Brisbane Analysis Of Road Accidents

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31206, 2 November 1966, Page 3

Brisbane Analysis Of Road Accidents

(New Zealand Press Association> AUCKLAND, November 1. Research in Brisbane had disclosed that a high proportion of reckless and dangerous drivers had criminal records, drank fairly heavily in hotels, had poor employment records and their favourite hobby was “just driving around.”

Details of a five-year research programme were outlined in Auckland today by Mr Kenneth Jamieson, of Brisbane Hospital, the first neuro-surgeon to be brought to New Zealand by the Hackett Memorial Trust.

A concerted attempted had been made in Brisbane to relate the type of vehicle-acci-dent injury to all the other circumstances of accidents, Mr Jamieson said.

For a long period a medical practitioner, an engineer, and a sociologist in a radiocontrolled car attended every accident to which an ambulance had been called and which they could reach within 15 minutes.

The drivers were divided into three categories depending on the type of accident. The first group was classified as reckless and dangerous, the second as negligent, and the third as “involved merely by chance.” From the research a number of conclusions emerged. Whereas the reckless

driver drank fairly heavily and mainly in hotels, it was found the negligent one also drank, but not as regularly and usually at home. The second group appeared to have too many goods on hire-purchase, had business troubles and commonly had short-term emotional problems. These tended momentarily to distract his attention.

The third group, those involved by chance, were in a situation beyond their control—generally the driver of the other vehicle was at fault. Little difference was found in the intelligence levels of the groups. As remedies, Mr Jamieson said the wearing of the safetybelts in cars and crash-hel-mets by motor-cyclists should be obligatory.

Because of the undoubted role of alcohol, any person on the road whose behaviour caught the attention of the police or traffic officers should be given an alcohol analysis. More attention should be paid to the design of vehicles and there should be a better system of driving education. Unfortunately, it was difficult to change factors of human nature.

Improved road design, too, could not eliminate the many city accidents that occurred within five to 10 miles of the victims’ homes. “We can’t have a motorway to take us to the corner shop,” said Mr Jamieson.