MORE ACCIDENTS THIS YEAR

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21987, 11 January 1937, Page 10

MORE ACCIDENTS THIS YEAR

HOLIDAY PERIOD LARGER NUMBER OF KILLED AND INJURED Nearly twice as many serious road accidents occurred throughout New Zealand during the present holiday season as were recorded last ,year. Between Christmas Eve and. yesterday a total of 48 motoring mishaps in which persons were killed and injured were reported', compared with 26 for the corresponding period in 1935-36. Eight persons were killed as compared with six,last year, and the number injured, more than 70, represented an increase of about 50 over last year's figures. In Christmas week there were many accidents,' and altogether 21 serious accidents were reported on Christmas day, and three of these resulted in death, in Wellington, Hawera, and Central Otago. Since the New Year the number of major accidents totalled 14. Four people were killed, the victim of a crossing accident in Christchurch, 8 pillion-rider on a motor-cycle, which struck a car near Waimate, a motorist whose car struck a culvert near Christchurch, and a pedestrian struck by a motor-cycle in Auckland. From 15 to 20 suffered injuries calling for hospital treatment.

Locality of Accidents Of the total number of accidents during the period reviewed, 23 occurred in the city of Auckland. Thirteen were reported from various parts of the province. Wellington and Palmerston North each reported three, there being one fatality in the latter centre, and three accidents happened in Christchurch. Five further mishaps were announced from Blenheim, Ashburton, South Canterbury, Invercargill, and Wedderburn, Central Otago. In the 1935-36 holidays Auckland had motor accidents, 11 of which happened in and about the city, and other serious occurrences were reported from ' Wellington, Christchurch, Palmerston North, Timaru, Blenheim, and Ashburton Persons killed included four motorists, two pedestrians, and two-motor-cyclists. Those killed in accidents the previous Christmas and New Year were three motorists and three pedestrians. The persons injured during the last, two weeks were 43 motorists, 17 motor-cyclists, and 14 pedestrians. An invalid in a wheel-chair was hurled to the road while being towed behind a motorcar, and a young*woman suffered injury through falling out of a car. Sixteen motorists, seven pedestrians, and two motor-cyclists were among those injured in accidents a year ago. Causes of Injury

Six motorists were the most injured in any one accident, in a collision in Wellington on Christmas Day Five were injured in another collision in Auckland some ; days later, and four, three, and two persons respectively were hurt m other accidents: In the majority _of instances only one person was injured. No one accident resulted in the death of more than one person. The most hurt in any accident during the previous Christmas holidays was three motorists, who were involved in a collision at Thames. One motor was struck by a train, eleven in which people were killed or injured were involved in collisions with other cars, and one collided with a tramcar. Five capsized, and two crashed after careering some distance out of control. One topoled over a cliff at Albany, injuring three passengers, and another struck a culvert. There was one level crossing accident last year, together with four collisions, five capsizes, one car running over a cliff, and another striking a safety zone.