New Campaign for Road Safety'
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AT a Press Conference held last Friday, Mr. Alfred Barnes, Minister of War Transport, announced the opening of a new national road safety campaign. He commenced by saying how much he valued the assistance which the Press could render in keeping the public informed on transport matters, particularly in connection with the problem of road accidents. He hoped, soon, to tell something of the Government's plans for transport as a whole.
Road safety was one of the big social problems which must be tackled as part of the plans for reconstruction. It was related closely to the future layout of our towns and highways and to the restoration of public and private road transport. He felt that unless we made our plans now, for the improvement of roads and road conduct, we should have missed the greatest opportunity of the century to deal with the menace of road accidents. The increase in traffic has already been reflected in road-accident figures, although the rise has not been so great as was feared.
Mr. Strauss, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister, had become chairman of the Committee on Road Safety, following Mr. P. J. Noel-Baker.
The slogan for the campaign will be "Keep Deatb off the Road," and the public will be urged in posters, films, etc., to take no .chances. The cost is estimated at about £250,000; before the war there were 250,000 casualties on the road every year, the cost of these to the Nation at present price levels being estimated at nearly £1.00,000,000 per year.
The Highway Code is being revised and local authorities are being asked to set up strong local safety organizations wherever they do not exist. The Government will issue grants of 50 per cent. towards approved expenditure which they may incur in such activities, but programmes must be submitted by the middle of next month.
The campaign must be followed up, in season and out, by continuous educational propaganda in every part of the country.
The first set of posters is excellently designed. Many, apart from illustrating accidents, give the reasons for them, and advice as to how they can be avoided.