BETTER RECORD

Hokitika Guardian, 9 January 1931, Page 5

BETTER RECORD

AUCKLAND’S ACCIDENT YEAR

AUCKLAND, January 6

Records kept by the traffic department of The Auckland City Council show that 15 deaths were caused, by motor-car and cycle accidents during the past, year, Eight people were killed through being knocked down by motor-cars, three, by trams, and four through motor-cycles accidents. Probably the worst accident in the city or suburbs during the year was a motor-cycle eras'll near Ennismore Street, Mount Albert, in which two young people, a girl and a youth, lost their lives. Evidence at the inquest showed that the youth with the girl on the pillion was riding at terrific speed, failed to negotiate a bend, and crashed into a stationary motor lorry. “This reckless craze for speed has caused the loss of many young lives,” has been the comment of the coroner, Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M.. from time to time. Mr Hunt’s opinion is that all' motor-cyclists on tlje road should wear crash helmets just as riders do on race tracks. If that were done, he said, many lives would be saved when a cyclist crashes and his head hits the concrete. It is always touch and go . Oil the records Auckland was comparatively free from serious accidents causing deaths. In 1929 there were almost twice the number, and in one recent year the death-roll from motor accidents totalled over 49. Stricter traffic; control was probably the cause of the smaller death-roll last year.