FIVE DAYS FREE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21216, 10 December 1938, Page 8

FIVE DAYS FREE

No Fatal Accidents YINI/ITER S FURTHER APPEAL By Telegraph—Press association WELLINGTON, December 9. “Five days have now passed without a fatal accident on the roads of New Zealand,” said the Minister of Transport (Hon. R. Semple) to-day. “This excellent record shows just iyhat can be done when we like to try. An a- erage of three persons were killed every four days during December of last year, but during the past five days from Press reports there have been relatively few serious accidents. Seventy-one accidents, causing persona linjury, 40 of them serious, occurred during the corresponding period last year.” Mr Semple issued a special appeal for care and courtesy on the roads this week-end. Very heavy traffic was expected on the roads during the weekend and the possibilities of accident were greatly increased. Safety flags were still flying in the four main centres and it was up to ah citizens to keep them at the top of the mast. The Minister said that 41 pedestrie had been killed and more than 600 injured (255 seriously) between April and October last. During the same period an even greater number of cyclists had been injured in traffic accidents, though the mortality rate was not so high. On the average more than three cyclists and three pedestrians had been injured daily. “Virtually every one of these accidents was caused by the absence of cere or the taking of unnecessary risks k cyclist, pedestrian or motorist,” said Mr Semple. "The Road Safety Week has shown that these accidents can be prevented.” MESSAGE REACHES THOUSANDS SAFETY FLOATS IN AUCKLAND. By Telesrapb—Press Association AUCKLAND, December C. Bearing grim warnings of the perils of the road, and making a strong appeal for the exercise of care by all road users, the Transport Department’s six “Safety Week” floats created widespread attention when they arrived in Auckland this afternoon. After touring the southern districts of the North Island, the floats took part in a procession through the city streets at one of the busiest times of the week, and their message was made clear to thousands of people, pedestrians, as well as motorists.