TOLL OF ACCIDENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20270, 12 August 1937, Page 14

TOLL OF ACCIDENTS

tempt to overtake at intersections or corners. (6) Signal when intending to stop or to turn to the right* (7) Do not cut in. “These rules are still not being observed by a considerable section of drivers as is evidenced by the number of times their neglect appears as the cause of accidents, and they must be rigidly observed by all motorists if the present toll of accidents is to be materially reduced,” he concluded. Interesting Figures. The report contains many Jnterest--1 ing figures. In the 20 fatalities for the month, six were pedestrians and seven were passengers, in the serious injuries the llgures were 25 and 13 respectively, while of the 320 who I received minor injuries 50 were pedlestrians, 81 push-cyclists and 80 passengers. Only two drivers were 1 fatally injured. Two hundred of the accidents occurred in urban areas • (over 6000 population), and 111 on rural roads. The time that most accidents occurred was between 5 p.m. I and 8 p.m., and the majority of them occurred on a Saturday. : A curious feature of the statistics I is that of the 1532 accidents reported from March 15 to July 31, 633 of the i drivers had had more than 10 years’ • experience, 386 from five to 10 years', • and 277 from two to five years. Only 42 of the accidents involved drivers I with six months to one year’s exporii ence.

FIGURES FOR JULY. FATALITIEB TOTAL 20. EXPERIENCED DRIVERS’ TALLY. (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. According to statistics supplied today by the acting-Minlster of Transport, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, '333 accidents were reported in New Zea- i land last month, as the result of which 20 persons were fatally injured, 71 seriously injured, and 320 slightly injured. “During tho past eleven months or more,” stated the Minister, "the Government has striven to make the public realise the seriousness of the road accident rate, and the simple elementary rules of the road which must be observed by motorist, cyclist and pedestrian alike before these accidents can be eliminated. Attention lias been drawn to the problem per medium of the newspapers and the radio, and a Road Code has been prepared and is now being distributed setting out the essential rules in simple language. Another Warning. “Despite all this publicity.” continued Mr Mason, “accidents which arc quite avoidable are continuing to occur at an alarming rate. As l announced last week, special attention will henceforth be paid by (lie police and traffic authorities to educating nnd controlling pedestrian and bicycle traffic in order I hat a much better observance of safety precautions may result. The main rules laid down for these two classes of traffic were mentioned in my earlier statement and i would now reiterate the equally straightforward and common sense rules which should be observed by every motorist. Important Rules. “The most important of these are. (1) Keep lo lhe left. (2) uivc waj to traffic having the right of way. (3) Drive at a safe and reasonable speed. (4) Do not cut corners. (5) Overtake only when there is ample clear road ahead; do not at-