ROAD ACCIDENTS ANALYSED

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 July 1933, Page 11

ROAD ACCIDENTS ANALYSED

WOMEN DRIVERS VINDICATED LONDON, May 5. Women motor drivers are completely exonerated, in a report issued by the National Safety First Association of the charge often levelled' against them of being more liable to road accidents than men drivers. The report, which covers the deaths of 3,029 persons on the roads during the six months from July to December last year, states: —Women constituted only 4.6 per cent, of drivers of motor-cars whose errors of. judgment were deemed the chief contributory causes of accidents. The report' also shows that the proportion of contributory causes to accidents is higher for pedestrians than for motor drivers. Out of 86 per cent, of fatal accidents which were due to the failure of the human element, adult pedestrians were responsible for 25 per cent, and child pedestrians for 25 per cent. Less than 9 per cent, of the blame is attributed to drivers of private cars, and 18 per cent, to motor-cyclists,. Pedal cyclists were responsible for 13 per cent, of the fatal accidents. Incidentally, Lt.-Col. J. A. A. Pickard general secretary of the association, commenting on the report yesterday, deplored the tbo-prevalent tendency for the various classes of road users to blame one another. “Mutual abuse of this sort,” he said, “is doing more harm to the accident problem than almost anything else.”

SCHOOL AGE SAFEST Commenting upon the fact that the school age—lo to 15—ds shown to be the safest period in life, Col. Pickard remarked that it was a wonderful tribute to the school teachers throughout the country, who were educating children in the principles of Safety First. Other points contained in the report are: More motorists than pedestrians were killed during the months of July and August, but in October, November and December the position was reversed. Most accidents occurred in August, and December came next. Saturday had the worst average with 23 deaths, Friday came next with 18. Sunday had the lowest average with 14 deaths. Christmas Eve had the blackest record with no fewer than 36 deaths. The greatest number of accidents occurred between ten p.m. and eleven p.m. Between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. was the next most dangerous period—and during the winter months the most dangerous. Six hundred and twenty-one accidents occurred at road junctions, which is 40 per cent, of all cases in which vehicles were in collision with one another; 279 occurred at bends. The majority of accidents occurred when there was not much traffic about.

In one out of every seven of the accidents which occurred during hours of darkness, poor artificial lighting was a contributory cause.

In 9 per cent, of the fatal accidents to solo motor-cyclists no othei 1 vehicle or obstacle was involved.

Three times as many males as females were killed. Eighty per cent, of the pedestrians were eithier under 10 years of age or over 50. Most of the motorists (mainly motor-cyclists) killed were between 20 and 30. Most of the pedal cyclists killed were between the ages of 14 and 20.

Vehicular defects contributed to 374 accidents, and dazzle lights to 88. Ineffective lighting was responsible for 117 accidents.

Practically half of the victims were pedestrians; one-quarter wetre motorcyclists, and one-sixth pedal cyclists. In other words, nine out of (tvery ten victims were either walking or cycling, including motor-cycling.

Referring to the fact that eighty motor-cycle accidents took plaice when there was no other vehicle or obstruction on the road, Col. Pickard said that there was need to train motorcyclists to exercise more care. A good deal of danger arose, too, from*, pedal cyclists carrying children on the; cross bar or handle-bars.