TOLL OF THE ROAD

Wanganui Chronicle, 16 April 1949, Page 8

TOLL OF THE ROAD

49 Deaths In Three Months Forty-nine people died as the re-j suit of Traffic accidents in the first j three months of this year. This is| the same number as was killed during, ■ the first quarter of 1948. These figures were issued to the ■ Press today by the Minister of Trans- ( port (Hon. F. Hackett). Of those killed this year, 31 were J motorists, 8 were motor-cyclists, 6 • were cyclists and 4 pedestrians. |i Commenting on these figures, Mr. < Hackett said that, despite his hopes - for a reduction, the trend in road| ' deaths was continuing. “The real tragedy of these figures,”'] he said, “ is that not one of these ’ fatalities need have occurred—every! one could have been avoided if some-, ’ one had taken a little more care.” [j “In New Zealand, we pride our-j 1 selves op having the lowest death rate .1 from road accidents of any motorised 11 country in the world. Sometimes, I i can’t help feeling that this knowledge, l ’leads us to a false sense of security!j and an unwarranted apathy towards! < the dangers of traffic. ] “Since I have been Minister of 1 Transport and in close contact with 1 this problem, I have become increas- ( ingly aware of these dangers,” he 1 said. ‘‘As I look about me on our * roads and streets, however, I am 1 alarmed that so many motorists, ’ cyclists and pedestrians do not seem ' to realise the tremendous and colos- ' sally stupid risks they are running when they ignore the rules of safety. It seems to me poor odds to stake your life to save a few minutes. No time was ever that precious.” The Minister went on to say that, 1 with the Easter holidays coming ( along, he hoped that everyone would f take extra care to avoid accidents. He 1 said that experience had shown that there would be increased traffic on ‘ every road m the country with people 1 setting out in cars and on bicybles to enjoy, the break. “With the increased risk of accident over this period, additional caution . will be needed,” he said. “I would appeal to all road users, and that means everyone, to make “safety first” their watchword. By doing this they can protect themselves and others, from the possibility of death or injury on the road.”