ACCIDENT PROBABILITIES

Evening Star, Issue 23325, 22 July 1939, Page 20

ACCIDENT PROBABILITIES

WORST RECORD IN YOUTHFUL GROUPS The probabilities of persons of different ages being involved in traffic accidents, and the likelihood of these proving fatal, were discussed by the Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semple, in an interview to-day. Mr Semple said that a thorough investigation into accidents which killed 246 persons and injured 5,635 persons during the 12 months ending March 31 last had just been completed by the Transport Department. Some interesting figures regarding accident probabilities had been revealed.

“ The 20 to 24 years age group has the worst accident record with 717 casualties per 100,000 population,” said Mr Semple. “The 15 to 19 years group also has a high rate —603 casualties per 100.000. After 35 years is reached the rate is comparatively steady at about 340 casualties per 100.000. The accident rate for children is only half that of the group over 35.”

“ In the case of the very young and the very old accidents tend to have much more severe effects,” said the Minister. “ While over all age groups there was 1 person killed for every 24 injured, there was 1 child under _ 5 killed for every 13 injured. Again, in the age group 55 to 64 years, of every 14 persons injured, 1 did not survive, while of those persons 65 years or over 1 in every 10 succumbed to the effects of injury.

“ When considering deaths on a population basis the older age groups suffered heavily; while the average death rate for all ages is 15.6 per 100,000, the death rate of those 65 years or over is nearly 35 per 100,000. Of the other ago groups the persons from 20 to 24 years have the highest death rate —nearly 27 per 100,000. Children have the lowest rate, the group from 10 to 14 years recording only 5.5 deaths per 100,000.”-