DRUNKEN DRIVERS

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28019, 13 July 1956, Page 12

DRUNKEN DRIVERS

“ Greater Menace On N.Z. Roads” INCREASE IN ACCIDENTS SINCE 1953 (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 12. In x suite of all the propaganda directed at him the drunken driver is becoming a greater menace on New Zealand roads today, says a reoort from the New Zealand Road Safety Council. In 1953, the report continues, 116 accidents involving injury were attributed to drunken drivers. These accidents killed 15 and injured 180. In 1954 the figures increased to 130 accidents, in which 21 were killed and 198 injured. Last year’s figures were even worse, with 145 accidents. 25 killed, and 236 injured.

“The more this potential killer is made a social outcast the safer New Zealand roads will become,” the report says. “Passengers can help a good deal by refusing to ride with a driver who has been drinking.” The problem of the drunken pedestrian has recently come under notice, the report adds. In the last three years 184 accidents causing injury have been attributed to pedestrians being under the influence of liqour. In these accidents 24 persons were killed and 177 injured. Figures in the report show that in the first six months of this year there were fewer deaths on New Zealand roads than in the same period in 1953. 1954, and 1955. Decreases on last year’s figures are shown in deaths of power-cyclists, motor-cyclists, pillion riders, and cyclists. “After all the energy and time put into road safety propaganda by. road safety organisations, it is at least rewarding to see this decrease in the number of road deaths, even though the number of vehicles has increased by 110,000 since 1953.” the report says.