Blackout accidents

Notes for a debate in the House of Commons on Blackout accidents, January 1940, Catalogue ref: MT 55/296.

Even though steps were taken to make the streets safe, without proper lighting thousands of people died in accidents during the blackout before the bombing even started.

Transcript

NOTES FOR A DEBATE ON ROAD ACCIDENTS

HOUSE OF COMMONS

23rd January, 1940

2. By far the greater part of the fatal accidents take place during the “black-out”. Figures were obtained specially for October, November and December to show the number of persons killed during the “hours of darkness” (i.e. the “black-out”) and are as follows:-

(Month)                    Hours of Darkness           “Other” hours.           Total.

October                    564                                        355                              919

November                674                                        252                             926

 December               896                                        260                             1,156

The “black-out” casualties increase as the days grow shorter.

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