LONDON BLACK-OUTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20070, 17 October 1939, Page 12

LONDON BLACK-OUTS

ACCIDENT PROBLEM CAUSES CONTROLLABLE LONDON, Sept. 19. During the first 10 days of the black-out 38 people were killed and 975 injured in road accidents in the metropolitan area. These figures compare with eight killed and 316 injured during the 10 preceding days. In a special report circulated to all police stations in the metropolitan area, Sir Philip Game, the Commissioner of Police, draws attention to the black-out's terrible toll. Expressing his grave concern at the "alarming figures,” he calls upon all ranks of the police force, including special constables and war reservists, to co-oper-ate in every way possible to reduce them. Summarising the chief causes for the increase of more than 309 per cent in the total accident figures, the commissioner comments upon persons engaged in civil defence work who take advantage of the labels on their vehicles to “turn the highway into a rodeo.” Other causes which he specifies are: Driving with the outside wheel over the white centre line of the roadway. Driving at excessive speeds of public service vehicles, trams, and buses. Failure of cyclists to comply with the new regulations compelling them to have a red rear lamp instead of ; reflector. Many people have asked whether the black-out has not been carried too far. It has been asked whether London and the principal cities are still visible from the air despite the blackout. The answer is that the glowin the sky indicating the presence of a large town from a distance has entirely disappeared. In a London district the Boy Scouts have undertaken to guide people through the streets at night, and tr carry air-raid warnings to deaf pcopp who may not hear the sirens,