ROAD ACCIDENTS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 151, 22 March 1939, Page 13

ROAD ACCIDENTS

Fewer Fatalities In January

INFLUENCE OF SAFETY WEEK Survey Of Half-Yearly Period By Telegraph—Press Association. DUNEDIN, March 21. Fatal road accidents in New Zealand fell to a total of 11 in January last, this drop from 19 in the previous month being attributed to the influence of Road Safety Week observed throughout New Zealand during December.

Figures released today by tlie Minister of Transport, Mr. Semple, show that for the period August, 1938, to February, 1939, tlie monthly totals of fatal accidents are, witli the solo exception of February, lower than those for the earlier months of the statistical year. The December-January fatality figure in fact was the lowest recorded since such statistics have been compiled. A reduction of more than 200 cases of injury was noted in the .10 weeks following Road Safety Week.

Mr. Semide announced that the cost of .Road Safety Week was less than £2OOO. On an actuarial basis the saving in human life during the period following this campaign was £25,000, and this figure represents the reduction in fatalities only. Loss through casualties and property damage would add considerably to the figure. After January’s small total of 11 lives lost, the February figure rose sharply to 21. The review of the halfyear. in explaining this, points out that a set sum was apportioned for road safety expenditure up to March 31. Tliis sum was practically exhausted by the Road Safety Week demonstration By the end of January the fund had all been used and publicity had to be relaxed. The immediate result was an Increase in the number of fatal accidents, which in February were almost double the number in January, despite the density of the holiday traffic in the earlier month.

Christchurch has the unenviable position of being the scene of most accidents during tlie past six months. The number of fatalities in the Christchurch metropolitan built-up area was eight. Wellington followed with seven, then Dunedin with three, and Hamilton two. Accidents in built-up areas totalled 46, compared with 65 on the open road. Of the open road fatalities, 53 occurred in tlie North Island, and only 12 in the South. In towns tlie pedestrian contributed very heavily to the total. On tlie open road, however, it was the occupants of motor-vehicles who swelled the total, no fewer than 55 of the 78 who were killed on the road being either drivers or passengers. In 54 per cent, of tlie total fatal accidents on the open road, there was no second party to the accident, a motorvehicle overturning, going over a bank, crashing against a. pole or some other object. Nine motor-cyclists and. one pillion rider were killed in the towns, and exactly the same number in the country. The bicycle fatalities were largely ■confined to the towns.