Accident “Repeaters” Beware This Year

Northern Advocate, 27 January 1939, Page 7

Accident “Repeaters” Beware This Year

LSpecial to “Northern Advocate”] WELLINGTON, This Day.

According to an announcement i made by the Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semple, yesterday, accident “repeaters” and accident-prone drivers are to receive special attention this year. ‘‘lnsurance companies are familiar with the driver who is constantly making claims for bent mudguards and other property damaged,” Mr Semple added. “Cases of three or four claims against a company in a year are frequent. “One driver last year made six claims against his insurers. Succession of Mishaps. '“The Transport Department does not receive particulars of accidents in which no person is injured, but, from departmental reports, more than 180 persons have been involved in. two or more accidents causing personal in-! jury in the last 18 months.

“One driver had three personal injury accidents in less than three months.”

Mr Semple said that when the same driver was involved in two accidents causing personal injury, the case was referred by the Transport Department to the local authority where the driver resided.

Driving Investigation, A recommendation was made that the driver be interviewed by a competent traffic officer, and an investigation made of his driving characteristics and history. The primary purpose of the investigation was to ascertain what drivers were having recurrent accidents and why. To discover this was the first step toward eliminating these accidents. A diagnosis of driving faults might also assist “repeaters” to avoid their faults and traffic accidents in future.