TOLL OF THE MOTOR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 April 1939, Page 3

TOLL OF THE MOTOR

EASTER TRAFFIC STATISTICS. A MINISTER’S SURVEY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A preliminary survey of traffic and accidents during the Easter holidays has been made by the Minister oil Transport, Mr Semple. Twelve people were killed, two accidents accounting for seven of these deaths. The Minister said last evening that there was nothing to be proud of in the Easter record. Though reports from inspectors indicated that the general standard of driving and of road courtesy had shown a further improvement, he felt that the situation could be bettered. When all the facts were available he would be in a position to discuss remedial measures with the responsibleauthorities. “Between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Easter Monday, Now Zealand roads carried the heaviest traffic ever recorded.” said Mr Semple. “Easter Thursday evening established a traffic record for the commencement of a holiday season, but it was far surpassed by Easter Monday, when an exceptionally heavy traffic flow during the day culminated in an unprecedented rush in the evening. During this period, most of the main highways were carrying far more than their capacity load at normal speeds, ; and the traffic flow in places was substantially retarded. Even the so-called ‘luxury roads’ which I have been blamed for building were overloaded during the late afternoon and early evening. Main highway traffic slackened off appreciably only during the early hours of Tuesday morning. “Several factors are responsible for the new traffic record. For the first time in our history, motor-vehicle registrations have exceeded the 300,000 mark. There were 50,000 more vehicles registered this Easter than in Easter, 1937, and 27,000 more than last Easter. The weather during the weekend was fine and warm, attracting big crowds on holiday tours and to sports and race meetings. Vehicles returning home from long tours, and traffic from special functions and from beaches and picnics, met on the roads in the late afternoon. Traffic was much more congested than during the Christmas holidays and the high figure established last New Year's Day was easily surpassed. Our experience this Easter clearly indicates the need for adequate traffic control if for no other reason than to facilitate the free flow of traffic. “Though the weather was finer and traffic heavier this Easter than last, the number of fatal accidents, from figures so far available, has shown no increase. The number of those ’ killed, however, has not shown any decrease. In Easter, 1937, 11 people were killed; in Easter, 1938, eight people wore killed, and 178 other persons were injured; this Easter, 12 persons were killed in seven accidents, but two of these were terrible tragedies, taking between them a toll of seven killed and eight injured. “For the first time there have been no Easter collisions /with trains on crossings. Last Easter there were three. There were also no motor-cycle or bicycle fatalities, althoug two were killed and 43 injured in accidents of this type last year. Motorists and passengers were practically the only sufferers this Easter. Half of the fatalities occurred at night time and half were caused through cars running off the road. No matter what we say. there is nothing to be proud of in our Easter record, but. nevertheless, I want to express my sincere sympathy with all those who have suffered through road accidents.

“Though the reports of inspectors indicate that the general standard of driving and of road courtesy has shown a further improvement. I feel that we ‘can and must do better than we have done.