SEVENTEEN DEATHS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 89, 10 January 1938, Page 3

SEVENTEEN DEATHS

Minister’s Survey Of Traffic Accidents

THE HOLIDAY PERIOD

No Quarter For Drunken

Drivers

"Far too many of the accident reports record excessive indulgence in liquor, not only by drivers, but also by pedestrians and cyclists.” declared the Minister of Transport. Hon. R. Semple, in surveying, in a statement issued on Saturday, traffic accidents during the Christmas and New Year' period “Drunken pedestrians stagger about the roads at their own risk on Christmas Eve.” the Minister said. "The driver of a motor-car. however, has a responsibility to others. Intoxicated drivers will have to realise that, whatever the occasion, they will get no quarter, and that every means will be adopted of putting them off the roads." During the last fortnight, all forms of transport iu New Zealand had been subjected to traffic demands quite unprecedented in the history of the Dominion, Mr. Semple continued. A record holiday rush had been expected, but the traffic by road, rail, air and steamer between Christmas Eve and the first week of the new year had far exceeded the very generous estimates made in mid-December by those closely connected with transport matters. In 1936-37. despite unfavourable Christmas weather, road traffic had reached record dimensions. Reports from many parts of the Dominion indicated that this record was far exceeded by the traffic on the roads during the last, fortnight Fewer People Injured. "Despite this fact, there were apparrently fewer people injured iu traffic accidents these holidays than during the corresponding 1936-37 period.” Mr. Semple said. “Although it is impossible to give precise figures until the police reports are received. 96 people were reported in the Press as having been injured on Ihe roads between Christmas Eve. 1937. and January 3, 1938, compared with 105 cases of traffic injury reported in the Press ns occurring during the previous holidays

“There were many more fatalities —practically all oft’ the patrolled trunk roads—during the recent holidays. however, 17 being killed as opposed to nine in the 1936-37 holiday period. The registration of new cars has shown an extraordinary rise in the last three months. Increased power and greater speeds were responsible for very many of these fatalities.’’

The .Minister said an interesting fact was revealed by an examination of the reports of accidents which occurred during the holidays. There were relatively few accidents on the trunk roads and on rhe roads which, in view of special occasions such as race meetings, carried (he greater volume of traffic. Despite the fact that many millions of mile* were covered by motorists on the trunk roads between Christmas Eve and January 4. only three fatalities in a total of 17 occurred on these roads, and two were accidents through misadventure rather than recklessness or lack of road courtesy.

Traffic officers, he said, reported a very considerable improvement in the standard of driving on main highways during the holidays. There were few “road hogs" and “i raffle snails.” motorists appreciating the dangers of recklessness. and as a body they were both careful and courteous to each other. Through th careful driving and sound road sense of motorists, good patrol work of the traffic inspectors, and the Government’s policy of road improvement. ' the exceptionally heavy truffle on trunk roads and on roads leading to and from race meetings and similar gatherings had flowed exceptionally smoothly and expeditiously during the holidays Country Road Accidents. “1 am sorry to say. however, that motorists did not continue to exercise the same degree of care, having regard to all the circumstances, when they left the main highways.” Mr. Semple said. "This year there were 14 fatali ties in the urban areas and on country roads, compared with three on main highways. Off the trunk roads far too many motorists drove at excessive speeds' and tn an irresponsible manner, particularly on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

“Cases of cars getting out of control and crashing over banks or hitting telegraph [Kists were much too frequent, and there were several bad smashes at blind intersections on country roads. “Pedestrians also showed a lack of responsibility, especially on Christinas Eve and New Year’s Eve. two being killed shortly after midnight on each occasion The extent to which the relaxation of vigilance and care on these occasions resulted in serious accidents is shown by. the fact that as many people were killed between 1.20 a.m. and 2.15 a.m on Christmas and between midnight and 12.45 a.m. on New Year's morning, a space of 100 minutes, as were killed during the whole of the month of November last year: 13 people were killed in the two i2-hour stretches following 3 p.m. on Christmas and New Year's Eve. Thanks to Koad Users. 'The accident reports during the holidays showed that a number of new driver's had an inadequate knowledge both of driving and also of road manners.” said the Minister. "The danger of incompetent driving may have to be met by enlarging the scope of driving-licence tests to ensure that no one shall drive a high-powered modern ear without understanding the machine under his or her control, and without appreciating the social responsibility involved in its proper handling.

“1 would like to thank the great majority of road users for minimising road dangers during what was the most difficult traffic period in New Zealand’s history.” added Mr Semple. “If if’’ can look forward to the same improve ment on secondary roads as was evident on main highways. New Zealand will have a proud record for road safe ty during 1938.”