ROAD FATALITIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 25 October 1941, Page 4

ROAD FATALITIES

A DEATH EACH DAY APPEAL TO DRIVERS 1 "The fatal road accident figures have risen seriously in the past six weeks. i said the Minister of Transport CVT • ! Semple i to-day. drawing attention to ) traffic dangers during the approaching • Labour weekend. "Last month had the highest September total of fatalities since Septem ber. 1938.” said Mr Semple. “This record has been ■ urpassed, however, by a total of eighteen deaths in the first eighteen days of this month. The gravity of these figures can be seen by comparing them with the total of eight deaths for the same periods in 1939 and 1940. An even more effect ive contrast, however, can be seen in the comparison with Ihe 1938 figures, , when eighteen days passed without a , single fatality. Tin., is admittedly ex ceptional, but the present rising trend • in the fatal accidents should give all I road users concern, rspecially during j the approaching long weekend. . “During the past two Labour week - ends four person:: were killed and more than a hundred injured (40 seris ously) in road accidents. These j figures in themselves should indicate the need for special care during this period.” LABOUR DAY WEEKEND t Mr Semple said that it did not apc pear that the black-out restrictions had 1 had much influence on the increase in !* traffic fatalities. In the past eight week-. 1 out of 33 road deaths, thanks to warn t ings issued, no cyclists and only three e pedestrians had been killed after dark e in black-out areas. Of the three f fatalities, two had occurred in ? Wellington. The number killed after dark in these areas was actually less - than Ihe figure for the corresponding i period before the black-out was intro--1 duced. Car drivers and passengers were now - sustaining the heaviest losses, and it was - this class that would need to take the greatest care during the Labour weelct end. • The Minister said that the remark- .. able resemblance between the number . and types of accidents during the last - two Labour Day periods almost gave 2 grounds for the conclusion that “accid dents repeat themselves." He appeal- . ed to all road users to see that there i would be no repetition during the j next three days of the fatal and seri - j ous accidents that occurred during the i Labour weekends of 1939 and 7940.