MOUNTING ROAD DEATHS

Chronicle (Levin), 6 August 1946, Page 4

MOUNTING ROAD DEATHS

I NEED FOR GREATER CARE WELLINGTON, Aug. 5. Referring to the increasing death roll due to traffic accidents, the Minister of Transport, in a message to road users released today, said at the present r'ate of killing, the 1045 death roll would be exeeedecl this year by the time August had passed. Ile added that while New Zealand still had the lowest traffic death rate of all motorised countries, there was no cause for complaeeney. During .Tuly 12 people lost their lives in motor accidents. Six of the victims were cyclists who collided with motor vehicles. Two others were motorc.vclists. Two pedestrians were lcilled and also two other oceupants of motor vehicles. In the first three days of A.ugust no fewer than seven people had been killed on roads. Today a large proportion of cars in New Zealand was very old and many had deteriorated considerably in the" war years. Furthermore, many tyres were in an unsafe condition. Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians had become accustomed to a certain latitude and freedonr of movement on roads and streets that was not possible now with the present volume of traffic. "There is only one way to meet the present situation," said the Minister. "That is for everv user of the road- to :be constantly on the" alert and exereise the greatest caution. " He appealed to motor drivers, motor cyclists and cyclists to see that their machines were in the best possible order, particularly as to the effeetiveness of brakes, steering and lights. The •universal observance of simple pre'cantions by motorists and pedestrians vvonld. go a long way toward malcing the roads safe.