ROAD ACCIDENTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19371, 8 July 1937, Page 11

ROAD ACCIDENTS

358 REPORTED IN JUNE DEATHS TOTAL 25 AIR. SEMPLE (JONH ’EHNED •*» (Pei* Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. The road accident statistics compiled during June were supplied today by Hon R. Semple, Minister of Transport. Three hundred and fiftyeight accidents were reported. "These figures cause me grave concern when I see they involved 447 persons, of whom 25 were killed, 89 seriously injured, and 333 slightly injured,” he asid. “I feel that more drastic action is required.” Cyclists, he pointed out, figured prominently in many cases of the accidents, and in the June cases pedestrians figured in 96. "II is evident from the reports that in a great number of instances the pedestrian himself was at fault in exercising little care in crossing the highway. There are numerous eases of chiidren running out into the street, oblivious of the danger from passing traffic. “A striking feature of the pedestrian accidents is the exceedingly large proportion where the more elderly men and women were victims to road accidents. In June, of a totalof 99 pedestrian victims, 21 were children and 3(1 were persons over 50, 10 being over 05.. While in many cases of these instances the pedestrian was perhaps legally at fault, Hie figures seemed to indicate that greater care and consideration should be shown bv motorists for the less active members of the community, and due allowance should be made ioi the irresponsible actions of children.” The Minister said he was seeking the co-operation of the Police Depaitment and all traffic authorities m securing much better observance Oi the rules of the road and stricter enforcement. He had issued instructions to his traffic staff to watch for offending dazzling lights. He exhorted motorists to observe and act upon the road signs provided for their benefit.