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Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 216, 12 August 1937, Page 2

EOAD ACCIDENTS

STATISTICS FOR JULY. ANALYSIS OF CAUSES. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Aug. 11. _ The figures relating to road accidents reported to the police during July were issued to-day by Hon. H.' G. R. Mason, acting-Minister of Transport. The total number of accidents reported during the month was 333, resulting in the following casualty list: —Fatally injured, 20; seriously injured, 71; slightly injured, 320. “During the past eleven months or more,” stated the Minister, “the Government has striven to make the public realise the seriousness of the road accident ratio, and the simple elementary rules of the road which must be observed by motorist, cyclist, and pedestrian alike before these accidents can he eliminated. Attention has been drawn to the problem per medium of the newspapers and the radio, and a road code has been prepared and is now being distributed setting out the essential rules in simple language.

“Despite all this publicity,” continued Mr Mason, “accidents which are quite avoidable are continuing to occur at an alarming rate. As 1 announced last week, special attention will henceforth be paid by the police and traffic authorities to educating and controlling pedestrian and bicycle traffic in order that a much better observance of safety precautions may result. The main rules laid down for tlieso two classes of traffic were mentioned in my earlier statement, and I would now reitreato the equally straightforward and commonsense rules which should be observed by every motorist.” Eighteen accidents involving fatalities were reported during July, making a total of 75 since March 15 to July 31. The number of accidents involving serious injuries to persons was 62, making a total of 208, and the number of accidents involving minor injuries was 252, 'making' a total of 022 between March 15 and July 31. I’he total number of accidents reported during tho month was 333, thus making the total of accidents repeated during the period 1205. Further accidents for the period are still being reported. ... The fatalities during the month consisted of two drivers, six pedestrians, two push-cyclists, three motor-cyclists and seven passengers. The seriously injured persons consisted of 12 drivers, 25 pedestrians, nine push-cyclists, one pillion passenger, 13 passengers, and one horseman. ' The statistics regarding the age ot the motor vehicles involved in the accidents makes interesting reading. In 637 cases the vehicles were less than three years old, in 302 accidents the vehicles were between three and six years old, and in 593 accidents the cars were more than six years old. The experience of the drivers involved in the accidents were as follows : —Less than six months, 83; from six months to a year, 42; from one to two years, 86; from two to five years, 277 ; from five to 10 years, 386; more than 10 years, 633; unspecified, the period from March 15 to julv 31, 636 accidents occurred in daylight, 74 at dusk, and 495 after dark. The worst hours for accidents were ; 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., 140; 6 .m. to 7 p.m., 109; 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., 124. Between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. the least number of accidents occurred. The worst -dav of the week for accidents during the period from March 15 to Julv 31 was Saturday, when a total of 244 accidents occurred. The statistics in- the weekdays were as follow for the period with the nguies for the month in parentheses :-Satnrdav 71 (244), Sunday 40 (161), Monduv 48 (148), Tuesday 48 (153), Wednesday 36 (143), Thursday 39 (146), Friday 51 (210)-