ROAD STATISTICS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 69, 23 March 1939, Page 11

ROAD STATISTICS

FIGURES INCREASE AFTER ROAD SAFETY WEEK ONLY 11 FATALITIES IN JANUARY [Per Proa. Aaroclallon.l DUNEDIN, March 21. Fatal road accidents in New Zealand fell to a total of 11 in January last. This is a drop from 19 in the previous month and is attributed to the influence of the road safety week observed throughout New Zealand during December. Figures released to-day by the Minister of Transport, Hon. R. Semple, show that for the period from August, 1938, to February, 1939, the monthly totals of fatal accidents were, with the sole exception of February, lower than the earlier months of the statistical year. The DecemberJanuary fatality figure, in fact, was the lowest recorded since such statistics have been compiled. A reduction of more than 200 cases of injury was noted in the 10 weeks following road safety week. Mr. Semple announced that the cost of road safety week was less than £2OOO but the actual basis of the saving in human life during the period following this campaign was £25,000 and this figure represents the reduction in fatalities only. Loss through casualties and property damage would add considerably to the figure. After January's small total of 11 lives lost the February figure rose sharply to 21. In explaining this Mr. Semple points out that a set sum was apportioned for road safety expenditure up to March 31. This sum was practically exhausted by the road safety week demonstration and by the end of January the fund had all been used and publicity had to be relaxed. The immediate result was an increase in the number of fatal accidents, which in February were almost double the number in January, despite the density of holiday traffic in the earlier month. Christchurch has the unenviable position of being the scene of the most accidents during the past six months. The number of fatalities in the Christchurch metropolitan built-up area was eight. Wellington followed with seven then Dunedin three and Hamilton two. Accidents in the built-up areas totalled 46 compared with 65 on the open road. Of open road fatalities, 53 occurred in the North Island and only 12 in the South. In towns, pedestrians contributed very heavily to the total but on the open road, however, it was the occupants of motor-vehicles who swelled the total, no fewer than 55 of 78, who were killed on the road, being either drivers or passengers. In 54 per cent, of the total of fatal accidents on the open road there was no second party to the accident such as a motor vehicle overturning, going over a bank or crashing into a pole or some other object. Nine motor-cyclists and one pillion rider were killed in towns and exactly the same number in the country. Bicycle fatalities were largely confined to towns.