MOTOR ACCIDENTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 228, 26 September 1931, Page 8

MOTOR ACCIDENTS

LESSONS FOR DRIVERS MORE EDUCATION NEEDED. PICTURES BEST MEANS. WELLINGTON, Sept. 24. It was strongly urged by Mr. I. V. Wilson, who presided at the annual meeting of the North Island Motor Union Mutual Insurance Company last evening, that steps should bo taken to educate motorists in the necessity of more careful driving. He suggested tnat moving pictures provided the best means of so educating drivers.

‘ ‘ The reasons for the number of accidents taking place day by day and causing such numerous losses, in many cases, disablement and often casualties, should receive immediate consideration, and the best minds should be solicited in. an endeavour to reduce this wastage,” said Mr. Wilson. “There is no shadow of doubt that drivers must be educated to observe what might be termed ‘a safety margin,’ and could we cultivate in drivers a percentage of efficiency proportionate to the efficiency of the vehicles, this enormous wastage would soon be reduced.

I would recommend that this meeting requests that the incoming board confers with the executive of the North Island Motor Union to evolve some scheme for more definite education of drivers, and that consideration be given to the possibility of producing and the utilisation of moving pictures.” Analysis of Year’s Accidents. Mr. Wilson said that he had obtained from Mr. T. Romain, officer in charge of the claims department, a report incorporating an analysis of claims for the past twelve months. Tho figures were illuminating and gave a fair indication as to tho causes of accidents. Mr. Romain’s report stated that the 1586 claims dealt with were made between Ist July, 1930, and 30th June, 1931. The figure did not include all •claims made during that period, such as fire claims, etc., and the details given were to be regarded as approximate only. The accidents in respect of which the claims were made were divided by Mr. Romain under two main headings, (a) parking, starting and stopping, and (b) traffic accidents. Under the first heading 519 mishaps and accidents were listed, and under the second 1067. Of parking accidents no less than 193, or 12.2 per cent., were shown as due to carelessness; these were mainly minor collisions. Misjudgment while reversing led to mishaps (collisions or running over banks) in 104 cases. Stoppages in traffic, resulting in collisions from tho rear, accounted for 87, and other causes were: Car door not securely fastened, 78; collisions while pulling out from park 39; and minor causes. Traffic Accidents. The outstanding cause of traffic accidents, as shown in tho analysis, was breach of tho right-hand rule at intersections, 147 claims, or 9.3 per vent, of the total. The next most serious causes in leading up to claims were skids on loose surface and wet roads and travelling too fast, 126, or 8 per cent.

Other main causes were: Breaking line of traffic and turning in street, 58 (3.7 per cent.); turning without signal, 22 (1.4 per cent.); excessive speed at intersections, 32 (2 per cent.); cutting in, 22 (1.4 per cent.); overtaking on bends and intersections and in face of traffic, 34 (2.1 per cent.); rounding bends on wrong side, 81 (5.2 per cent.); rounding bends at excessive speeds, 45 (2.9 per cent.); driving on wrong side and both cars holding to centre of road (both cars in view), 45 (2.8 per cent.); swerving to avoid collision and striking object, 64 (4.1 per cent.); mechanical or tire failure, 33 (2.1 per cent.); collision on narrow road, 21 (1.2 per cent.); collision on one-car bridges, 23 (1.4 per cent.); collisions with obstructions, 39 (2.4 per •cent.); collisions with stock, 23 (1.4 per cent.); stone thrown by passing traffic, 64 (4.1 per cent.). Pedestrians were involved in 23 of the accidents dealt w’ith, 20 accidents resulting from their stopping out from traffic, and three from tramway passengers being injured while boarding or alighting. Drunkenness o.f drivers led to 8 of the cases, and light dazzle to 10. Knowledge of Regulations. “I am satisfied,” continued Mr. Wilson, “ that the motorists do not fully realise and understand the dangerous situations which they themselves create each and every hour of the day, both in the city and country areas. Also, it is truly surprising tho large number of claimants who display a very limited, or vague, knowledge, of the driving regulations. Daily disclosures prove the cause of the collision, etv., to be entirely due to such ignorance of the law. The motorist, generally speaking, is quite a decent type of individual, and his mind is absolutely free from any intention to wilfully cause a collision or injury to any fellow being. “In my opinion the motorists require immediate education in tho cause of accidents, and thus permit them to benefit in the future from the past misfortune of fellow motorists. I am satisfied that absolutely the best method of education is per medium of moving pictures. Accidents happen, as we all know, in numerous ways; but if some of the more frequent causes were reproduced in moving picture form, and then screened by the various automobile associations, I am confident great beneficial results will be achieved. Reaching the Children. Mr. Wilson expressed full appreciation of the work that had already been carried out by various automobile associations in the issue of pamphlets, circulars, and posters, but suggested that the contents wore not always fully understood by the lay person. Many of the posters had been forwarded to the schools and the contents demonstrated by the teachers. “It is gratifying,” he added, “to note from the records that comparatively few school children aro involved in motor accidents, and when it is realised that tho school •children of today will constitute the pedestrians and motorists of the future, it will bo seen that education in this very important problem is not in vain. “However, I do seriously suggest that the time has now arrived for the motorists’ combined effort to first pul their own house in order, and the moving picture is, to my mind, the best means of achieving tho desired object.”