THE ROAD DEATH.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 March 1938, Page 7

THE ROAD DEATH.

OVER 40 MOST DANGEROUS AGE. SATURDAY A FATAL DAY (By Telegraph—Press Association). BLENHEIM, Last Night. An investigation into the 50 fatal accidents to pedestrians between April 1 and December 31 last, which he said was the most comprehensive investigation of its kind ever carried out in New Zealand, was the subject of a statement issued by Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Transport. “Pedestrians over 40 will have to be more than usually careful if the figures are any guide,” he said. “Apart from Christmas and New Year’s Eve, the winter months are easily the most dangerous for the pedestrian. Between April and July last year twice as many pedestrians were killed as during August, September, October and November. Although there are more persons alive under 40 than over 40, there were four times as many killed in the over-40 group during the winter than in the under-40 group. The number of elderly pedestrians killed during this period is extraordinary. “The average age of pedestrians killed during the winter was 72. Saturday afternoon was easily the worst period in' the year, twice as many pedestrians being killed in the three hours following, ,5.30 p.m. on a Saturday as during the average 24-hour period foi the whole week. More than half of the- fatalities at night happened when it was raining, and nearly all occurred on bitumen surfaces. A number were killed when walking along the road at night with their backs to oncoming traffic. The stark fact standing out of the statistics is the tragic death-rate of elderly men and women. “To all those who are getting on in years and to motor-drivers and motorcyclists I would address an appeal to be particularly careful at night when it is wet.” ■ 'i