ROAD ACCIDENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22909, 11 December 1937, Page 16

ROAD ACCIDENTS

DECREASE IN DEATHS ONLY NINE FOR MONTH STATEMENT BY MINISTER 1 RESPONSE TO PUBLIC APPEAL A-reduction in the average number of deaths caused by road accidents from five to two each week was effected last month, compared with October, according to statistics issued by the Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Sempie, yesterday. The figures, he said showed clearly what road users could do for themselves in riiuking the roads safer and he was very glad to be able to say that tho public had responded well to the appeal for caution made by the newspapers on November 8. During JOctobcr 21 fatalities were reported, 13 of these occurring at tho week-ends. During the week-end immediately preceding the public appeal there were three fatal accidents, but only six deaths among all classes of road users were reported during the rest of the month, Two were caused in the following week, making a total of eight for tho period from November 8 to December 8, or the first month from the publication of the appeal. It encouraged the hope, said Mr. Semple, that the Christmas holiday rush would not involve the butchery on the roads that might otherwise be expected. "Week-end Exuberance" "While these results are very encouraging," continued Mr. Semple, ''it is clear from the statistics that the week-end exuberance of a few rash motorists and motor-cyclists is making them a menace to other road users, and is creating a special problem which demands a special remedy. Of the nine fatalities reported between November 1 and December 1, six occurred in the week-ends and a seventh when a party was leaving on a holiday. Of the 21 that occurred during October 13 were reported during tho week-ends. ' For the period from March 1 o to November 30, a total of 2501 traffic accidents was reported by the Police Department, 147 persons * being killed and 3056 injured. Following is an analysis of the casualties:— Serious Minor Deaths Injuries Injuries Drivers .. 26 S3 394 Passengers .. 47 124 Pedestrians .. 3K 120 487 Bicyclists .. 18 60 00-> Motor-cyclists 37 <9 254 Pillion-riders.. 1 Others .... 147 491 2502 Features of Accidents In a large percentage of the accidents on rural roads, said the Minister; there was only one vehicle involved, the drivers clearly not adapting their speed to the road, and being as a result, unable to avoid the results of a skid or a sudden turn of the wheel. One of the most striking features of the nine fatalities reported between November 1 and December 1 was that in only two of them was there a collision between motor-vehicles. Half of the vehicles involved were less than three years old, added Mr. Semple They were the quick-starting, fast-travelling type, equipped with excellent four-wheeled brakes .and the steel safety bodies. All the safety features in the world, however, were useless if defective human control misdirected the tremendous power behind the'modern motor-car. • Mr. Semple mentioned that SO or the accidents reported to the department during last month involved motoi--cycles. One pillion rider was killed and 24 persons were injured- On comparative registrations, the accident rate to motor-cycles was well over twice as great as the accident rate to private mot<Jr-cars. .