TOLL OF MOTOR.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18900, 15 January 1927, Page 17

TOLL OF MOTOR.

AUCKLAND'S BAD RECORD, j i i TOTAL OF FORTY DEATHS. | Moicr-vehiele accidents in Auckland j during 19-2 C accounted for an average oi one death cverv nine days (says tic '•New Zealand Herald"). The total ci 10 deaths for the V2 months should <:ive the greatest concern to both motorists and pedestrians, since it.is an of o\er 80 per cent, on the aggrega-e of 22 motor deaths in city and suburbs for the previous rear. . Although inotor-vehielo registration has increased considerably, the fatality rate for the past vear lacks explanation. Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedm together liavo not recorded -10 deatns for the vear just pasD, and it is feared that when southern statistics are available they .will disclose that Halt tho motor fatalities in the Dominion have occurred in the Auckland urban area. Following are official records ol Auckland's monthlv motor death-roll in IWU: " ~ . ' Fatalities. January ... ••• ] Fehruarv ... ■•• •' starch ' •■• ■? April ... . . ••• •' May ... 'I June ... ... ... I July ... ... •■• » August ... ■•• '••' October ... •> November . • • '? December ... ... $ Total 'lO fifteen Accidents a We<sk. Of the -10 victims, 22 were pedestrians who were knocked down by motor-cars, lorries, or buses. Five were motor-cyclists who collided with vehicles or'were thrown. The remainder were motorists or occupants of vehicles involved in collisions. A survey of 403 motor accidents made available through Superintendent \\ ohllnann affords an interesting indication of tho nature of the'collisions which happen daily in the city and suburbs. The police statistics were compiled over the six. months, March Ist to August 31st, and the half-year may be taken as fairly representative. The figures. reveal that motor accidents occur in Auckland city and suburbs at the rate of 15 a week. Pedestrians arc injured by motor vehicles at tho rale of live a week. Two-thirds of the accidents to pedestrians involve motor-cars, and buses account for a rather large percentage of these collisions. "Whether this is duo to tho poor visibility from the average, bus, or to their comparative difficulty of control,, is a problem which merits investigation. There are 20 cars on the road for'every bus, and yet cars are responsible for only five times as many accidents to pedestrians as buses. In any ease, there is evidence to warrant a greater respect for the bus as a source of traffic danger. The Different Vehicles. Following are details of tho vehicles causing injury to some oNtent. or death to pedestrians during the six months reviewed : , Motor-cars ... ... !.M Muses . ... ... J'l Trams ... ... 1-'_ Motor-lonics ... ... 1-Motor-eyeles ... ... 10 Fire- ensino ... ... 1 Cycle ~. ... ... I Total Pedestrians ... 1-16 Including tho 148 accidents to pedestrians, motor-cars were concerned in 238 collisions in tho half-year. Following are details of the accidents involving vehicles only. ' Cars striking cars ... ••• .C 9 Cars striking trucks or vans 30 Cars striking cycles ••• -" Cars striking buses ... •■•-'.. ■ Cars striking trams ... 19 Cars striking horse vehicles 10 Cars striking motor-cycles .... 10 ' Car striking stationary objects 7 ■■ Car striking locomotive ... 1 Tho 27 accidents to cyclists give rise to some-concern. It is safe to assume that in these, cases the \ fault is usually with the cyclist. Auckland cyclists are notorious for tho manner in which they swerve across the roads. Many accidents are also due to the general disregard of the use of rear reflectors at night. Lorries in Collision. .Motor-trucks and lorries were concerned in 4-2 collisions in addition to the accidents already mentioned, _ in which either motor-cars or pedestrians wore the participants. They were: Lorries colliding with lorries or trucks, 15; lorries and trams, 12; lorries and buses, 7: lorries, and ; motor-cycles, C; lorry and horso vehicle, 1; lorry and stationary object, 1. Excluding the 24 collisions with cars, 19 with pedestrians, and 7 with lurries, motor-buses were concerned'in 13 accidents as follow: Buses and buses, 9 collisions; buses and poles, 3; bus and tram. ].'''.' ~ Motor-cycle accidents in additSJn to those dealt with in collisions with cars and pedestrians were: Motor-cycles and motor-cycles, 2; motor-cycle and cycle, 1; 'motor-cvele and horso cart, 1. In addition to the 44 accidents in which tramcars were involved with other vehicles .as recorded in the preceding statistics, there was one collision between two tramcars.