“LIQUOR” ACCIDENTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 July 1939, Page 2

“LIQUOR” ACCIDENTS

TOLL FOR THE PAST YEAR.

TOTAL OF 352 CASUALTIES

Some further figures on alcohol as a factor in accidents were given by the Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semple, today. “During the year ended March 31 last, ‘liquor’ accidents were responsible for the death of 31 people, serious injury to 142 others, and lesser injury to another 179—in all 352 casualties,” said Mr Semple. “In addition to these accidents in which drivers were under the influence of liquor, 31 intoxicated pedestrians and 5 intoxicated bicyclists were involved in accidents.” “

“While the severity of all accidents is represented by one fatality for every 18 or 19 non-fatal, in cases where the driver was to some extent under the influence of liquor, one accident in 8 was fatal. Where the driver was definitely intoxicated, every sixth accident proved fatal.” Mr Semple said that collisions with other motor vehicles were the predominant type of accident in which intoxicated drivers were involved. Collisions with bicyclists and with telegraph poles were also common. There were 55 instances when no other road user was involved. More than half of these accidents happened on country highways. They were most frequent during the evening hours, mainly from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., but also to a lesser extent until after midnight. Of all accidents involving liquor, 42.5 per cent occurred between 4 p.m. Saturday and 4 a.m. Sunday. An investigation of cases in which drivers were under the influence of liquor reveals the fact that excessive speed is much more frequent in these cases than in general. Other frequent factors associated with these accider.ts were failure to keep to the correct side, inattention, failure to give way, and passing other vehicles negligently.