Accident Ratio Fairly Constant

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31576, 13 January 1968, Page 32

Accident Ratio Fairly Constant

(New Zealand Press Association) LEVIN, January 12. The ratio of deaths in road accidents to the number of fatal accidents was fairly constant over the years, said the Minister of Transport (Mr Gordon) at Levin today, replying to a statement that published road death figures gave a false impression of traffic behaviour.

The chief of the Wanganui police district. Superintendent J. R. McLean, had suggested that the number of fatal accidents should also be published. Mr Gordon said that in 1967

570 people were killed in 502 accidents, a ratio of 1.1 deaths per fatal accident. The ratio was 1.1 in 1966 and 1.2 in 1965. Even in 1963, when 15 people were killed in one bus accident, the ratio was 1.1 to one fatal accident. International figures were always given as the number of people killed, said Mr Gordon. They were a valid and valuable guide to fluctuations in the severity of accident statistics. Mr Gordon said that drivers could be examined and judged on their fitness to be in charge of a car. There would be many barriers to be overcome before such a system could be established. Mr Gordon added that the public would be surprised at the number of times it had been suggested to him that a psychological test of drivers might be needed before long. “When all our other efforts appear to be frustrated and the annual toll of lives lost continues to rise,” said Mr Gordon, “in desperation one considers all possibilities and suggestions. “There seems little doubt that a future move must be to somehow regularly check the stability and the degree of competence of the human being to drive a motor vehicle,” he said. Up to midday today 21 traffic deaths this year had been reported to the Transport Department. At this time last year the total was 10.