TO BE TESTED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 239, 23 July 1935, Page 2

TO BE TESTED

CAR BRAKES AND LIGHTS.

CAMPAIGN TO BE STARTED.

Reference to the serious increase in the number of accidents which have occurred oii New Zealand roads during the fu'jst four months of this year is made in a statement issued iby the Commissioner of Transport. He has announced the intention of embarking on a further campaign to check up on brakes and lights on motor vehicles on August 1. The Commissioner has appealed to the Ashburton Borough Council for co-operation in this move and states' that the .very real improvement which followed the check-up last year was not now nearly so noticeable and that a number of cases of faulty lights and brakes had been brought to his notice. “The number of deaths resulting •from accidents on the roods is increasing to an alarming degree,” stated the Commissioner. “For the first four months of this year deaths totalled 68, as against 51 for the same period of last year. Accident statistics also show that for every pea-son killed on the highways, 35 were injured, revealing a serious position.” In appealing for the co-operation of the Council, the Commissioner stated that it was proposed' to commence the check-up on August 1- He referred to the method of checking ligjrts and brakes, and stated that last year there were several instances of certificates being granted without proper checking of the cars.

Breaches of the Law.

According to the report of the Transport Department for the year ended March 31, 1935, by far the greatest single cause of fatal motor accidents is excessive speed, although not necessarily high speed. Tlie figures in detail are as follow:

Breaches of the law: Excessive speed in circumstances (a) but not exceeding 20 miles an hour, 5; (b) exceeding 20 miles but not exceeding 35 miles an hour, 21; exceeding 35 miles an hour, 20. On the wrong side of the road, 16; not complying with “offside” rule, 14; passing standing tram, 0; other passing breaches, 4; failure of driver to signal, 3; breaches of law relating to railway intersections, 10; no rear reflector or an efficient one, 3; faulty brakes, 6; no lights or inefficient lights (including horse vehicles and bicycles), 11; glaring headlights, 10; faulty steering gear, 4; faulty tyres or wheels, 2; driver’s mild intoxication a factor in accident, 12; driver’s severe intoxication a factor in accident, 6; driver unlicensed or inexperienced, 6; straying stock, 2; other breaches of law, 8.

Other causes: Badl weather,• 11; vehicles being reversed, 5; driver’s physical defect a direct cause, 2. Motorist and pedestrian: Motorist at fault, 7; pedestrian (not intoxicated) crossing or on road without care or becoming confused, 17; pedestrian intoxicated, 4; children t on streets, 10- infant (under six) not under proper control, 3; other causes of pedestrian accidents, .5. , , Causes not included! under headings mentioned, 16.

Total, 243. In the 12 months ended March 31, 1934, absence of inefficiency, of lights caused exactly as many accidents . as exceeding the speed limit of 20 miles an hour, and even more than they did last year. Driving on the wrong side of the road (13), was the only factor that approached these in the cause of accidents, although pedestrians’ carelessness or confusion (9), and bad weather conditions (9), also were prominent. • Out of the 37 headings under which the fatal motor accidents are summarised, excessive speed, driving on the wrong side of the road, faulty lights, driver’s intoxication and pedestrian or motorist at fault, aire the most noticeable causes listed in the statistics for the last six years. However, great variation in the totals under each heading is shown. _ : The Borough Council decided last evening to carry out the check-up in the Borough.