YEAR’S TOLL OF THE ROAD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 166, 17 July 1939, Page 10

YEAR’S TOLL OF THE ROAD

! >46 PERSONS KILLED; 5635 INJURED I XI I ATAL ONE-CAR ACCIDENTS ( Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 14. I’inal D.<flic accident figures for th< year ended March 31 were announced by the Minister of Transport, Hou. R. Semple, to-day. During the 12 montn.s | under review. 246 persons were killed and 5635 injured on the roads, bringing the total for the past five years to more than 1000 killed, and approximately 20,000 injured. "The death rate per million gallons of petrol consumed has dropped steadily from 3.19 in 1935, to 2.69 in 1939, said Mr. Semple. “Similarly the number of deaths per 10,000 motor vehicles lias decreased from 9.63 in 1935 to 8.85 in 1939. As far as is known New Zealand still has the lowest death rate per 10,000 vehicles oi any country in the world.” During the year fatal accidents on rural roads patrolled by the Transport Department were reduced by 14 pci cent. The whole of this reduction wa* effected in fatalities occurring in day light. The number happening aftei dark actually increased by one pc; cent. Fatal accidents in built-up area.' showed no reduction and in a number of districts the increase was very serious, Mr. Semple said. The increase in fatal accidents over all built-up areas was 18i per c-nt. “The most marked variation rroin the previous year in this type of accident,” said the Minister, “is the increase of 10 or roughly 60 per d 'nt. in the number of non-collisions occuiring at night. These consisted mainly of cases where motor vehicles crashed off the roadway or skidded and overturned. The death roll during the year included 56 pedestrians, 33 cyclists, 37 motor-cyclists or pillion-riders and 11 ■> | drivers or passengers. There were 81 fatal accidents in which only one motor-vehicle was concerned and 4> fatal collisions between motor vehicles. Level crossings claimed one life each ■month.