Darkened Streets and Traffic Accidents.
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Excerpt from the Annual Report by Dr. F. J. Waldo, H.M. Coroner for the City of London and the Borough of Southwark.
As regards the important subject of the rapid increa,se in recent years of motor traffic and the growing.travelling had., with its attendant increased loss of life and limb by road, I have for some years past— more especially in my Return for 1914—drawn attention to certain facts and figures, as well as to suggestions made by juries at inquests, with a view of lessening the number of these fatalities.
Concerning figures, the number of traffic deaths (63) in 1915 is the highest number, since the introduction of motors, yet recorded by me. As pointod out last year, the marked increase in the number of traffic deaths, both in the City and Southwark, as well as in the Metropolitan Police area and the City of London, synchronizes with the darkening of the streets and bridges owing to the European War now waging. The first Order under the Defence of the Realm Regulations for the reduction of lighting was mado on die 1st of October, 1914, since which time there has been a progressive increase in the number of deaths.
Suggestions to Reduce Accidents.
There can, I think, be little, if any, doubt that the main factor in the cause of traffic fatalities is due to the want of light. With a view of lessening the alarming number of such largely preventible and unnecessary deaths, I have forwarded various riders, added by juries to their verdicts, to the responsible authorities.
Among these riders may be mentioned the following (a) Several riders suggesting the erection, at a number of dangerous spots, of temporary, or permanent. street. refuges for the use of pedestrians and for the keeping of the traffic in line.
(b) The special need of refuges—at present almost entirely absent—in the space between double sets of tram lines, at intervals throughout the length of broad streets, such as the City Road, Old Kent Road, Blackfriars Road, and other similar and numerous highways in South London. Such an addition might be carried out by looping the tram lines so as to admit of narrow refuges being placed between the lines.
(c) That the public be warned by means of printed notices, to be issued by the police, of the danger connected With the crossing of streets, and that pedestrians be urged to make greater use of the refuges and subway § provided for their safety.
(d) That during lighting-up time a regulation be made, and enforced, restricting the speed of vehicles to a maximum.of ten miles an hour.
(e) That the construction of the front part of steam lorries should be altered in such a manner that the driver may be able to see and direct his course with greater precision than at present, and so avoid the danger of collision with other users of the road.
(f) That the proper authority (the London County Council)* be requested to make a regulation enforcing the use of lifeguards on the hind wheels of heavy commercial motors—such as furniture, parcels, and laundry vans, and brewers' and other motor lorries— similar to those already in use on motor omnibuses. (g) That a regulation is needed making it obligatory for all vehicles, including cycles and ha.ndearts, to show a red light, in addition to any other light, after dark. An Order to this effect has since been made by the Home Office, and is now being enforced by the police. Carelessness of Pedestrians.
In a large proportion of cases. traffic fatalities are brought about by the careless disregard of pedestrians for their own personal safety. Attempts are frequently made by them to cross streets without troubling to look for a refuge or subway, or, at night, for a lighted Dart of the street which would afford the driver, with his diminished lights, an opportunity of seeing the pedestrian in time to avoid running over him. 'Pedestrians, again, often fail to look for oncoming traffic, and as often as not cross the road from behind a stationary vehicle or in front of a slow-moving one without making sure that fast traffic is not passing in either direction, and concealed by the slow or stationary vehicle.
In several of the deaths recorded by me, elderly people, with more pr less impaired vision and hearing; have quite needlessly ventured out at night when it would have been much safer for them if they had stayed at home.
In the present darkened condition of the streets and bridges the speed at which vehicles are driven is much too fast, and it goes without saying, that extra caution, alike on the part of the driver and of the pedestrian was never more needed. In my return last year, I suggested that the lighting-up time should be altered from the period of one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise to from sunset to sunrise. The Home Office has, however, tompromised, and the lightingsurriime now is for all vehicles from half-an-hour after sunset to half-an.
hour before sunrise. , Summary.
The three most pressing needs which I would once more emphasize are :— 1. More street refuges.
2. More police at traffic crossing-points.
3. More lifeguards for all heavy motors.
With regard to lifeguards, those compulsorily in use at the fronts of tramcars and at the sides of motor omnibuses have undoubtedly been the means of saving many lives. Still more lives will be saved when a satisfactory invention is hit upon in the shape of a front guard for motors.