Road Safety Reduces Accidents

Northern Advocate, 28 January 1939, Page 10

Road Safety Reduces Accidents

[Per Press Association,— Copijrighr.l WELLINGTON, This Day. Figures regarding the effect of Road Safety Week on the accident rate were released by the Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semple, yesterday. Mr Semple appealed for special care on the roads this week-end. Four lives were lost during the corresponding week-end last year. “The first set of figures which we have taken out, covering a fortnight from the commencement of Road Safety Week, shows a substantial decrease in accidents in practically every district, and this in spite of 25,000 more cars on the road,” said Mr Semple. Substantial Decrease. “One person was killed and 47 were injured (13 seriously) in the Auckland metropolitan district during the fortnight in 1937 commencing- on De-

cember 5. “During the corresponding period from the beginning of Road Safety Week, December 5, 1938, the figures were 17 injured (seven seriously), a reduction of one death and 30 cases of injury. “For the 60 days since the campaign commenced the Wellingtoh and Dun-

edin Road Safety Flag has not had to be lowered for a fatality. “North Island accidents in the fortnight were reduced from 140 to 109— and South Island from 54 to 45. Accidents in built-up areas for the whole of New Zealand were reduced from 116 to 96, and accidents in not builtup areas from 78 to 58. Fewer Injured. “The total number of personal injury accidents for New Zealand for the 1937 fortnight from December 5 was 194, with three fatalities. “With the increase in traffic, this number might have been expected to have grown .to 215 or 220 during the same fortnight of 1938, but this number was reduced to 154, with two, instead of three, fatalities. “These figures are encouraging in that’they show just what can be done,” Mr Semple said. More Must be Done. “The total of two killed and 152 injured in 14 days, a total of 11 a day, is still far too high a price, however, for us to pay for the taking of risks on .the road.

. “It is up to all. New Zealanders to reduce these accidents and celebrate our. Centennial by making 1939 the most road courteous year in our history.”

The English cricketers started a three day match with a combined Transvaal eleven. The south Africans,, batting first, put on 230 for 6 wkts, (B. Mitchell 83, K. Viljoen 76.) • ♦ ♦ • Rev. N. C. Hall, of Kaikohe, has returned from a month’s ‘ holiday in Otago.