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Hokitika Guardian, 30 January 1932, Page 4

Lkviu.-oiiossinu accident's in New Zen|aml during 1931 were substantially below tlie bad record of the previous year, and the tidal of 13 fatalities last year was about 60 per cent, less than Hu* aggregate of 1930. During the last 10 years 1-19 people lr.vo ],eeu killed and 468 injured in cio.isinir accidie'’'! s. The high total in 1930 was hugely due lo a 'ml’kqon between a Inis and n train at lli kurangt, mid another eiash iipmlving a molornl Fuck 1 'rn crusting. Tlice two accidents accounted fur a total nl 12 deaths. The sydemat' ■ im! aliatian o r warning signs at level-erre,sings, and the publicity given to recent regiilai juiis concerning Hie “slop, look, and listen” ordinance may he hearing somu

fruit. In 1922, iten years ago, there were 14 level-crossing fatalities. The liumoer of motor vehicles on the road ha s doubled since then and speeds have increased. If the figure can be kept on the fall from last year’s total, while motor-vehicle usage increases, a higher standard of care can he taken a s proved. Of the victims in 1931, two were drivers of cars or lorries, five were passengers, three were riders of motor-cycles two were pedestrian®, while one. was the driver of a cart, the horse of which bolted across the railway line. In all, the:e were 34 accident® on crer,sings, compared with 65 in the previous year, while the number of people who were injured totalled 21, compared with 52 in the previous year. Of those who were injured in 1931, eight were drivers of motor-vehicles, 11 were passengers, one was a. pedestrian, and one the driver of a cart. During the past year there were no accidents comparable to the- two shocking collisions which occurred in 1930 at Hikurangi and Sock burn, in each of which six pehsons. were/ killed. The worst accident was at the Seyton Road crossing, Stratford, on May 1, when two women, mother and daughter, were killed and the driver of the car and his wife were both injured. Another accident in which two person® received fatal injuries occurred on the Christ-church-Dunedjn line just north of Maheno station on February 12.