All Lit Up
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'THIS year's ChristmaL message from Mr. Ernest Marples, the Minister of Transport, is concerned with drinking and lighting-up times. In a statement issued on Monday he said that during the five-day Christmas period in 1959 there were 215 road deaths in Great Britain. In 56 per cent, of the fatal accidents one or more persons involved had been drinking alcohol not long before the accident occurred; in a normal period the corresponding figure is only 18 per cent. Mr. Marples appealed to all motorists not • to drink if they intended to drive afterwards, and if they wanted to drink they should arrange to travel by alternative transport or be driven home by someone who had previously decided not to drink alcohol. With regard to lighting regulations, Mr. Marples said it had been proved that good modern street lighting reduced accidents by 30 per cent., and for this reason he had appealed to all local authorities throughout the country to keep their street lights on all night during the Christmas and New Year holiday period. He said he hoped the authorities would respond to his request and he urged that in areas where the street lighting was not good, drivers should put their headlights on in the dipped position.