"SAFETY FIRST" AND ROAD ACCIDENTS.
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The Great Development of Road Traffic Calls for the Formation of a National "Safety First" Organization.
Willi the continued growth of motor traffic arid the remarkable increase in the number of vehicles of all classes using our roads daily, the campaign which is conducted by the London "Safety First" Council, in an endeavour to reduce the number of accidents arising from the. carelessness of pedestrians or insufficient caution on the partof vehicle drivers, assumes paramount importance. This council has done much spadework in directing attention to the solution of a problem which is admittedly bristling with difficulties, and which can only be alleviated by the ready co-operation of all classes of road users. By instituting an annual competition open to drivers of motor and other vehicles and by awarding certain monetary prizes and diplomas, the council has undoubtedly done much to encourage the exercise of caution amongst those vvtio are placed in charge of goods and passenger-carrying vehicles.
In view of the most commendable efforts which have been made by this organization during the past..few years, it is a matter of some concern to learn that, notwithstanding the active propaganda which has been carried on unremittingly, the tall of accidents continues to show an increase. At a meeting of the London Safety First" Council one day last week a. statement containing many pointed references on this matter was made by Mr. H. E. Blain; C'.B.E., the chairmanof the council, who gave certain details relating to street accidents. in London during the nine months ended September 39th.
The actual number of persons involved in street accidents which occurred during this period was 51,221, of which number 478 proved fatal, this 'figure representing an -in. crease of 23 per cent, over the corresponding period of "the previous year. Mr. Blain. gave. figures which proved that o37 of the fatal accidents were caused by Motorcars; 'molar; vans, etc., 86. by motorbusesand tramcars, 33 by horse-drawn
vehicles, and 22 hy.' pedal_cyclGs. The .vehicles involved in the total number of accidents were as follow •:—Mechanically propelled vehicles, 37,323; horsearawn Vehicles, 6,463; pedal cycles, 7,435 ' . . . Mr. Blain wont onto say that it is to eliminate the cause of this serious increase that the council is concentrating its attention, although the preiblem is complicated by the vast
ness of the area of the Metropolis. populationwhich before long will reach eight million and is spread over an area of 900:Square miles, and in which the traffic on its principal streets is rapidly being added to by large numbers of vehicles employed in the transport of passengers and nierohandise, is clear evidence of the difficulty of the task which lies before the council. How marked is the increase in the number of vehieles using main thoroughfares during the last 20 years is graphically shown in the chart reproduced herewith.
In his speech Mr. Blain pointed out that the traffic area in London has become in recent years widely extended. With the migration of the population to the outer suburbs, the development of transport facilities has naturally followed. Points on the outer ring, such as the " Elephant and Castle,' Camden Town, Hammersmith Broadway, King's Cross, Shoreditch, are probably dealing with as many vehicles today as Hyde Park Corner did 10 years ago. The new era of mechanical power calls for new and enlightened methods of accident prevention. In 1913 there were about a qUarter of a million mechanical vehicles in use in Great Britain and Ireland; to-day there are about one million, and finality is not within sight.
From the table of accidents occurring in London during the nine months ended September 30th, 1923, which is given later, it will be seen that the mimber of accidents in which private motorcars were involved shows an increase of 2,866 ever the corresponding period of last year, and in this connection the council still adheres to the belief that it will become obligatory for all those who undertake the responsibility of driving a car to pass a proficiency -test bekne receiving a licence.
Mr. Blain had a few words of wisdom to say in connection with the need for educating the pedestrian to the changed conditions of Lcindon traffic. A road notice, " Drive cagefully," is to be observed daily exhibited; a " Step carefully" notice is almost of parallel importance. Pedestrians, saidMr. Blain, can do much to safeguard themselves and reduce the anxiety of other mad users by taking care to sea that the road is clear before they, attempt to cross. If pedestrians exercised more care they would not only protect themselves, but would avoid awkward situations and reduce • the strain upon vehicle drivers, so that they weuld be the better able to deal with an e.mergeney.
Possibly' the .outstanding feature of the accident situation in London is the traffic facilities of which children are the victims. Last year 233 children met a tragic end, and, referring to the forthcoming holiday, when about 1,000,000 'children will have an opportunity to use the 'streets more than is usually the case, Mr. Blain said that much might be done if teachers said a few words of warning to their pupils Ori the dangers of the street, and parents might emulate their example. He said that perhaps the solution of the street-accident .problem would be the granting of power, by legislation, to _inquire into, and report upon, every fatal r...rid serious accident occurring in the streets; this IS what happens Oil railways.
A return of accidents to persons or property known to the police to have been caused in the streets within the Metropolitan district by vehicles or horses in the first nine months of 1922 and 1923, to which we have already made reference, is set out below :—
Notwithstanding Use disquieting result's contained in the above table, Londoners, perhaps, have cause for a grain of satisfaction in that the rate of increase in accidents is riot,so Marked in London as over the comatry'as a whole. Further proof, if any were necessary, is thus offered for the necessity of farming a National "Safety First ". Association.