HOLIDAY TRAFFIC

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 20932, 11 January 1938, Page 4

HOLIDAY TRAFFIC

ACCIDENTS ON ROAD MORE KILLED, FEWER INJURED By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, January 10. "During the last fortnight, all forms of transport in New Zealand have been subjected to traffic demands quite unprecedented in the history of the Dominion,” said th? Minister for Transport (the Hon. R. Semple). “A record holiday rush was expected, but the traffic by road, rail, air. and steamer, between Christmas Eve and the first week of the New Year, far exceeded the very generous estimates mad? in midDecember by those closely connecter’ with transport matters. In 1936-37, in spite of unfavourable Christmas weather, road traffic reached record dimensions. Reports from many parts of the Dominion indicate that this record was far exceeded by the traffic on the road during the last fortnight.

"In spite of this.’’ said the Minister, ‘‘there were apparently fewer persons injured in traffic accidents these holidays than during the corresponding 1936-37 period. Athough it is impossible to give precise figures until the police reports are received, 96 persons having been injured on the roads between Christmas Eve, 1937. and January 3, 1938, compared with 105 of traffic injury reported in the press as occurring during the previous holidays. There were many more fatal accidents—practically all o'' the patrolled trunk roads—during the recent holidays, however, 17 being killed as opposed to nine in the 1936-3” holiday period. The registration of new cars has shown an extraordinary rise in the last three months. Increased power and greater speeds were responsible for very many of these deaths. Accidents on Trunk Loads

‘‘An interesting fact is revealed by an examination of the reports of accidents which occurred during the holidays,” said the Minister. ‘‘There were relatively few accidents on the trunk roads and on the roads which, in view of special occasions such as race meetings. carried the greater volume of traffic. Although many millions of miles were covered by motorists on the trunk roads between Christmas Eve and January 4. only three fatal accidents in a total of 17 occurred on these roads, and two were accidents through misadventure rather than recklessness or of lack of road courtesy. My traffic officers reported a very considerable improvement in the standard of driving on main highways during the holidays. There were few ‘road hogs’ and ‘traffic snails,’ motorists appreciating the dangers of recklessness and, as a body, were 1 oth careful and courteous to each other. Through the careful driving and sound road sense of motorists, good patrol work of the traffic inspectors, and the Government’s policy of road improvement, the exceptionally heavy traffic on trunk roads and on roads leading to and from race meetings and similar gatherings flowed exceptionally smoothly and expeditiously during the holidays. ‘‘l am sorry to say, however, that motorists did not continue to exercise ' the same degree of care, having regard to all the circumstances, when they left the main highway. This Year there were 14 in the urban areas and on country roads compared with three on main highways. Off the trunk roads, far too many motorists drove at excessive speeds and in an irresponsible ■ manner particularly on Christmas Eve i and New Year’s Eve. Dangerous Minutes “Cases of cars getting out of control and crashing over banks or hit- { ting telegraph were much too I frequent, and there were several bad • smashes at blind intersections on , country roads. Pedestrians also showed a lack of responsibility, especially on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, two being killed shortly after midnight ,on each occasion. extent to which the relaxation of vigilance and care on these occasions resulted in serious accidents is shown

by the fact that as many people were killed between 1.20 a.m. and 2.15 a.m. on Christmas morning, and between midnight and 12.45 a.m.: on New Year’s morning, a space of 100 minutes, as were killed during the whole of the month of November last year. Thirteen persons were killed in the two 12hour stretches following 3 p.m. on Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Indulgence in Liquor "Far too many of the accident reports record excessive indulgence in liquor, not only by drivers but also by pedestrians and cyclists,” said Mr Semple. "Drunken pedestrians stagger about the roads at their owi risk on Christmas Eve. The driver of a motorcar, however, has a responsibility to others. Intoxicated drivers will have to realise that whatever the occasion, they will get no quarter, and that every means will be adopted of putting them off the roads.

“The accident reports during the holidays showed that a number of new drivers had an inadequate knowledge both of driving and also of road manners,” said the Minister. "The danger of incompetent driving may have to be met by enlarging the scope of driving licence tests to ensure that no one shall drive a high-powered modern car without understanding the machine under his or her control and without appreciating the social responsibility involved in its proper handling. “I would like to thank the great majority of road users for minimising road dangers during what was the most difficult traffic period in New Zealand’s history,” added Mr. Semple. “If we can look forward to the same improvement on secondary roads as was evident on main highways, New Zealand will have a proud record for road safety during 1938.”