ROAD MISHAPS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 95, 22 March 1939, Page 5

ROAD MISHAPS

DECREASE IN JANUARY. SAFETY WEEK SUCCESS. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, March 21. Fatal road accidents in New Zealand fell to a total of 11 in January last, this drop from J 9 in the previous month bein<; attributed to the inlluenee of ltoad Safety Week observed throughout New Zealand during December. Figures released to-day by the Minister of Transport (lion. it. Semple) show that for the period August, 1938, to February, 1939, the monthly totals of fatal accidents were, with the sole exception of February, lower than those lor the earlier months of the statistical year. The Decent berJanuary fatality figure in fact was tile lowest recorded since such statistics have been compiled. A reduction of more than 200 cases of injury was noted in the 10 weeks following lload Safety Week. Mr Semple announced that the cost of Road Safety Week was less than £2OOO. On an actuarial basis the saving in human life during the period following this campaign was £25,000, and this figure represented the reduction in fatalities only. Loss through casualties and property damage would add considerably to tlie figure.

After January’s small total of 11 lives lost, tlie February figure rose sharply to 2L. The review of the halfyear, in explaining this, points out that a set sum was ap]x>rtioned for road safety exjienditurc up to March 31. This sum was practically exhausted by the Road Safety Week demonstration. By the end of January the fund had all been used and publicity had to be relaxed, 'file immediate result was an increase in the number of fatal accidents, which in February were almost double the number in January, despite the density of tlie holiday traffic in the earlier month. Christchurch lias the unenviable position of being the scene of most accident® during the past six months. The number of fatalities in the Christchurch metropolitan built-up area was eight. Wellington followed with seven, then Dunedin with three, and Hamilton two. Accidents in built-up areas totalled 46, compared with 05 on the open road. Of the open road fatalities, A 3 occurred in the North Island, and only 12 in tlie floiilh. In towns the pedestrians contributed very heavily to the total. On the open road, however, it was the occupants of motor-vehicles who swelled the total, no fewer than 55 of the 78 who were ki 1 loci on the road being either drivers or paf«engers. In 54 per cent, of the total fatal accidents on the open road .there was no second party to the accident, a motor-vehicle overturning, going over a bank, crashing against u. pole or some other object. Nine motor-cyclists and one pillion rider were killed in the towns, and exactlv the same numlicr in the country. The bicycle fatuities were largely confined to the towns.