EXCESSIVE SPEED OF MOTOR VEHICLES

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 248, 17 July 1935, Page 8

EXCESSIVE SPEED OF MOTOR VEHICLES

Cause of Many Road

Fatalities

PEDESTRIANS OFTEN TO BLAME

By far the greatest single cause of fatal motor accidents is excessive speed, although not necessarily high speed, according to a table of the causes of such accidents published in the Transport Department’s report, which figures have been brought up to date by the statistics for the year ended March 31, 1935, announced recently. The figures for the latest period show the heading with the greatest total to be that of exceeding 20 but not exceeding 35 miles an hour (21 accidents), with exceeding 35 miles an hour (20) close behind and pedestrians (not intoxicated) crossing the road without care or becoming confused (17) and driving on the wrong side of the road (16) near the head of the list. Other causes that were prominent were: Not complying with the “offside” rule (14), driver’s mild intoxication a factor (12), no lights or inefficient lights, including bicycles and horse-drawn vehicles (11), weather conditions (11), breaches ot the law at railway intersections (10), glaring headlights (10) and children on streets (10). The increases have been chiefly under the following headings:—Excessive speed over 35. miles an hour (from eight accidents to 20), excessive speed over 20 but not over 35 miles an hour (from 15 to 21), glaring headlights (from two to 10), driver’s mild intoxication (from two to 12), pedestrians (not intoxicated) crossing or on road without care oi' becoming confused (from nine to 17) and children on streets (from two to 10). The largest decrease was in accidents caused by faulty lights on vehicles (from 15 to 11). The figures in detail arc as follow:—

Breaches of the law.: Excessive speed in circumstances: (aj but not exceeding 20 miles an hour, 5; (b) exceeding 20 miles but not exceeding 35 miles an hour. 21; exceeding 35 miles an hour, 20. On the wrong side of the road, 16; not complying with "off-side” rule, 14; passing standing tram, 0; other passing breaches, 4; failure of driver to signal, 3; breaches of law relating to railway intersections, 10; no rear reflector or an inefficient one, 3; faulty brakes, 6; no lights or inefficient lights (including horse vehicles and bicycles), 11; glaring headlights. 10j faulty steering gear, 4; faulty tires or wheels, 2j driver’s mild intoxication a factor in accident, 12; driver’s severe intoxication a factor in accident, 6; driver unlicensed or inexperienced, 6; straying stock, 2; other breaches of law, 8. Other causes: Bad weather, 11; vehicles being reversed, 5; driver’s physical defect a direct cause, 2. Motorist and pedestrian: Motorist at fault, 7; pedestrian (not intoxicated) crossing or on road without care Or becoming confused; 17; pedestrian intoxicated, 4; children on streets, 10; infant (under six) not under proper control, 3; other causes of pedestrian accidents, Causes not included under headings mentioned, 16. Total, 243. ’ In the 12 months ended March 31, 1934, absence or inefficiency of lights caused exactly as many accidents as exceeding the speed limit of 20 miles an hour, and even more than they did this year. Driving on the wrong side of the road (13), was the only thing that approached these in the cause of accidents, although pedestrians’ carelessness or confusion (9), and bad weather conditions (9), also were prominent. Out of the 37 headings under which the fatal motor accidents are summarised, excessive speed, driving on the wrong side of the road, faulty lights, driver’s intoxication and pedestrian or motorist at fault, are the most noticeable causes listed lu the statistics for tile last six years. However, great variation in the totals under each heading is shown.