THE TOLL OF THE ROAD

Te Puke Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 55, 21 July 1939, Page 6

THE TOLL OF THE ROAD

CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS SURVEY BY MINISTER Some further figures on alcohol as a factor in accidents were given by the Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semple, to-day. “During the year ended 31st March last, ‘liquor’ accidents were responsible for the death of 31 people, serious injury to 142 others, and lesser injury to another 179—in all, 352 casualties,” said Mr Semple. In addition to these accidents in which drivers were under the influence of liquor, 31 intoxicated pedestrians and 5 intoxicated bicyclists were involved in accidents.” “While the severity of all accidents is represented by one fatality for every 18 or 19 non-fatal, in cases where the driver was to some extent under the influence of liquor, one accident in 8 was fatal. Where the driver was definitely intoxicated every sixth accident proved fatal. Mr Semple said that collisions with other motor-vehicles were the predominent type of accident in which intoxicated drivers were involved. Collisions with bicyclists and with telegraph poles were also common. There were i>s instances when no other road user was involved. More than half of the accidents happened on country roads. They were most frequent during the evening hours, mainly between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., but also to a lesser degree until after midnight. Of all accidents involving liquor, 42.5 per cent occurred between 4 p.m. Saturday and 4 a.m. Sunday. An investigation of cases in which drivers were under the influence of liquor reveals the fact that excessive speed 1 is much more frequent in these cases than in general. Other frequent factors associated with these accidents were failure to keep to the correct side of the road, inattention, failure to give way, and passing other vehicles negligently. ,