QTATISTICS published by the Ministry
Page 44
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
of Transport indicate an increase of 2+ per cent, in the total number of road casualties in 1957, as compared with the previous year. The figures were: killed, 5,550 (1956, 5,367), seriously injured, 63,706 (61,455), slightly injured, 204,602 (201,138). In the same period, about half-a-million new registrations were made, bringing the total of vehicles on the road up to more than 7.1m.
Perhaps the only encouraging feature of the figures is the significant drop of 12i per cent, in the number of children killed. At 629 fatalities, the figure is the lowest on record. The peak hour for casualties as a whole was 5-6 p.m., but a high proportion of fatal accidents occurred between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.
The most frequent cause of accidents involving drivers, riders and cyclists continued to he turning right without due care. Casualties reached their peak in August, but December was another "black month."
The Ministry's report analyses the causes of accidents in the light of information given to the police. Careless boarding and alighting from buses and coaches continue to take their toll of passengers (6,394) and uncontrolled dogs were contributing factors in 2,681 accidents.
Mechanical 'defects of brakes, tyres, wheels or steering caused nearly 2,000 accidents to four-wheeled vehicles and driving under the influence of drink or drugs accounted for a further 791 casualties. The highest single figure (19,541) was that for pedestrians crossing the road "heedless of traffic."