MOTOR FATALITIES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 230, 29 September 1931, Page 8

MOTOR FATALITIES

1930 A VERY BAD YEAR NEARLY 250 DEATHS AN INCREASE SINCE 1922. WELLINGTON, Sept. 28. During the early months of 1930 the indications were that tho propaganda carried on through the Press, tho campaigns initiated by automooile clubs, and the prominence generally given to thp heavy loss of life through motoring accidents, were having good effect and that the number of accidents was falling. Unfortunately, as the year went on the number steadily grew, and 1930 ended with by far the worst total recorded. There were 247 deaths from accidents in which motor vehicles were involved, as compared with 199 for the previous year. Since 1922 the number of deaths from motoring accidents, excluding level-crossing and tram-motor accidents, has almost quadrupled, and it has more than doubled since 1925. The figures for land traffic fatalities (level-crossing deaths being listed under railway and tramway-motor cases under tramways) for the past nine years are as follows: Motor

The total number of accidental deaths recorded during 1930 was 373, of.which over 66 per cent., 247, resulted from overturnings, collisions, etc., of motor vehicles. In the previous year the proportion was approximately 50 per cent.; therefore not only has the total of motoring fatalities increased very markedly, but the proportion to all accidents ending fatally has risen greatly. 1930 and 1929. The comparison of fatalities for the last calendar year and for 1929 is as follows:

The overturning of vehicles was again an outstanding cause of fatal accidents. There were 59 such fatalities, er over 20 per cent. Motor-cars were involved in accidents resulting in 185 deaths, and motor-cycles in 61. One of the car fatalities and two of the motor-cycling fatalities occurred during racing, Though only nine deaths occurred where motor-cycles alone were concerned. there were 37 deaths from accidents in which motor-cycles and other vehicles were involved. Eleven deaths followed accidents in which motor-buses wore concerned, and 24 from lorry accidents. Fewer Accidents at Home. In view of the very serious increase in the number of fatalities in New Zealand last year, the position at Home is particularly interesting. Tfiere the indications are that the accident rate is falling substantially, according to a statement issued by the Royal Automobile Club last April, following the abolition of speed limits in Great Britain. The statement read:— “8o far as accidents are concerned, while the R.A.C. has no official statistics, the reports received indicate that the number has decreased. In this connection the figures for the Metropolitan area for the first three months of this year, supplied by the Ministry of Transport, show a decrease as compared with the same period last year of 32 fatal accidents (1930, 320; 1931, 288) and 341 non-fatal (1930, 10.535; 1931, 9194). “The conclusion drawn by the R.A.C. from the above are that despite the short period during which the new conditions established by the Road Traffic Act have been in operation there is already a most gratifying tendency on the part of all road-users to render roads safer by the exercise of greater caution, judgment, and consideration. There is every reason to hope that with the more general assimilation of the directions contained in the highway code and a fuller appreciation of the very drastic penalties now in operation for dangerous and careless driving, by the clasification of roads and the employment of an up-to-date system of

sign-posting, and by the properly directed activities of the mobile police, the standard of driving and of road behaviour should continue to improve with a corresponding decrease in the number of accidents.” In t. the Royal Automobile Club express ■ I the opinion that the abolition of speed limits on English roads, coupled with a severe tightening up of traffic control and supervision, promised good results. The new order brought about in Great Britain by the Road Traffic Act meant much more than the mere abolition of speed limits—much fuller and stricter supervision was an essential element of the new order.

1922 . Railways. Trams. Vehicles 61 . .. 45 9 1923 . .. 69 14 59 1924 . . .. 40 10 94 1925 . . .. 43 8 108 1926 . . .. 53 17 149 1927 . .. 42 8 138 1928 . . .. 44 10 176 1929 . . .. 49 5 178 1930 . . .. 63 8 223

Motor Vehicle Accidents. Overturning of vehicles 1930. 1929 34 23 Vehicles running over banks 19 9 Drowned by vehicle falling Into stream. 6 1 Collisions— Lorry and car 3 1 Lorry and motor-cycle .. Lorry and bicycle . 2 4 1 3 Lorry and pole, etc — 3 Motor-bus and car .. .. 1 — Motor-bus and motor-cycle 1 — Two ears 13 1 Car and horse - drawn vehicle 1 2 Car and horse 1 / — Car and motor-cycle .. .. 31 ' 12 Car and bicycle 10 5 Car and pole, bridge, etc. . 7 tt Two motor-cycles 7 1 Motor-cycle and pole .... 2 1 Motor-cycle and bicycle .. — 1 Motor-cycle and horsedrawn vehicle 2 2 Falls from Motor-lorry .. 1 — Motor-buses 2 — Cars .. .. 2 Motor-cvcles 8 14 Car on lire 1 — Killed bv motor tractor . .. 1 2 Other and undefined — Lorry 9 14 Motor-bus 1 3 Car 54 62 Motor-cycle 3 8 ■ ■ 223 180 Bailway-Motor Accidents. Train and lorrv 4 — Train and motor-bus .. .. 6 — Tuain and car 13 — Train and motor-cvcle . .. 1 — Total for 1929 — 17 Tramway-Motor Accidents. Tram and motor-cycle .■. .. — 2 —— Year’s totals 247 199 Main Causes of Fatalities