Christchurch Accident-Prone

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30803, 15 July 1965, Page 1

Christchurch Accident-Prone

(from Our Parliamentary Reporter)

WELLINGTON, July 14. With 14 deaths and 1502 persons injured in road accidents in 1964, Christchurch still holds the record as NewZealand’s most accident-prone city.

According to detailed figures published with the annual report of the Transport Department, tabled in Parliament today, Christchurch had 1216 accidents in 1964. compared with 940 in Auckland and 724 in Wellington. The average number of accidents for 10.000 of the popu 'ation shows Christchurch in the lead with 77. then Auckland (63). Wellington (57). Rotorua (51). Hamilton (46) Invercargill and Gisborne (44 each). Hast’ngs (42), Lower Hutt (41), and Tauranga (40) There were 94 deaths and

6446 injuries in New Zealand’s larger centres during the year. The main figures on road deaths were: Auckland 16. Christchurch 14. Wellington 12, Dunedin 10, Lower Hutt 6, Palmerston North and Rotorua 5 each. Nelson 4. Christchurch drivers had 1140 collisions, compared with 890 in Auckland and 664 in Wellington. In Christchurch, motorists hit other motor-vehicles (608) railway trains (2). tricvcles (2) bicycles (310). pedestrians (140), power' poles (34). and other things (44). Thirty-seven vehicles overturned. 21 nersons fell from vehicles. 19 vehicles went over banks, and six drove off the roadway.