ACCIDENT RATE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 26, 30 July 1941, Page 9

ACCIDENT RATE

BRITISH STATSSTIGS

A HEAVY INCREASE

The, Commissioner of Transport, Mr,

G. L. Laurenson, referred, during the discussion of prevention of pedestrian accidents at the meeting of the Road Saiety Council yesterday afternoon, to the very great increase in road accidents in Britain since the outbreak of war. Compared with the same six months (September to March) of 1938----39, the accidents to adult pedestrians were this year 105 per cent, higher, and to child pedestrians 43 per cent, higher; the total pedestrian accidents were 90 per cent, higher. Cyclists' accidents increased by .19 per cent., and 75 per cent, more drivers and passengers, and 88 per cent, more motorcyclists and pillion riders had had accidents. The total increase was 70.5 per cent., accidents to pedestrians constituting more than half the total.

The, tremendous increase in the accident rate in Britain since the war began was in the first place due to black-out conditions, said Mr. Laurenson, but later daylight accidents increased to a similar extent as night accidents: There was actually a decrease in pedestrian accidents during the second winter1 of the war as compared with the first winter, but they began to increase again in March of this year. The. Royal Society for the Prevention of Road Accidents had stated the opinion that there had been a marked deterioration of road conduct, and also that military vehicles would appear to have contributed to the accident rate very considerably.

But, said Mr Laurenson, it would be altogether wrong to jtiake comparisons between the general black-out and its effect in Britain and the localised partial black-out in New Zealand. In Britain no lights at all were permitted for a distance of about 12 miles from the coast, and the degree of street and car. lighting allowed .in the rest of Britain was only a fraction of the lighting in the restricted areas of New Zealand; outside the restriction areas New Zealand carried on as before the war, with full lighting.

The council did not consider that there was need to amend the present regulations as to pedestrian crossings, though better lighting or other means of indicating crossings is needed, but that there should be an endeavour to bring about better road habits by pedestrians the members were unanimous.