FATAL ROAD ACCIDENTS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29220, 2 June 1960, Page 22

FATAL ROAD ACCIDENTS

Analysis Given By Minister

(New Zealana Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 1.

A decrease of 18 in the number of road deaths during May and a total reduction of five in the number of lives lost in road accidents so far this year compared with 1959, are the two most striking features of five months’ analysis of fatal road accidents which has just been completed. Road deaths in May this year totalled 21 compared with 39 for the same month last year. To the end of May this year, there were 148 road deaths compared with 153 for the same months-of 1959. Releasing the figures today, the Minister of Transport (Mr Mathison) said that the reduction in road deaths for the first five months of 1960 compared with last year, was encouraging when it was considered that road deaths last year were the lowest for the last three years and that the improvement to date had been achieved in spite of an increase in petrol consumption this year. “So far this year, deaths among motor-cyclists and pedestrians have shown a reduction,” he said. “The only Increase recorded has been among power cyclists.”

Other points from the analysis mentioned by the Minister, were: The death rate per 10,000 motor vehicles to the end of May this year was 1.98 Compared with 2.13 for this time last year, a drop of 7| per cent. Road- deaths on weekdays fell by 37 per cent, while week-end road deaths rose by 20 per cent. The increase occurred mainly on Saturday’s and Sundays. The number of road deaths during the “danger hours” of 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. was slightly lower. Increases in road deaths have occurred this year in the Rotorua, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu, Canterbury, and Otago traffic districts. AU other districts showed ductions. “The general picture to date as far as the road deaths are concerned, is one of improvement,” said the Minister, “but there are certainly no grounds whatsoever for any relaxation of care or driving standards on the road. “I am particularly concerned about pedestrians in the dangerous winter months ahead While nedestnan deaths are down so far this year, the 35 pedestrian lives lost to the end of May still represents a heavy toll,* he added.