FOUR LIVES A MONTH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19372, 9 July 1937, Page 12

FOUR LIVES A MONTH

DECREASE IN DEATH ROLL ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN KEVIEW OF TEN .MONTHS (Pur Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. . Before his departure for Australia to-night, the Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Transport, said he had had prepared a graph illustrating the number of deaths from motor acidents, month by month, since April, 1935. "This graph," said Mr. Semple, "indicates the reduction in the toll of human lives which has taken place since the road safety campaign commenced in earnest about last. September: The average fatality rate during the past 10 months is compared with the i rate, in the corresponding period during the previous year. "An actual saving of four lives a month is shown to have taken place during the period referred to. This represents a drop of 20 per cent in the death roll of the previous year, although the traffic has actually increased by 14 per cent.

"Although no figures are avaiable for accidents not involving fatalities, it may be assumed that a similar decrease has taken place in all motor acidents. Had no preventive action been taken, the public may judge for itself the extent to which the accident rate would probably have soared with the great increase in traffic which has occurred. "It is expected that early next week the Government Printing Office will be in a position to commence the despatch of bulk supplies of the ror/' code booklets to the General Office and the Postal Department wll 1 then take in hand the distribution n e the booklets to some 360,000 homes en its household mailing list. Pedestrians and Cyclists

"This distribution," Mr. Semple explained to-night, "is mainly lor the purpose of giving pedestrians and cyclists an opportunity to become acquainted with the traffic regulations which concern them as wen as tht motorists. It should be unnecessary to say that it is only by a knowledu>of the rules of the road and by the constant observance of them, thav, adult and child pedestrians and cyclists can help to assure themselves o their own safety. "It is possible that publicity concerning road accidents has had the effect of making it appear that the blame or most of it, rests upon the motorists. That some drivers hay proved themselves careless # and callous is unquestionable, but it is airtrue that onlv too often pedestrian: and cyclists are victims of their or.. ignorance or carelessness. "I have always thought it is the Government's duty at least to give evervone an opportunity to know jus what are their legal rights and duties under the traffic laws, and I hope the road code booklets will be of help Many people, those living in flats for example, may not be reached through the Postal DeDartment's household distribution, but if any one has not received his or her copy of the code by the end of this month, a request addressed to the Transport Department Wellington, Vill be'complied with.