MOST ROAD ACCIDENTS OCCUR AT WEEKENDS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27499, 5 November 1954, Page 3

MOST ROAD ACCIDENTS OCCUR AT WEEKENDS

“The preponderance of accidents at week-ends goes to show that rhe ‘week-end driver’ is no myth,” said the chief traffic officer of the Transport Department in Christchurch (Mr E. Wilson) in a statement yesterday. '■The 'week-end driver’ is to be found in the large numbers of drivers for whom the week-end offers almost the only opportunity of getting out in the car," Mr Wilson said. “Traffic officers’ reports show that because of his lack of regular driving practice, the week-end driver often attempts dangerous manoeuvres, his judgment is often faulty, and he shows lack of appreciation of the need to give his full attention to driving. “In his baby car, he will attempt to overtake a line of modern highpowered vehicles; he will conduct a sight-seeing tour for his family, friends, and relatives; driving a motor-cycle, he will weave his way in and out of heavy traffic. He can sit bolt upright behind the wheel chin set, and drive slowly and meticulously right into the middle of the road. "Often those who do not have accidents themselves make accidents for others,” Mr Wilson said. A motorist wishing to pass at 50 miles an hour another vehicle travelling at 40 miles an hour needed a clear road ahead for 1200 feet (nearly

three-quarters of a mile), where there was no oncoming traffic, Mr Wilson said. The minimum safe clearance distance at the same speeds must be doubled when there was a vehicle approaching in the opposite direction. “Nearly 40 per cent, of fatal accidents on the roads in New Zealand last year occurred between 5 p.m. on Friday and 2 a.m. on Sunday,” said Mr Wilson. “Of 5669 accidents resulting in death or injury in 1953, nearly 3000 occurred on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Of 79 persons killed in June, July, and August of this year, 52 were killed at the week-ends. “We are concentrating on enforcement at these peak accident periods, and every available officer, including plain-clothes men, is on patrol to check offences on these days,” Mr Wilson said. “The causes of week-end accidents are varied, and no single, simple pattern is found. Liquor, which is present in one fatal accident in three, undoubtedly plays a big part. To combat this, the department is conducting a continuing blitz, particularly from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. “There is no simple solution to the week-end accident problem. It can, however, be met by joint efforts in enforcement and education,” Mr Wilson said.