SAFETY OF CHILDREN

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 10, 11 July 1940, Page 13

SAFETY OF CHILDREN

A reduction in the number of road accidents involving school children is recorded in the annual report of the Transport Department. Tribute is paid to the teachers for the interest they have taken in educating children in road safety. "Up to June, 1938," states the report, "the child-accident rate showed a marked rising tendency, but from July onwards, although motor; traffic was heavier, the rate began to decline. Complete figures for the year ended March 31, 1940, are not yet available, except in respect of fatal accidents. The figures are, however, complete up to December 31, 1939, and these, when compared with the figures for the corresponding nine months of 1938, show that the number of accidents has fallen by about 11 per cent, and that the improvement in the accident rate has been more than maintained. No pedestrian in the 10-14 years group was killed in the sixteen months ended March 1, 1940, whereas in the preceding' eight months four were killed. Two cyclists in this agegroup were killed in 1939-40; one was killed in the previous year. Five pedestrians in the 5-9 years group were killed in 1939-40 and four -in the previous year. Two cyclists in this age-group were killed in 1939-40." The report also refers to the steps the Department has taken to assist in inculcating road safety measures in the minds of the children.