ROAD ACCIDENTS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 64, 2 April 1937, Page 5

ROAD ACCIDENTS

(Britisii OfficisT Wireless.)

Causes and Effects Surveyed in Britain INTERESTING REPQRT

EUGBY. March 31. A report which has been awaited with much interest by public anthorities and road-users was published this morning. It offers a detailed analysis of particulars shown in the reports of 100.000 road accidents involving personal injury whieh occurred during the months April to September, 1936, and information is now for the first time. available on- the incidence and canses of road accidents involving injuries to persons which did not prove fatal, as well as of those in which fatal injuries were inflicted. The results of . the analysis' are given in a series of tables, and among facts which emerge ,are the following: — First, the relative severity of accidents in areas not built up, where speeds would normally be higher and where nearly 38 per cent. of the accidents resulted in death or serions injury, compared with 23.3 per cent. in built-np areas. Secondly, the high proportion of accidents, which occur at junctions — 42.2 per cent. of those analysed — especialiy in bnilt-np areas. Thirdly, over one-third' of the persons injured were pedal cycylists, over 29 per cent. were pedestrians, and over 18 per cent. were motor-eyelists or their passengers. Fourthly, the comparative severity of casualties to motor-eyclists, over one-third being either killed or seriously injnred. Fifthly, in one-third of the accidents analysed a driver was held to be at fault, in 28 per cent. a pedestrian, and in 26 per cent. a pedal cyclist. Sixthly, in nearly 8000 cases, or over 28 per cent. of all the accidents for which pedestrians were held responsible, the accident was ascribed to a child under seven years old. The report confines ;tself solely to an examination of the results of the Ministry of Transport's recent imtvstigation, and at the present stage no recommendations are attaehed.