ACCIDENT RATE DECLINES

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23080, 24 July 1940, Page 10

ACCIDENT RATE DECLINES

TRAFFIC IN CITY STREETS

CAUSES OF MISHAPS EXAMINED

The accident rate In the city declined by approximately 19 per cent, during the year ended March 31. A report prepared by the Chief Traffic Inspector (Mr J: Bruorton) says that there were 85 fewer accidents reported than in the previous period of 12 months. The figures, with 1938-39 totals in parenthesis, are as follows: — Fatal 12 (12); serious, 157 (145); minor, 192 (289); total, 361 (446). The improvement is considered all the more gratifying in view of the increase in the number of vehicles registered during the year under review, and the increase of 904 in the drivers’ licences issued. , Pedestrians were involved in 59 accidents, two fatal, 28 serious, and 29 minor, and were held to be at fault in 41 (one fatal, 19 serious, and 21 minor).i The chief faults were:— Crossing road heedless of traffic; emerging from behind another vehicle; children running out on to the roadway: and intoxication. Cyclists contributed to 178 accidents, nine fatal, 69 serious, and 100 minor. They were held to be at fault in 76 (three fatal. 32 serious, and 41 minor). The chief faults were:—Riding negligently; failing to signal; failing to keep to the left; cutting corner; and intoxication. Motor-cyclists were consistently unfortunate, for in spite of the fact that registration showed a decline for this type of vehicle, they were concerned in 62 accidents, two fatal, 35 serious, and 25 minor; as against 61 for the previous period. Motor cyclists were held to be blameworthy in 32 (51 per cent, of the total), made up as follows: —Failing to give way, 16; speed, skidding, etc., 10; failing to keep to the left, two: overtaking on intersection, two; under-inflated tyre (right-hand turn), one: following too closely, one. All the accidents mentioned in these figures involved personal injury to one or more persons.