ACCIDENT STATISTICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19762, 8 October 1927, Page 10 (Supplement)

ACCIDENT STATISTICS.

POLICE CEASE RECORDING. In its pursuance of the new efficienc; the police force has no time to attend t< traffic trivialities. Commissioner Mc Inveney h'as ordered that the compilatioi of motor accident statistics should be dis continued. He seems anxious to wash hi hands of transport in all its ramifications This attitude brings another deficiency o the Motor Vehicles Act into prominence The legislation should have definitely fixed the responsibility of keeping traffic accident data on some authority. It is i pity the police should shelve a functioi which is taken seriously elsewhere in thi world. Only a non-motorised police fore* would avoid taking an interest in traffii to this extent. Although vehicle accidents in Aucklanc during the first half of 192*7 averaged 15 a week and concerned a total of 19' pedestrians, the police apparently deen that no purpose is served by acquainting the public with the accident rate. Peoph ■who have fully investigated traffic ques tions take a different view. The Ministry of Transport of Greal Britain issues periodic statements of acci dent data. These form a basis for esti mating the necessity for speed limits anc other control. In America careful survey; are made for official safety measures, anc incidentally every citizen is entitled tc know how the motor death roll stands The recommendations of the America! National Conference on Street and High way Safety resulting from the 1926 con vention should be interesting to the New Zealand motorist The suggestions meel with the frill approval of police officers ir other parts of the world. Following are significant extracts : —1 To promote a better understanding of the traffic accident problem and of the me;v si?res which should 4>e taken for the elimination of accidents, accurate, complete and up-to-date statistical information should be secured by duly authorised officials. The information should be analysed and published frequently. 2. A comprehensive programme of research intc the causes of street and highway accidents should be undertaken bv a national body qualified for the purpose with a view to determining contributing causes anil the frequency of various azrThe above recommendations come from an organisation which has done much tc lower America's notorious motor fatality rate. Tt is composed of police officials, insurance aceessors. taxi-cab operators and representatives of the American Automobile Association, the National Chamber of Commerce, the National Research Council and the National Safety Council. The organisation was established in 3924 by Mr. Herbert Hoover, Secretary of Commerce. The retnrns which the Auckland poii -e prepared before the ban were quite comprehensive and interesting. Following was the return of traffic accidents in the city and suburbs for the first six months of 1927: Accidents to Pedestrians. Motor-cars .. .. .. . . 11-5 Motor lorries .. .. .. 26 Tramcars . » *» .. .. 1-1 Cycles «. - .. .. 14 Motor-cycles . ■ .. 13 Buses .. .. . . 11 tram "Ys ; ' . . 1 Total pedestrians 194 Motor-cars and Other Vehicles. Cars 1 striking cars ~ . 71 Cars striking lorries .. ... 40 Cars striking motor-cycles . . 32 Cars striking cycles . . .. 25 Cars striking posts, etc. ~ 18 Cars striking buses .. . 14 Cars staking trams .« ~ 10 Cars ?t. king horses .. . . 8 Cars striking trains . . » 2 Cars striking steam tram „3 1 : ' 221 Other Collisions. Lorries? striking buses .. .. 12 Lorries striking lorries .. . „ 11 Lorries striking cycles .. .. 7 Lorries striking motor-cycles .. 5 Lorries striking trams . . . . 4 Lorries striking horses . . ... 4 Lorries striking fixed objects .. 4 Buses striking fixed objects .. 3 Buses striking trams . . ~ 2 Buses striking bnse3 .. .. 1 Buses striking cart . . .. 1 Buses striking motor-cycles . . 1 Motor-cycles striking motor-cycles 2 Motor-cycles striking cycles . . 3 Motor-cycles striking fixed objects 2 Trams striking cycles . . . 2 Trams striking horses .. . 1 Miscellaneous .. .. .. 11 / 76 A2T ARDUOUS RIDE. A record in endurance was established last week by a local motor-cyclist, Mr. A. J. Foster, who rode "a 2J h.p. machine from Auckland to Wanganui and back in 48 hours. To travel 670 miles with only one and a-half hour's rest is a test which the average rider would not relish. Mr. Foster left Auckland at 6 a.m. on "Thursday, September 29, with the intention of making a non-stop run to Wellington and back. He reached New Plymouth at 5.50 p.m. after delays due to a puncture and to water in the benzme. Continuing, he found his lighting set had failed, and, on reaching Wanganui. he decided to return. The journey was commenced after a rest of one hour and Hamilton was reached at 7 p.m. on Friday. On the last homeward lap Mr. Foster again experienced lighting trouble and he pushed his machine into Mercer at 1 a.m. Securing a candle and fixing it In his lamp he continued slowly and came to grief in a ditch at Drury. Somewhat exhausted after nearly 46 hours in the saddle, he walked toward Drury and obtained benzine, oil and carbide. Resuming the trip he reported at the Herald Office at 6 a.m. lastSaturday. To sustain him on his gruelling ride Mr. Foster had eight cups of tea. two meat pies and 140 cigarettes. Sma'l vender that he slept for 18 hours after liis leturn.