ROAD ACCIDENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23014, 17 October 1936, Page 12

ROAD ACCIDENTS

Statistics published by the Transport Department relating to road accidents in the Dominion for the year ended March last do not reveal anything either new or unexpected The death roll was high—accidents "ost 20i-i lives, or 21 more than in the previous year—but what consolation there is to be had may be taken from the fact that the figure was not the highest recorded That grim distinction belongs to the 1930-31 year, when fatal driving accidents claimed no fewer than 247 victims The need, nevertheless, for greater caution on the part of all classes of road-users is again emphasised with telling force. Unfortunately the examination of causes of road accidents is less complete than could be wished for, and in this connection it may be pertinent to offer the suggestion that in future the department could per-

haps model its report, in respect of detail, on the lines of that recently issued by the British Ministry of Transport on fatal road accidents in 1935 In this report an exhaustive analysis - is made of the causes and circumstances of 6289 accidents causing the appalling total of 6477 deaths One disturbing fact that does emerge, however, is that motorists in the Dominion were at fault in approximately 66 per cent, of the total number of fatal accidents, the chief factor, we are told, being excessive speed Similarly in the British case speed was by far the largest cause of death or injury, combined with failure to stop or reduce speed when necessary and with failure to reduce speed when dazzling lights were approaching. The modern high-powered car will continue to claim its victims, many of them blameless, until there is a greater realisation of the terrible menace inherent in excessive speed, with, in too many instances, loss of control and consequent inability to react instantly and surely in a crisis. Intoxication of the driver, it is added, was a factor in only 2.5 per cent, of the fatal accidents. There is a significant inference to be drawn from that statement, even if it is conceded, as is submitted in the report, that sub-intoxication was probably present in a much larger percentage of cases than the statistics show. It is that far too many motorists whose judgment or skill is presumably unimpaired by indulgence in alcohol are yet prepared to take their cars on to the open road and drive them in a manner dangerous to themselves or to others. No more complete justification for the restrictive regulations recently adopted could possibly be found. The Minister of Transport pointed out in Christchurch a few days ago that in the six-weekly period immediately prior to the introduction of the new traffic laws there were 53 persons killed, whereas only four lives had been lost in an equal period since the regulations had become effective. It is too soon yet to draw an over-optimistic conclusion from such figures, but the fact, in itself, is extraordinarily striking. One can only hope that the intensive safety campaign of which Mr Semple has undoubtedly been the driving force, plus the lower limits placed on speed and the harsher measures taken for the disciplining of offenders, will produce results that are greatly to be desired, and will place this young country in the forefront of those which are endeavouring to reform road conduct.