Holiday Dangers

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28157, 21 December 1956, Page 12

Holiday Dangers

Holidays can be irretrievably marred by accidents. Each year, when thousands of New Zealanders seek recreation at the beaches, in the countryside, and among the mountains, the Christmas period is marked by an alarming rise in the number of accidental deaths and injuries. The tragedy of it all is that so many of these accidents are preventable. Government departments, local authorities, and other public organisations repeatedly warn against the dangers of holidaymakers’ carelessness: often, however, their advice seems to fall on deaf ears. The appeal is not only to the common sense of the individual, but to his conscience, because by his negligence and thoughtlessness he frequently jeopardises the safety of others as well as his own.

On the average in the last six years, 15 persons have been killed and 330 injured on New Zealand roads during the Christmas and New Year holidays. This dreadful toll has been taken in spite of intensive safety campaigns and rigorous policing of traffic by Transport Department and local body officers. In the next 10 days or so, when more than 600,000 vehicles will be in use, accidents will happen again unless each motorist does his part in preventing them—unless, before starting a journey, he sees that his vehicle is mechanically sound; unless he avoids undue fatigue—and liquor—while driving; and unless he drives as he would have others drive. The Transport Department has found that the commonest causes of accidents are failure to yield the right of way at intersections. inattention, failure to keep to the left, excessive speed, inexperience or incompetence, arid negligent overtaking. Faulty driving is commoner during holidays because motorists travel unfamiliar roads, and many who normally use their cars only at week-ends undertake more ambitious trips. But the motorist and motor-cyclist are not to blame for all accidents; the cyclist pedestrian must also co-operate

in promoting road safety by sensible, alert behaviour. Courtesy and forbearance will help all road users to enjoy without mishap the beauties of the Dominion’s countryside. Recklessness, ignorance of conditions, and stupidity have caused many accidents in mountains and rivers, and on the beaches. Before beginning strenuous back-country excursions, the city-dweller needs to realise the limitations of his knowledge, physique, and experience. Firearms must be treated with respect and care taken to prevent camp fires from spreading into scrub and forest. For the unwary, boating and swimming can be hazardous; a sedately-flowing river or an unpatrolled beach may have unsuspected dangers. In all holiday pastimes, relaxation is not synonymous vith carelessness. Vigilance is necessary to ensure safety in unaccustomed environment and circumstances. Particularly is this so when young children are travelling by air, sea, rail, or road. By attending to such details, the public will banish tragedy from their holidays and derive the maximum pleasure from them.