MAIN FAULTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 95, 22 April 1940, Page 9

MAIN FAULTS

ROAD ACCIDENTS

>CAUSES ANALYSED

CARELESSNESS LEADS

In a summary of causes of roading accidents, based upon an analysis of detailed tables for the twelve, months ended March 31, the Transport / Department places" the blame for the far too great death and accident rate in New Zealand upon the careless and inattentive road users, driving, cycling, or walking. . ' / In collisions between motor-vehicles the most frequent cause was failure to give way, causing 30 per cent, of such accidents. Failure to keep to the [ correct side of the road (either at bends or straights) caused 19 per cent, and excessive speed 10 per cent., of these accidents. Altogether, driving faults accounted for 92 per cent, of all collisions between motor-vehicles. The motor driver was held mainly i at fault in 48 per cent, of all collisions with bicyclists. Failure to -yield: the right of way was the most frequent] cause. Inattentive driving and failure to keep to the left were other predominant causes. The bicyclist caused 42 ' per cent, of the accidents through i | neglect to observe the precautions and rules in traffic. His most common faults were failing to give way, failure to keep to the left, failure to signal properly, inattentive riding, and reckless emergence from a side road. Nearly 5 per cent, of the bicyclist accidents were due in the main to his cycle being without a light or reflector, or having some other defect. . ■ In the pedestrian accidents the motorist was held chiefly responsible in only 22 per cent, of the accidents. Inattention and failing to give way at a pedestrian-crossing were the most frequent causes on his part. The pedestrian faults reflected gross care-, lessness or failure to appreciate his own responsibility and potential danger while using the roadway.