TOBOGANNING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 84, 9 April 1925, Page 11

TOBOGANNING.

DANGER IN THE STREETS.

TEMERITY OF YOUTH.

KESTRICTIONS SHOULD BL ENFORCED.

Tlio warning given in the Juvenile police Court recently to a dozen lads •who had enjoyed the delights and thrills of tobogganing in busy thoroughfares to their own portion al danger and the embarrassment of other users of the i thoroughfares seems to he a timely one. I When the City Council took authority to deal with this class of traffic it prohibited it on streets where electric trains run, unless the cart or toboggan, or whatever other name the vehicle was dubbed by the childish imagination, was drawn; the Council also made a proviso that the j'ouths and their runabouts could be banned from certain streets, nt its' discretion. The prolonged holiday enjoyed by school children lias resulted in a swelling of the ranks of "tobogganers." Not only are they careering about the streets, including those from which the by-law banns them, but they do so with utter disregard to the legitimate traffic and consequently their own personal safety. There are indications that the officials 01 the traffic department will be on their tracks with a curbing rein in future, and such an action will be appreciated by drivers of other vehicles, motorists in particular. The lads and their trolleys are an undoubted source of danger to motorists. Parnell Road, Hobson Street, Carlton Gore Koad, the Great South Eoad, Grafton Eoad and parts of Ponsonby are some of the favourite playgrounds where the lads delight in running down the slopes in front of and in the face of passing traffic. Where the particular danger is created is in the fact that the lads will not restrict their coasting to the safer parts of the roads, but roam about the centre, often sweeping out in front of oncoming traffic. It is no uncommon sight .to see half a dozen trolleys on good stretches of road emulating one another in speed tests (their mothers may Bay they learn this from the motorists), and all unconscious that they constitute a desperate anxiety to tho drivers of other vehicles. Trolleys nowadays have' all manner of extras, the latest acquisition being the numbers discarded by motorists since the new registration came into force, while they are graced with the names of popular motor cars. Horns, bells, and brakes also form part of the equipment, and it is quite certain that these limit the hearing of the youthful chauffeur, and motorists find difficulty in warning him of their approach. And whijm 'the lads career unexpectedly into the-., centre of the road without the slightest indication, nothing but a miracle at times saves them from being run down. "How would I fare if I wefe to run down one of them," said a motorist this morning -who had met with an unfortunate accident on a previous occasion and been convicted for negligence. "Because of my previous breach I would be prejudiced immediately, and even the most careful driver finds it hard to avoid one of these animated soap boxes when they come unexpectedly into his track." It will be argued by the city parent, who is almost distracted to find some' place for the recreation of her children during the prolonged holiday, that tobogganing is a healthy and harmless exercise, and that where there is a limited backyard her offspring has an equal right to the* street with, anyone else. However, if that parent is prepared to allow her child to submit himself to eminent danger in indulging his whim, then on the shoulders of the parent lies the responsibility should an accident occur. Perhaps, and it is to be hoped that such will soon be the case, the responsibility will be undertaken by the civic authorities, who will divert these young terrorists to a domain where they will create a danger enly to pedestrians. The latter have a more effective manner of dealing with, them than the driver of a vehicle.