FEWER ACCIDENTS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 85, 4 January 1940, Page 10

FEWER ACCIDENTS

Record Of Wellington Transport District

HEAVY ROAD TRAFFIC DURING HOLIDAYS

In spite of the density of motor traffic in the Wellington transport district, which includes practically half the North Island, the accident rate during the Christmas and New Year holidays was remarkably low. Only two fatal accidents—one near Gisborne and one north of during the Christmas weekend, and one or two serious accidents were also reported. There were no serious accidents in the New Year weekend. The chief traffic inspector tor the Wellington district, Mr. P. C. Watson, said last night that he was very pleased with the behaviour of motorists in n-eneral Though traffic was consistently heavy throughout the holidays, speeds were lower than usual and there was much less dangerous driving. Some motorists had been apprehended for dangerous driving, ami where necessary, action would be taken. More Courtesy Shown.

The Wellington province was singularly free of accidents, Mr. Matson added, and the behaviour of motorists was much better than last yeai. More courtesy was shown on the roads. In the Wellington transport district, which includes the Wellington, Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay provinces, 2;> traffic inspectors worked long hours throughout the holiday period and each man took a pride in keeping his district free from accidents. The good record, said Mr. Watson, was due to the efforts of these officers, as well as the co-operation received from motorists. , , Because of the long weekends, traffic was spread and was uot abnormally heavy on any particular day. Traffic to Wellington was noticeably heavier this year, but the outward llo»v was also well maintained. Sundays were perhaps the busiest days of the week, and race meetings in the Manawatu, Taranaki, Rangitikei and Hawke’s Bay districts also accounted, for a good deal of motor traffic. Inspectors Camp on Roadside.

The one-car bridge spanning • the Rangitikei River just south of Bulls the longest bridge of its kind between Wellington and Aucklandnecessitated two traffic officers being in continuous attendance from December 23. The inspectors camped on the roadside, and had a strenuous period directing traffic and preventing congestion. An officer was stationed at each end of the bridge during the busy times, and it was stated last night that this service was greatly appreciated by motorists. The fatal accident near Gisborne was caused by a car plunging over a bank, and the one near Wanganui resulted in the death of a pedestrian. A 16-seater bus, bound for races in the Wairarapa last Monday, collided with a fence about 100 yards on the north side of the summit of the Rimutakas, and had a narrow escape. One of the roar dual tyres of the vehicle left the road and was suspended above a drop of hundreds of feet. Motorists who passed the scene of the., accident expressed the opinion that the occupants —the bus was full—had a lucky escape. “■When you consider the flow of traffic this' year, the safety record was particularly good,” said Mr. Watson. “The Centennial Exhibition attracted strangers from all parts of the country, some of whom had never been over these roads before, and under the circumstances we expected some sort of trouble. I must say I appreciate the way motorists co-operated with the inspectors in bringing about greater safety on the roads.”