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attention of teachers to tie need for teaching road sense ; statistics and information concerning traffic dangers to children have been published, and many suggestions have been given as to the methods which may be employed in instructing children. Every training-college student has been supplied with a copy of the Road Code, and the co-operation of Principals of the colleges invited in incorporating the Code into the students' training course. During February, when the ordinary time-table was suspended and work out of doors given precedence, teachers were asked by the Education Department to give attention, both by explanation and demonstration, to the principles of road safety. In the last quarter of the calendar year frequent radio talks were given by those conducting children's radio sessions. Among the matters either finalized or in process of finalization are — (1) Statistics of accidents occurring in the April-December, 1937, period have been compiled and analysed and circulated to educational and traffic authorities and to the press. Considerable publicity was given in the press to the facts revealed by the analysis, a summary of which appears hereunder. (2) Posterettes (11 in. by 17 in.) dealing with some of the principal faults by young pedestrians and young pedal-cyclists have been designed and will be distributed every second month to over nine thousand teachers who receive the Education Gazette ; in the same issue of the Gazette appropriate informative material will be published for the use of teachers. (3) The School Journal will include some safety-first slogan which will serve to refresh the pupil's memory. (4) Education Boards are co-operating with the Education Department in the display of wall notices which were drawn up by this Department in consultation with the Education Department. The notices contain in brief form, on one side, the main pedestrian rules, and on the other the main rules for cyclists. (5) Material is being gathered for the purpose of compiling an illustrated manual suitable for the use of teachers and others concerned in the instruction of young people. (0) A Road Traffic Instructor for Schools is being appointed for duty in the Wellington Education Board's district. The Hon. the Minister of Education expressed his approval of the proposal, while a very ready response was made by the Board to the request made for its co-operation. Consideration will be given later to an extension to other districts of this means of bringing expert instruction into the schools. (7) Several films have been ordered from England for use in the schools, and it is proposed to prepare a local 16 mm. film applicable to children. A portable film-projector and portable screen and other equipment for the Instructor's use are under purchase. (8) The Dominion executive of the New Zealand Boy Scouts' Association has sent recommendations to the parent body in England for the institution of a Road Safety Proficiency Badge and for the inclusion of tests on the subject in the general training of scouts. It is proposed by the Dominion executive that the simpler tests should be conducted by Scoutmasters, while the advanced tests would be arranged by the executive in consultation with the Transport Department. The Department has offered every possible assistance in this connection and will also arrange for lectures and demonstrations to be given to assemblies of Boy Scouts. Other matters are noted for consideration in the near future. Continued investigation into the whole problem of road accidents, and observation of the response in New Zealand and elsewhere to measures already in operation, indicate that if anything approaching a complete and permanent solution is to be found it is in the early and systematic training of children. It will be necessary, of course, to have such training followed up by special supervision, plus suitable corrective action where necessary, in the immediate past-school years and, secondly, in the adult stage. F. SUMMARY OF ACCIDENT FACTS. Casualties to persons under twenty years of age totalled 1,421 for the twelve months ended 31st March, 1938. Accidents resulting in casualties to the number of 949 (reported up to 31st January) for the period April-December, 1937, were analysed and are classified as follows : —
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Fatal. Serious. Minor. Total. . Pedestrians .. .. .'. .. 6 42 146 194 Push-cycles — Riders .. .. . : .. .. 9 51 248 308 Passengers . . . . .. .. . . 3 9 12 Motor-cycles — Riders .. .. .. . .• .. 6 22 75 103 Pillion riders .. .. .. .. .. 8 36 44 Motor-cars and lorries — Drivers .. .. . . . . .. 1 5 27 33 Passengers .. . . . . .. 14 35 199 248 Tricycles and trolleys : Riders.. . . .. . . 1 6 7 36 167 746 949
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