ACCIDENTS ON ROADS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 159, 2 April 1937, Page 11

ACCIDENTS ON ROADS

English Survey Issued CAUSES AND INCIDENCE (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, March 31. A report which has been awaited with much interest by public authorities and road-users, not only in England but abroad as well, was published this morning. It offers a detailed analysis of particulars shown in the reports of 100,000 road accidents involving personal injury which occurred during the months April to September, 1936, and information is now for the first time available on the incidence and causes of road accidents involving injuries to persons which did not prove fatal, as well as of those in which fatal injuries were inflicted. The results of the analysis are given in a series of tables, and among facts which emerge are the following:— First, the relative severity of accidents in areas not built up where speeds would normally be higher and where nearly 38 per cent, of the accidents resulted in death or serious injury compared with 23.3 per cent, in built-up areas. Secondly, the high proportion of accidents which occur at junctions—42.2 per cent, of those analysed—especially in built-up areas.

Thirdly, over one-third of the persons injured were pedal cyclists, over 29 per cent, were pedestrians, and over 18 per cent, were motor-cyclists or their passengers.

Fourthly, the comparative severity of casualties to motor-cyclists, over one-third being either killed or seriously injured. Fifthly, in one-third of the accidents analysed, a driver was held to be at fault, in 28 per cent, a pedestrian, and in 2G per cent, a pedal cyclist. Sixthly, in nearly 8000 cases, or over 28 per cent, of all the accidents for which pedestrians were held responsible, the accident was ascribed to a child under seven years old.

The report confines itself solely to an examination of the results of the Ministry of Transport’s recent investigation, and at the present stage no recommendations are attached.