HOLIDAY PERIOD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22621, 8 January 1937, Page 11

HOLIDAY PERIOD

DOMINION FIGURES MORE INJURED INVOLVED NO INCREASE IN KILLED Nearly twice as many road accidents occurred throughout New Zealand during the present holiday season as were recorded in that of 19.'55-.')6. Between Christmas Kve and yesterday a total of 16 motoring mishaps in which persons were killed and injured were reported. as against 26 for the corresponding period a year ago. Actually no more •were killed, the number being six over each period but the ~.'i persons inj Vthis year represented an increase of IS over last year's figures. In Christmas week there were many accidents due no doubt to the greatly increased number of vehicles conveying liolidayniakers over the highways. Altogether 21 serious accidents were notiiicd on Christmas Day. Three resulted in death. Ten of the '2l occurred in Auckland, and many of them within the precincts of the city and suburbs. The fatal accidents occurred in Wellington, Hawera and Central Otago. There were also tin v) fatal accidents at Christmas time last year, when altogether 15 serious mishaps occurred. During the lirst few days of the new year the number of accidents was considerably fewer. They totalled 12, which was only one more than during the same days of last January. Two persons were killed —a pedestrian who was struck by :i motor-cycle in Auckland, and a motorist, whose car struck a bridge in Christchurch. Fifteen others suffered injuries necessitating hospital treatment. Four of the accidents occurred in and around the city of Auckland, and another six within the province. The Figures Analysed Of the total number of accidents during the period reviewed. 2:1 occurred ill the city of Auckland. Thirteen were reported from various parts of the province. Wellington and Palmcrstou North each reported three, there being one fatality in the latter centre, and two accidents happened in Christchurch. Four further mishaps were announced front Blenheim, Ashburton, Invcreargill and Wedderburn, Central Otago. In the ]y3s-36 holidays Auckland had 20 motor smashes, 11 of which happened in and about the city, and other serious occurrences were reported from Wellington, Christchurch, Palmcrstou North, Tiniaru, Blenheim and Ashburton. Persons killed included three motorists, two pedestrians, and one motorcyclist. Those killed in accidents the previous Christinas and New \ear were three motorists and three pedestrians. The persons injured during the past weeks were 42 motorists, 16 motorcyclists and 14 pedestrians. An invalid in a wheel-chair was hurled to the road while being towed behind a motorcar, and a young woman suffered injury through falling out of a car. Sixteen motorists, seven pedestrians and two motor-cyclists were among those injured in accidents a year ago. Classes of Accidents Six motorists were the most injured in any one accident, and this was the result of a collision in Wellington on Christmas Day. Five were injured in another collision in Auckland some days later, and four, three and two persons respectively, were hurt in other accidents. In the majority of instances only one person was injured. No one accident resulted jn the death of more than one person. The most hurt in any accident during the previous Christmas holidays was three motorists, who were involved in a collision at Thames. Fleven motor-cars in which people were killed or injured were involved in collisions with other cars, and one collided with a tramcar. Five capsized, and two crashed after careering some distance out of control. One toppled over a cliff at Albany, injuring three passengers, and another struck a bridge. Jt is notable that there have been no railway-crossing accidents since Christmas. There was one last year, together with four collisions, five capsizes, one car running over a cliff, and another striking a safety zone.