ROAD TOLL

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4372, 5 July 1938, Page 7

ROAD TOLL

GREATER THAN WAR LOSSES The number of people killed as the result of road accidents in Great Britain during March was 516. This was 53 more than in the same month last year. The injured totalled 16,937. which was higher by 1,693 than in March of 1937. ’ . . ... . The number of pedestrians killed last month was 265, compared with 233 in March of last year. Pedestrians injured totalled _6,227, against 5,948, and of these 1,379 received serious injuries.

Startling road casualty figures were given by Mr F. W. Hirst, vice-presi-dent, when moving the adoption of the annual report of the British Pedestrians’ Association. “According to a Catalonian Government statement,” he said, “ 1,542 people were killed and 1,979 wounded in Catalonia in 212 air raids and 17 bombardments from the sea from the beginning of the war to February 5 last.

“ During the same period 1,637 have been killed and 82,507 injured in the Metropolitan police area in road accidents. The figure for the whole of Great Britain is 10,235 killed and 343,389 injured. “ If you ask almost anyone,” added Mr Hirst, “ 1 What is your main objection to war?’ he would probably reply, ‘ The loss of life and limb, the agony of wounded and dying soldiers, the anguish of those at home.’

“ Yet many fervent lovers of peace who would be ready to sacrifice almost anything to prevent another war watch with a patience worthy of a better cause the daily toll of our roads. “ A passing sigh for unknown victims or a tear for the deatli of an acquaintance, a bitter pang when someone they care for is killed or maimed —that is all. They love speed; they will not sacrifice the pleasure of racing to their offices or their golf links merely because they risk their own lives and those of cyclists and pedestrians. “ They overlook the fact that in respect of anguish and misery 10 or 12 years’ casualties on our roads at the present rate are equal to the four years of the Great War.