H—4o

Accidents causing personal injury occurring in the large urban areas during recent years are compared below :

In Wellington and in Christchurch the total number of accidents reported was fewer in 1948 than in 1947, while in Dunedin a very substantial increase (from 104 in 1947 to 166 in 1948) was recorded. In Lower Hutt City an increase occurred, from 85 accidents (6 fatal) in 1947 to 106 (7 fatal) in 1948. Taking the large urban centres as a whole, accidents involving cyclists predominated in number, amounting to 513 in 1948, compared with 452 in 1947. Collisions with pedestrians numbered 503 in 1948 and 504 in 1947 ; collisions between motor-vehicles totalled 493 in 1948 and 498 in 1947. In Auckland and Wellington, however, accidents to pedestrians were more frequent than any of the other types of accident. In Auckland during 1948 collisions with pedestrians numbered 219, collisions between motor-vehicles 193, and collisions between a motor-vehicle and a cyclist 134. In Wellington there were 142 collisions between motor-vehicles and pedestrians ; 83 collisions between two motor-vehicles, and 46 collisions with cyclists. In Christchurch in 1948 there occurred 144 collisions between motor-vehicles and cyclists (145 in 1947), 78 collisions between mo tor-vehicles (77. in 1947), and 38 instances where a pedestrian was struck by a motor-vehicle (36 in 1947). There were 26 accidents of other types in Christchurch in 1948, compared with 44 in 1947. The Number of Road-users Killed or Injured (see Table No. 12). —Of the total number of 4,902 persons killed or injured by motor-vehicles in 1948 some 2,496 were occupants of motor-vehicles, while another 673 were riders of motor-cycles or pillionriders. There were 844 casualties among push-cyclists and 823 pedestrians. As has usually proved to be the case, accidents among pedestrians and cyclists were most frequent during the months of May, June, and July. In 1948 during these three months 30 per cent, of the total casualties of the year took place among both cyclists and pedestrians. Accidents Involving the Pre-school Child (see Table No. 13). —A serious increase in the number of very young children killed or injured on the road took place in 1948. While in 1947 there were 53 casualties, 1 child being killed, there were 87 casualties in 1948, and 8 of these little children lost their lives. Accidents Involving School Pupils (see Table No. 14). —A slight decrease in the number of school-children injured as pedestrians took place. In 1948, 7 were killed and 152 injured, while in 1947, 8 were killed and 158 others injured.

14

Centre. dumber of Accidents. Population at 1st April, 1Q Accidents per 10,000 Population 1945. 1946 | 1947. ! 1948. During 1948. Auckland Metropolitan Area 427 552 641 653 238,340 27-4 Wellington City 246 281 360 345 131,600 26-2 Christehurch City 263 324 302 286 123,900 23-0 Dunedin City 106 112 104 166 70,200 23-6 Lower Hutt City 43 66 85 106 38,500 27-5 Palmerston North City 33 44 60 65 27,900 23-3 Wanganui City 40 43 61 63 25,400 24-8 Invercargill City .. 21 51 46 36 25,800 13-9 Hamilton City 42 75 77 71 24,500 29-0 Total * 1,221 1,548 1,736 1,791 706,140 25-4