ROAD ACCIDENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 96, 23 April 1940, Page 15

ROAD ACCIDENTS

SOME IMPROVEMENT

FATALITIES LAST YEAR

THE.MAIN CAUSES

During the twelve months to March 3i; the number of fatal road accidents, (225) and the, number of deaths (246) were exactly the same as for the previous year, states a report prepared by the Transport Department for the Road' Safety Council. There was an increase in the number of fatal collisions between motor vehicles and with bicyclists, a slight decrease in fatal pedestrian accidents, and a considerable drop in the number of deaths from accidents in which vehicles overturned or left the road. Most outstanding was the decrease in the number of accidents in which motor-cyclists were involved: these have decreased by nearly 20 per cent.

While there was no increase in vehicle mileage for the year, tne number of licensed motor vehicles in- j creased from 273,000 in 1938-39 to 1291,000. There was a sharp decline in traffic during the months when petrol restrictions applied. During September, October, and November the road deaths numbered 35, compared with 49 for the same months in 1938 and 52 3n 1937, and in February and March the total was lower, 37, compared with 40 in 1939 and 44 in 1938. A heavy death-roll accompanied the big volume of holiday traffic which resulted from a partial relaxation of petrol restrictions at Easter. Fatal accidents (49) were much higher during December and January, when the restrictions were lifted, than in the same months a year previously (40). MORE INSPECTORS. "From the experience gained," the report comments, "it would appear that when the restrictions on petrol vere in force and the amount of traffic correspondingly reduced, the enforcement of control was reasonably adequate. If this assumption is correct it would indicate that in normal times when no petrol restrictions are in force the number of inspectors should be increased. GREATLY-IMPROVED RECORD. The number of motor-cyclists and pillion riders killed or injured fell in a remarkable degree from 875 in 1938 to 667 in 1939. There were decreases in every month except February and March. During the year 909 cyclists were involved in accidents, but the figure was lower by 107 than that for 1938----39, though there were increases in January and in the winter months, during which, the department states, more attention should be given to cyclists. Figures for the first ten months showed no improvement in pedestrian casualties, and May, June, and July I were worse than in 1938. The analysis of accident causes showed that the pedestrian was responsible for 75 per cent, of the accidents in which he was j involved, anu more education and control appeared necessary in the town areas, where most of the pedestrian accidents occurred. Drink was responsible for accidents to no less than 295 people, 23 of whom were killed. Through collisions at level crossings 17 people were killed and 48 were injured, and more than half the casualties occurred in town areas. Many of the victims were local residents who had apparently become careless. On State highways where many of the crossings had been eliminated there were only four accidents.