DEATHS ON THE ROAD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 160, 6 June 1940, Page 8

DEATHS ON THE ROAD.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 5. “Sixteen persons were killed and approximately 300 injured in motor accidents last month,” said the Minister of Transport (Hon. R. Semple), in a statement to-da3’. The statistical valuation of a human life was at least £2OOO, while the average cost of injury cases, including loss of earning power, was £SO. Motor accidents liad, therefore, cost the country approximately £50,000 during May. The Minister of Transport for New South Wales had recently placed the loss in that State at £200,000 a month. “When a nation is at war,” said Mr Semple, “it is essential that we should conserve to the utmost our man-power and - material resources. While production must be increased, the temporary or sustained incapacity of 200 persons every month is a drain on the nation’s war effort. “One of the .major causes of those accidents is excessive speed, and probably the best way of preventing them and of conserving resources, especially petrol, is by reducing speed. Any person who travels unnecessarily fast on the roads at the present time is prejudicing the efforts of our valiant airmen and soldiers overseas. Higb speed travelling has -got to stop. It is the patriotic duty of all who have to drive to keep down their speed and avoid accidents.”