TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

Taupo Times, Volume IV, Issue 165, 25 March 1955, Page 4

TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

The Peak Hours In an official statistical statement of motor accidents in New Zealand for the calendar year 1953, issued by the Transport Department, it is shown that the danger times during which drivers, cyclists and pedestrians who were under the influence of alcohol, even slightly, were involved in accidents- rise steeply from 4 p.m. on Saturdays with a peak between 6 and 8 p.m. and then tapers off until 11 p.m. to midnight when there is a sharp rise which is maintained until 4 or 5 a.m. on Sunday morning. After this hour there are isolated cases of motorists but none of pedestrians at all until between 4 and 5 p.m. on Monday evening. Of a total of 156 drivers under the influence oi alcohol who were injured on Saturdays, 146 were involved in accidents between 4 p.m. and midnight. Of 68 injured on Sunday 43 were involved between midnight and 4 a.m. During the week days there is a sharp drop in the accident rate in these groups. On Monday 30 drivers three cyclists and i3 pedestrians, under the influence of alcohol, were injured: Tuesday's totals were 23, 4, 6; Wednesdays 30, 5, 10; Thursday's were 45, 9, 10; Friday's 51, 8, 26. On Saturdays the respective totals were 156, 9, 44, and on Sundays 68, 2, 6. One of the remarkable features is' that the hours between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. on any week day in 1953 were comparatively free of this type of accident. The most common causes of accidents to drivers and cyclists appears to be failure to yield right of way at an intersection; in 1953 16 were killed and 1610 were injured through this fault which occurred, as far as can be traced, on 1165 occasions. The number of pedestrians reported, injured when under the influence of alcohol is more tham-25 per cent of the total number of

1 to the statistical statement, repiarks that the statistics of motor accidents tell what has happenedj on the roads, but it is essential that they should be clearly understood, Some of the points he draws atten* tion to were that the accident?] covered by the statistic were thosein which persons • were killed or injured. There are no official figures concerning accidents involvin|