SAFETY ON THE ROADS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 148, 18 March 1939, Page 12

SAFETY ON THE ROADS

Minister Asks For Caution This Weekend ACCIDENTS TO CYCLISTS ~~~~ A special appeal for care on the roads this weekend was made yesterday by the Minister of Transport, Mr. Seniple. He said that the last four weekends had taken a very heavy toll of life and limb on the roads. The lessons of safety week .were being forgotten, and with the relaxation of care and courtesy, the accident rate had inevitably risen. He appealed to all motorists to cut down their speed when driivng during the weekend and specially when on the road at night time.

The recent increase in cycle accidents was referred to by the Minister. He said that neither cyclists nor pedestrians realized the added dangers resulting from shorter hours of daylight. Traffic was at its heaviest in the late afternoon and early evening, when visibility was decreasing. In a period of five mouths last year, 11 cyclists had been killed and 174 injured (56 seriously) during the hours of darkness. In 92 accidents, the cyclist was struck from behind by motor vehicles, and in 59 cases he was struck by vehicles crossing his path from the rear. In 80 per cent, of night accidents to cyclists, the bicycle was struck wholly or partly from the rear. The moral was that it was essential for all cyclists at the earliest possible time to check their rear reflectors and to be sure that they were adequate. “Though fatal accidents during the last 12 months are practically the same as the number during the preceding 12 mouths, the number of fatal accidents to cyclists increased by 50 per cent, during this period,” said Mr. Semple. “In other words, while improvements are being shown with some groups of road users, the cycle accident rate has become much more serious. Reports indicate that mauy cyclists are at present operating their vehicles without proper lights and reflectors. I would appeal to them particularly to recognize their responsibility not only to themselves, but to other' road users.”

Mr. Semple asked parents to impress upon their children the need for more caution while cycling, and particularly to stress the dangers of riding closely behind motor vehicles, and speeding down hills and across intersections. The worst age for bicycle accidents was 15 years, and it was this agegroup that was most in need of advice.