Road Death Toll Rising

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31154, 2 September 1966, Page 3

Road Death Toll Rising

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 1. Road deaths would increase to more than 520 by the end of the year unless drivers became more aware of the common dangers they were courting, said the Transport Department today. “The main cause of deaths continues to be excessive speed under bad conditions, such as on wet roads. The next is inattention, or attention diverted at the vital moment” a spokesman said. This year’s death total reached 350 by the end of August. Although this was 41 fewer than the figure last year, 1965

had been New Zealand's blackest for road deaths, with a total of 559, one third more than the previous year, which had also shown a marked leap upward to 428. The three previous years, from 1961 to 1963. road deaths had remained static in the 390-400 region. “This year, if thing: go on at the rate they are going, there will be more than 520 deaths,” said the department. The major accident cause and fourth in causing road deaths was failure to give way to the right on intersections. “Everyone knows they should give way to the right. [This is apparently so simple, yet they don’t do it,” said ■ the department.

‘We are inclined to think that this is due to inattention. We feel people just go

on across intersections without thinking at all about where they are going. This is particularly so on a regular route, say on the way to or from work. The road is so familiar that people just carry on as if there were nc dangers at all—even at intersections.” August’s 47 fatalities, equal to last August, had been caused in 42 accidents. Twelve had been caused by two car collisions, 12 by cars hitting pedestrians, and others by various causes, such as hitting power poles, leaving the road, rolling, or hitting cyclists. Thirteen drivers and 13 passengers were killed, with 12 pedestrians. three motorcyclists and two cyclists. The other deaths were road users of varied types, such as power cyclists.