FIFTEEN DEATHS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 4, 6 January 1931, Page 5

FIFTEEN DEATHS.

j MOTORING ACCIDENTS. \

I RECORD FOR PAST YEAR.

'•RECKLESS MOTOR CYCLISTS." Records kept by the traffic department of tlie Auckland City Council show that 15 deaths - were caused by motor car and cycle accidents during the past year. Eight people were killed through being knocked down by motor cars, three by trams, and four through motor cycle accidents. Probably the worst accident in the city or suburbs during the year was the motor cycle crash near Ennismorc Street, Mount Albert, in which two young people, a girl and a youth, lost their lives. Evidence at the inquest showed that the youth, with t-lie girl on the pillion, was riding at terrific speed, failed to negotiate a bend, and crashed into a stationary motor lorry. '■This reckless craze for speed lias caused the loss of many "young lives," has been the comment of the coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., from time to time. Mr. Hunt's opinion is that all motor cyclists on the road should wear crash helmets, just as riders do on race tracks. • "If that was done," he said, "many lives would be saved. When a cyclist crashes and Ins head hits the concrete, it is always touch and go." Among the number of deaths, two children were knocked down by motor cars and killed. One lad of nine years was bowling his hoop in Point Chevalier Road early in the morning. He ran off the footpath to cross the road, and although evidence showed that the driver had swerved and put on his brakes, he could not pull his van up in time to avoid-*, knocking the boy down. On the records, Auckland was comparatively free from serious accidents causing deaths. In 1929, there were almost twice the' number, and in one recent year the death roll from motor accidents totalled over 40. Stricter traffic control was probably the cause of the smaller death roll last year.