FATAL ACCIDENTS ON ROADS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24911, 26 June 1946, Page 8

FATAL ACCIDENTS ON ROADS

GREATER CARE NEEDED TRANSPORT COMMISSIONER’S WARNING Fatal road accidents involving motor vehicles since the beginning of 1848 totalled 79, with 15 killed on the roads during May. Of the 15 deaths recorded, six were pedestrians, three motorcyclists, five occupants of motor vehicles, and one cyclist. No fewer than 10 of the 15 deaths resulted, from accidents which occurred in the dark. In commenting upon the figures, the Commissioner of Transport (Mr •atji* Laurenson) said that there weHW* eral factors at the present time which combined to increase the road risks. Shorter hours of daylight meant-liat-more road users were now on the road at dusk and after dark when visibility was poor; bad weather would decrease the visibility further, and wrongly ed-. justed headlights might dazzle approaching traffic. Pedestrians crossing the street or walking along the highway at night were hard to pick up in the headlights. It was the exception to encounter pedestrians wearing or carrying something white such as a newspaper or white handkerchief at night. Mr Laurenson particularly wished to draw attention to tyres. It was now some years since private car owners had been able to buy tyres, with the result that many had worn smooth Th# increased the danger of skidding on wet surfaces. In addition, many more , were weak so that at higher speeds the result of a blow-out might put the car completely out of control. Road accidents would continue to increase unless all road users took greater care, Mr Laurenson said. The motor driver would have to keep his speed down to suit conditions, keep strictly to the left, and observe the right-hand rule at intersections. The pedestrian would have to stop and look both ways before crossing the street and at night take particular care when walking on the road.