ROAD ACCIDENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 October 1939, Page 3

ROAD ACCIDENTS

HIGH WEST COAST RATE. MOTORISTS DISCUSS CAUSE. The question of the high road accident rate on the West Coast, which has led insurance companies to increase their insurance rates to West Coast car owners by 50 per cent, above those charged in other parts of the Dominion, was again discussed at last evening’s meeting of the executive of the Grey Branch of the Automobile Association (Canterbury), and it was decided to write to the Safety Council, asking that body to assist in overcoming the trouble by collecting more data as to the nature, cause and locality of accidents, and the ages of the drivers involved. The matter was introduced by ’ the chairman, Mr P. C. Heaphy who said that only the other day an adjustor for an insurance company had told him that in one day he had received 10 claims for damages arising out. of accidents, some of them involving quite large amounts. On account ol the high accident rate on the West Coast the insurance companies had increased' their rates to West Coast owners, but they had been hopeful that a reduction in the accident rate over a period would have supplied them with data to present a case to the companies for a reduction of the insurance rates. Unfortunately, this was not possible. A remarkable fact was the comparative freedom from accidents in the busier parts. For example, the number of accidents in Greymouth was small. Apparently motorists drove carefully in town. On the country roads it was different. He did not know whether the accidents were mainly due to speed, better roads, or faults in driving, but the high accident rate was certainly against the best interests of a body such as rheirs. It was not only a

question of the physical loss involved. During the past month, there had been several serious accidents, from Hari Hari north, in which people had been injured. The cause of the accidents was obscure. Apparently the cars were all right. The accidents were not confined to any particular make of car, and both old' cars and new cars were involved. In many cases the damage done ranged from £4O to over £lOO,

Mr J. G. Quinn; Is there any suggestion that some localities produce more accidents than others?

Mr Heaphy said that 11,0 locality record was kept. A map had been prepared showing the localities of accidents on the West Coast, but these Were accidents reported to the police, and in most of such accidents someone was injured'. He did not see why it should not be possible to have a record of all accidents in which a claim for insurance was made.' If such a record were prepared by the Safety Council, it would be of much more value than the present record, which prbbably covered only 20 per cent, ol the accidents. Quite a lot was heard of what the Safely Council was doing. but the benefits of its work- were not very apparent. He did not blame the. Minister, who had done his best to promote safer driving. Dr. W. McKay said he quite agreed that something should he done to clarifv the matter. The high accident

rate on the West Coast was either due to bad or careless driving, or else to the fact that road conditions here were worse than in other parts of the Dominion. Unless they knew which was correct, they were only jumping to conclusions. He would be loath to think that the West Coast driver was worse than the average New Zealand driver. He saw no reason why he should be. So, if the West Coast driver was an average driver, then the high accident rate must be due to the fact that the conditions of the reads here made driving more difficult and dangerous than in other parts of the country. The road from Kumara to Otira was difficult, and, if it could be shown that the accident rate on that road was high, they would have something to work on. They had either got to say that West Coast drivers were the worst in New Zealand, or else give them the ben elit of the doubt and put the blame on road conditions.

SPEEDING AT NIGHT. Mr Harley: There are live accidents on the Greymouth-Kumara road to one on. the Otira Road, and, therefore, I say that most of the accidents are due to negligent driving. When the stretch of road between Greymouth and Gladstone Siding was first laid down in. bitumen, there were about seven accidents a week, until we got a traffic inspector on the job and pulled the drivers up a bit. Speeding at night is the cause of a lot of accidents. Then there are drivers who will not slow down and will not give the other motorist half the road. Mostly they are young, irresponsible drivers.

Dr. McKay asked whether there was any data as to the cause of accidents or the ages of the drivers. Mr Heaphy said it was information like that that they wished to get from the insurance companies. In this wav, a record would be obtained of nearly all accidents, since nearly every car was insured, and the traffic, authorities would get something useful to work. on. The present accident records were far from complete. Some of the accidents which were reported, because someone was slightly injuied, were trilling compared .with some which were not reported because no one happened to be injured. Mr Quinn: Would it be possible to get this information from the insurance companies? Mr Heaphy: I sec no difficulty. Captain F. N. Whitmore: I certainly think we should get the ages oi drivers involved in accidents. Mr Harley: And the names too. We would then know who were accidentprone drivers. Captain Whitmore: 1 think that the insurance rate for drivers over 51) should be halved. Mr Heaphy said that he I bought the matter should he taken up with the Safety Council, with a suggestion that tho Council should obtain Ihe information suggested from Hie insurance. companies. It was a serious matter that West Coast drivers, who bad managed to avoid accidents, should be singled out from the rest oi New Zealand for a 50 per cent, increase in insurance rates.

Dr. McKay said that the companies had not. increased the rates out oi mere caprice. They must have had .some figures to justify tho increase.

Perhaps the insurance companies would, in the interests of public safety, give them details of accidents on ihe West Coast over the past 12 months.

Mr Heaphy said he did not think it would be easy for the companies to supply information as to past accidents, but they could commence compiling records on the lines suggested.

Dr. McKay: We certainly want the companies to help us to find' out what is wrong.

Mr Heaphy; I think they will be willing to help. Mr Harley: One thing wrong is that there are a lot of young fellows who will not slow down when they see another car coming. Dr. McKay: I suppose they consider it a sign of inferiority to slow down. Captain E. D. Iles: On the Coast a lot of drivers stick to the middle of the road. In Canterbury, they keep to the side of the road. Mr Harley: Yes, they do that even where there is a white line down the centre of the road.

Mr S. Quintrell: I have always been an advocate of the white line. It is very useful, especialyl in the case of fog, but it seems to me it is causing people to drive towards the centre of the road instead of at the side. It was decided, on the motion of Mr Harley, seconded by Mr M. J. Fogarty, that a letter, giving the main points of the discussion, should be drafted by Mr Heaphy and Dr. McKay, and sent to the Automobile Association (Canterbury). with a request, that it be forwarded io the Safety Council.