TOLL OF THE ROAD

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19423, 7 September 1937, Page 12

TOLL OF THE ROAD

ACCIDENT POSITION .92 DEAD IN 24 WEEKS j STATEMENT BY MINISTER ! (Special to tlie Harold.) WELLINGTON, this day. • ■■ "Ninety-two New Zealanders have been killed and 1895 injured. 300 o. them seriously, in road accidents reported during the 24 weeks ended August 31," stated the Hon. *. Semple, Minister of Transport, to-day. "At this rate the casualties,for ,the •full year will exceed 4000," said the Minister. "Tragic is the only word for It "The position is better, however. than it was for the corresponding period of last year. The deaths then were 112, as compared with 92 for the present period. The efforts of the Government, the Road Safety Council, and others assisting in the campaign,, have brought about this reduction notwithstanding the big increase in the volume of traffic. v "None of us can alTord to accept this improved position as being entirely satisfactory. The total is still an alarming one, and continued and greater efforts by all are urgently necessary. The Dead and Injured "For the 24 weeks the deaths reported are: — Pedestrians .. ..29 Motor-cyclists .. 14 Push-cyclists .. .. 9 Motor-drivers .. .. 15 Passengers .. .. 25 "The injured, comprising men, women and children of various ages, and many of whom are still lying in hospital, are accounted for as follows: — Pedestrians .. .. 424 Motor-cyclists .. 187 Pillion riders .. 49 Push-cyclists ..: 387 Motor-drivers .. 281 Passengers /•■.'■ .. 551 Others .. I<J "It is. just as well that members of the public should know the facts, and nlso how to protect themselves," added the Minister. "Significance attaches to the cabled remarks of Professor Millais, of London. He states that motorcars are mastering man and that human nature is failing to cope witli the progress, of the machine which it has" created. It seems to me that if our accidents continue at their present rate New Zealand will be among the countries supplying proof of the professor's assertion. "The best advice which can be piven to those who wish to avoid death or, injury on our highways ito read the Road Code and then make"it a habit tp observe the rule* which are set "out in it."