SAFETY ON THE ROADS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 66, 10 December 1938, Page 13

SAFETY ON THE ROADS

Appeal For Care At

Weekend

I RESULTS OF CAMPAIGN

A special appeal for care and courtesy on the roods this weekend was made last evening by the Minister of Transport, Mr. Semple. He said that live days had passed without a fatal accident, on the roads of New Zealand. This excellent record showed just what could bo done. If the road safety week had had no other effect it had at least prevented the occurrence of tragedies during the last few days. Mr. Semple said that an average of three persons were killed every four days during the month of December last year. During the last live days, from'l be Press reports, there had been relatively few serious accidents. Seven-ty-one accidents causing personal injury, 40 of them being serious occurred* during the corresponding period last year.

Very heavy traffic was expected on the roads during Hie weekend ami tire possibilities of accident were greatly increased. He asked all weekend drivers. cyclists, and pedestrians to avoid taking any risks that might endanger the lives of other road users. Safety flags were still flying in the four main centres. It was up to all citizens to keep them at the top,of the mast. The Minister said that 41 pedestrians had been killed and more than 600 injured (2.15 seriously) between April and October last. During the same period an even greater number of cyclists had been injured in traffic accidents,. although Ihe mortality rate was not so high. On an average more Ilian three cyclists and three pedestrians had been injured daily.. “Virtually every one of these ■accidents was caused by the absence of care or the taking of unnecessary risks by a cyclist, a pedestrian or a motorist,” said Mr. Semple. “The road safety week has shown that these accidents can be prevented. I appeal to everyone to make a particular effort this weekend to continue the good record already established.”