HEAVY TOLL OF ACCIDENTS

Chronicle (Levin), 12 May 1947, Page 4

HEAVY TOLL OF ACCIDENTS

ROAD SAFETY IS EVERYBODY'S RESPONSlBILtTY "Some people regard a traffic inspector as an ogre or a bogey, and have what we call a traffic inspector . complex, but we are hefe to help make the roads safer to. all ■ who use them, motorists, cyclists and p&destrians. The fact that New Zeala'Ad roads , are the safest in the world is borne out when • we see that there are Ohly 3.4 deaths per 10,000 motor vehicles and looking at those figures it is tamazi'ng to think that New Zealand has the second highest average in the world of cars per head of population." These remarks were made by Mr. J. H. R. Semple, Chief Traffic Inspector of No. 2 District, at a soclal afternooYi organised by the Levin oranch of the New Zealand Labour Party. Continuing, Mr. Semple' said that i'n New Zealand. In 1945, no less than 33 child pedestrians under the age of five were killed or injured; between the ages of five and fiftee'n, 82 were kiiled or injured; and cyclists between five and fifteen numbered 83 killed or injured. Compared with this, in 1946 there were 75 child pedescrians kiiled or injured under the age of five; 164 between five and 15> and 195 cyclists between five and 15 killed or injured. During the same year 191 persons were killed in general motor acciderits. So far this year 77 persons had been killed in road accidents, and this included 28 deaths from road accidents during last month. This was- the worst and highest rate for seven years. "No accident is necessary. Don't let us have statistics". Let US have the eiti7.er>R nf t.nYnnrrnw

All accidents can be avoided and after all the laws are nothing more than commonsense." He Went on to say that the school patrols were doing a great job and asked that all pedestrians and' motorists respect them. "They are doing a marvellous job and since their inception there has not been one "accident outside a school where a school patrol was jn use." Mr. Semple impressed upon his audience that a traffic inspector was not judged by the number of convictions he obtained every month, but by the number of accidents in his district. A traffic inspector had to have the confidence of the people Jn his district, He went on to Say that he had a personal interest in the Wellington district, as his eldest brother was killed in -a n accident on the main Wellington-Levin highway and his youngest bi'other erippled on the same highway. His district extended as fai north as the East Cape, through Taupo and across to New Plymouth. In this area he had under him 33 inspectors, whose work it was to educate the people and to endeavour to reduce " the u'seless slaughter caused by road accidents. "If one year's deaths caused by road accidents happened on the one day, the whole of New Zealand would be up in arms to put.a stop to this slaughter," In conclusion, Chief Inspector Semple said: "Road safety is a responsibility which falls on all of us and it is our duty to stop accidents, which after all are enfcirely unnecessary." Mr. H. Harvey moved a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker and it was carried by acclamation.