Road Dangers

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 861, 3 January 1930, Page 8

Road Dangers

MOTOR ACCIDENTS INCREASE THOUGH there is a wider margin of mechanical safety in modern motor construction and the public is becoming increasingly familiar with road dangers, the good is offset by the steady increase in traffic and the heightened average speeds,” Thus an Auckland motor expert explains the increase in motor fatalities throughout New Zealand during the year 1929. The total has yet to be announced but, already, the deaths have passed the hundred mark.

Before an accurate estimate of the position could be made it would be necessary to set the year’s increase in motor accidents and fatalities alongside the general increase in road traffic. Nevertheless, this adjustment of ratio conveys no consolation to those who have suffered; nor does it remove the need for a speedy improvement. It must be admitted that, despite better traffic control and safety devices on vehicles, New Zealand’s pathetic total of road accidents is not being effectively checked. Last year 104 deaths in the urban areas of the Dominion were due directly or indirectly to motor accidents. In 1928, the total was 98; in 1927 it had dropped to 73 from 92 in 1926. To the total mentioned will be added the figures which have yet to be compiled from districts outside these areas. One may only guess at the pathetic grand total. It is certain to approach the 200 mark. For the last 12 months the province of Auckland has reflected the trend of the! country as a whole. During 1929 no fewer than 28 persons met their deaths in motor accidents —the largest number for the past three years. The year 1926 created a tragic record with 41 fatalities. What are the causes of these motor accidents—fatal and otherwise—and on whom rests the responsibility for their occurrence? The questions are answered partly by an analysis of smashes throughout the Dominion. Taken over the period of the month of December, 1929, which seems to have been an average month for road misfortunes, they mount to an alarming total, yet one considerably short of the actual accidents for only those involving injury and death are recorded. In 31 days no fewer than 21 persons were, killed outright or died as a result of injuries received in motor accidents in all parts of the country. In the same period, 71 persons were more or less severely injured. The

deaths for the month correspond fairly closely with the approximate total for the year. Granted that the basis of reckoning is an accurate one, the total number injured in motor accidents during 1929 was in the vicinity of 800. This figure, added to the total number of deaths, indicates that New Zealand’s 1929 total of accident victims falls little short of 1,000. The nature of the accidents in the month of December proves that collisions and capsizes account for by far the greatest number of deaths and injuries. Contrary to popular belief, the menacing level-crossing is only third in the list, those killed and injured in that manner numbering about 15 per cent, of the total. During the month 10 persons died and 30 were injured as the result of collisions. These accidents included collisions between motor-cars, motorcars and motor-cycles, motor-cars and bicycles, motor-cars and other vehicles, and motor-cars and pedestrians. Capsizes accounted for 30 injured and seven killed. In the majority of cases these accidents were caused by vehicles plunging over banks, the remainder being due to skidding and afterward turning over, and capsizing in endeavouring to avoid collision. Level-crossing smashes during the month injured 10 persons and killed four. The figures for the year show this to be considerably above the average as, in 1929, the total of levelcrossing victims was 14 killed and 36 injured. This grim figure has remained constant for the past four years, but is a considerable increase from previous totals. During December one man was Injured by fire which broke out in his car. There were only two days in which no accident involving either injury or death took place. The motorist of 1930 must learn the lesson of caution that the figures teach. He will control, on the average, a better vehicle under improved conditions, but his numbers will be greater and the possibilities of accident will be proportionately increased.