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" As can be seen the casualty rate is slightly higher but the accident rate is the
lowest for the last four years. The reduction of child casualties is very encouraging;
a breakdown of the child casualties shows that—-
63 were pedal cyclists
78 were passengers in motor vehicles
and 167 were pedestrians.
The most vulnerable types of road users are the young and the aged:
The Pedestrian under 9 years of age: 123 casualties including 1 fatal
The Pedestrian 60 years and over: 113 casualties including 12 fatal
The Motor Cyclist 15-19 years: 104 casualties
The Car Driver 18-24 years: 237 casualties.
It is fair to say that youthful exuberance and lack of experience is responsible
for the high accident rate to the young car driver and young motor-cyclist. It is
because of these figures that many insurance companies require higher premiums
when insuring vehicles owned by persons of this age.
The accident rate to young children of nine years and under is a matter which
should concern each and every one of us. Of the 123 casualties, 32 were children of
four years of age and under. It is obvious that little improvement can be made in
this area unless greater parental control is exercised. Children of this age are not able
to make the decisions necessary when crossing a road and should therefore not be
allowed out on the highway on their own.
The approximate cost to the nation of the accidents which occurred in our
borough during 1969 was £500,000."
The 26 fatalities due to motor vehicle accidents in Table 4, Causes of Death,
relate to residents of the Borough of Enfield, irrespective of where the fatality
occurred.
Inquests
One hundred and twenty-seven inquests and 431 post-mortem examinations
without inquests were held during the year.
In respect of the inquests, eleven deaths were attributed to natural causes, 72 to
accidental causes or misadventure, 36 to suicide, one to murder, two to manslaughter,
and in five cases an open verdict was recorded.
(See Statistical Tables 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
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