SAFETY FIRST ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21982, 17 June 1933, Page 21

SAFETY FIRST ASSOCIATION

ANALYSIS OF ACCIDENTS THE HUMAN ELEMENT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, May 12. An investigation of 3029 accidents, which resulted in the death of 3129 persons, has been made by the National “ Safety First ’’ Association, and a statistical review of the facts and circumstances of the accidents has been issued. It is shown that the percentage of accidents due to the human element was 85.8 per cent., and it is remarkable that in each of the five years during which the association has conducted investigations the proportion of fatal accidents attributed to human errors of judgment has remained at between 81 per cent, and 86 per cent, of the total. Most of the accidents occurred in August, and the next largest number in December. Saturdays had the worst daily average—namely, 23 deaths. Fridays came next with 18 deaths' a day, and on each of the other week-days the death rate was 16. Sunday bad the lowest average with 14 deaths. The greatest number of t fatal accidents which "occurred on any one day took place on Christmas Eve. a Saturday, and numbered 36. The two worst weeks were the week including August bank holiday and the week preceding Christmas Day, with a daily average of 19 accidents and 20 deaths. The fewest accidents occurred on Sunday, December 4, when only five were recorded. 10 TO 15 THE SAFEST AGE. Practically half of those killed during the six months were pedestrians; onequarter were motor cyclists, and one-sixth pedal cyclists. In other words, nine out of every 10 victims were either walking or cycling, including motor cycling. More motorists than pedestrians were killed during July and August, but the position was reversed in October, November, and December.

Of the pedestrians killed 80 per cent, were either under 10 years of age or over 50. This suggests that those to whom the roads present most danger are the children who are too young to appreciate danger or have not had “ safety first” teaching and the elderlv people who, through infirmity or being less mentally alert, are more liable to be knocked down. An interesting point is that the school age, from 10 to 15 is regarded as the safest period of life. There are more killed between the ages of five and six than at any other period. The majority of the pedal cyclists killed were between the ages of 15 and 19, while the motor cyclist victims were practically all between 20 and 30 years of age. DAZZLE LIGHTS AND DEFECTIVE BRAKES. The number of vehicles involved in the accidents investigated was 4814 vehicular defects contributed for 374 accidents, 108 of which were in pedal cycles, five in horse vehicles, and the balance of 261 in motor vehicles. Out of 58 pedal cyclists run down from behind at night there were 23 cases when the rear reflector was stated to have been ineffective and five when no reflector was fitted. “ Dazzle ” lights and ineffective lighting were the most frequent reported contributory defects and next in frequency came defective brakes. Most accidents occurred in built-over districts and only 25 per cent, in open country. In 79 cases vehicles mounted the footpath, and in 45 of these 46 pedestrians were killed. At road junctions there were 621 accidents, or 40 per cent, of all cases in which vehicles were in collision with one another.