept off the road. ‘“Another point I wish to stress is the necessity for educating the children in road safety. There is no more tragic loss than the loss of an innocent loved one. The children have no thought for their own safety; we must protect them from their own thoughtlessness. The best way, of course, is by personal care and guidance. If that is not always possible we must instruct the children in the lessons of road safety; when walking to keep to the footpath; to use pedestrian crossings; where no footpath is available, to face oncoming traffic and not loiter on the roadway. “I am pushing ahead with the task of improving the highways as fast as possible,” added Mr Semple. "No matter how much I may achieve in that direction the final effort is in your hands. No careful pedestrian should receive injury; motorists and motor-cyclists can preserve their own safety by taking care at all times. It is the temporary relaxation of caution that is responsible for most accidents. “I have said before, and I emphasise it again now, that nearly all accidents are preventible. You showed during the holiday season that it was possible. I earnestly appeal to you now to co-operate with me in wiping out the terrible loss on the road each year of over 200 lives.”