DEATHS ON THE ROADS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 191, 9 May 1940, Page 10

DEATHS ON THE ROADS

Eighteen Persons Killed During April REDUCTION ON LAST YEAR "Eighteen persons were killed on the roads during April,” said the Minister of Transport, Mr. Semple, last evening. "This figure compares with 32 deaths in April last year and 25 during the same month in 1935. This is encouraging. "The reduction in the number of fatalities is not, however, as great as might appear at first sight, for this year Easter, with its heavy volume of holiday traffic, occurred during March whereas it occurred during April in the previous two years. Futhermore, petrol restrictions should have had the effect of reducing traffic risks this year. The comparatively high death roll recorded last month again points out, in the most tragic manner, the imperative need for greater care and caution. "A feature of last month’s fatalities is that exactly half occurred among cyclists and pedestrians. The late autumn and winter months with their steadily increasing hours of darkness hold special dangers for these roadusers. I hope that cyclists and pedestrians will heed these new risks and combat the increased peril by the exercise of increased caution-”