TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 260, 1 August 1939, Page 11

TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

More Frequent After Dark

lack of visibility

“The number of accidents has been found to vary almost in direct proportion to the density of traffic during the hours of daylight,” said-the Minister of Transport, Mr. Semple, when commenting yesterday on .the Transport Department's analysis ,'pf 4000 traffic accidents last year. “The figures,” he said, “gave ample proof (hat traffic hazards increased substantially after dark. “Immediately after sunset the number of accidents in proportion to traffic increases considerably,” said Mr. Semple. “Taken over, the whole year, the hour between 5 p.ifii and 6 p.m. was easily the worst of the day. In urban areas, the next worstperiod was between 7 p.m. and 8 pjin. One-third of all accidents occurred between 5 o’clock and 8 o’clock at night; It seemed that neither drivers, cyclists, nor pedestrians appreciated the effecj that darkness had upon road habits. With the oncoming of darkness,'the accident rate soared during April/ and May, which were easily the worst months of the year, and had a muph higher accident total than the holiday months of December and January;, “Lack of visibility is the main reason for the increase in pight accidents, but other factors contribute,” said the Minister. “These include fatigue, liquor, and the greater frequence of ‘joy-rid-ing’ at night.” Pedestrian and cycle accidents at night were much more common during the winter months than in the summer. In the months from April to October there were 344 pedestrian casualties at night. In June and July, 124 pedestrians were killed,or injured at night. The pedestrian should remember that the motorist often could not see him, said the Minister, and should make allowance accordingly. For his own protection it was desirable that light-col-oured clothing should be worn at night by a pedestrian. A light-coloured overcoat or would reveal the presence of a pedestrian under conditions where one clad in darker clothes would be invisible to the driver. Where no footpath was available, pedestrians on rural roads would be well advised to carry a torch. Unless there was a bank on the right-hand side, it was generally safer to walk on that side, facing oncoming traffic. The cyclist, 'as well as riding with greater care, should ensure that his bicycle was fitted with a properly-ad-justed reflector, and the regulation white mudguard. As an addition to the reflector, a'red tail-light was recommended. >'