Record Road Carnage
The return of road accidents for the month of December is in the literal sense shocking. The number of persons killed, 1,155, is the highest total ever recorded, in spite of the fact that the number of cars on the roads must, owing to petrol restrictions, have been far lower than the normal pre-war average. An analysis of the figures points to decisive conclusions. Of children under 15, few of whom are likely to be out of doors after black-out time, 64 were killed, against 54 in December, 1938—an inconsiderable increase absolutely, though representing an advance of nearly zo per cent. But of adult pedestrians the deaths rose from 321 in December, 1938, to 746 in December, 1939, and of these 71 were killed during daylight and 675 during the hours of darkness. Rarely have statistics told a more convincing tale. The question is how this carnage is to be stayed. Certain mitigating factors are, or will soon be, in operation. The number of cars in service has been sub- stantially reduced since December as a result of the increase in the horse-power tax. The days, moreover, are slowly lengthening, and the early restoration of what it is now a misnomer to call summer-time will make -a considerable difference. But above all things the figures drive home the importance of torches. A dark-clothed pedestrian without a torch is virtually invisible to drivers, and the whole onus of avoiding accidents is thrown on him. In Paris, pedes- trians are required to carry torches during black-out. It may be necessary to enact that here. If so it is for the Govern- ment to ensure that an adequate supply of batteries is available.
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