MOTOR ACCIDENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1930, Page 8

MOTOR ACCIDENTS.

An analysis of motoring fatalities during the past two years makes it very evident that there is a necessity for a drastic overhaul of traffic regulations and practice in the Dominion. In the seven months of the current year no fewer than 134 persons met their deaths from accidents in which motor vehicles were involved. The highest number of fatalities, 36, arose from capsizes ami falls of vehicles over banks, which seems to indicate nothing but a lack of experience or care on the part of drivers. Next on the list is the total of 27 deaths caused by collisions with pedestrians, this being perhaps the most ominous reflection upon the safety of the streets and highways of the Dominion. The fact that 25 out of the 27 pedestrians were killed within the boundaries of cities and boroughs is scarcely surprising, as it is there pedestrian traffic is heaviest, but it does seem to indicate also that rules of the road need tightening up, especially where population is densest. It is plain also that pedestrians as well as motorists require education in regard to traffic under the changed condition? brought about by the coming of the automobile, for no amount of regulation or supervision will overcome ignorance or recklessness, which is not always shown only by motor drivers. The third heaviest toll of death is that of smashes at railway crossings. Since January last 15 persons were killed at level crossings,the tragedies at Whangarei and Sockburn accounting for more than half the fatalities. Collisions between cars and between cars and motor-cycles caused 16 deaths this year, ten of these being on country roads and six in towns, while collisions- between motor-cycles were responsible for seven additional fatalities. The figures are . startling, for in addition to,, fatalities it is estimated that 1500 persons were sufficiently injured in motor accidents to require hospital or medical attention, ir-. respective of many more cases of minor injury. Apart from the question of individual hurt or lose, the accident record indicates a serious economic burden upon the community. The Minister of Transport has stated that by cooperation between local authorities and his department it is hoped to work out a system of J traffic control that will improve matters considerably. It is quite apparent that the improved methods cannot be introduced a moment too coon.