HIGH FATALITY RATE

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 28 January 1933, Page 12

HIGH FATALITY RATE

TOLL OF THE MOTOR

COMPARISON WITH OTHER

COUNTRIES

‘‘Regulations and penalties are important factors in reducing the number of accidents, but the wifi of the motorist to aviod unnecessary risks is the main factor, and a full realisation of this by motorists might easily reduce our accident rate very appreciably,” states the official organ of the New Zealand Motor Trade Association. The article continues:

“The magnitude of the loss of life by motor accidents is better realised by the statistics of the United States of America and iGrcat Britain. Last year in the United •States 34,400 people were killed and 907,600 were injured in motor vehicle accidents, and in Great Britain the figures wore 5746 killed and 139,756 injured. “The matter is of special concern to Insurance underwriters, and a recent investigation as to the causes throws some interesting light on the subject. The underwriters no longer explain away the increase in- the number of accidents by the increased number of motor vehicles in use, and the factors

they list, which are mainly responsible a re: (1) The increased power and speed of motor-vehicles. ! ' . (2) Improved roads. (3) Increased congestion. (4) 1 increased use of closed cars, permitting the use of motor-cars in all classes of weather when formerly it was common practice to lay xfp open cars for the winter. (a)' Increased mileage. ((i)i Increased family use of motor cars. “The position in New Zealand, although serious, compares very favourably with that of Great Britain or United States, and for the year 1931 the number of motor fatalities was considerably less than in either of the txvo preceding years. The motor fatalities for the last three years are: 1929, 180; 1930, 223; 1931, 1 09. The reduction in the rate for 1931 is partly accounted for by the fact that fewer motor vehicles were in use than in 1929 and 1930, but this is neither the sole or the main reason for the decrease. “The ratio of fatalities to nxxmber of motor vehicles on the road (not on the register) was 131 per cent, in 1930 and .099 per cent, in 1931. On the same basis for the year 1931 the ratio in 'Great Britain was .264 per cent, and in United States .132 per cent. “Since the regulations were tightened up in reference to the issue of drivers’ licenses the standard required before a license is issued has been raised, and the new driver of to-day is much less likely to cause an accident than was the case previously. The accident ratio in New Zealand should be the lowest in the world, as the average New Zealander has the necessary qualifications required by a competent driver, and it should be the aim of every motorist to do his or her best to bring this about.”