"KEEP TO THE LEFT."

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17227, 18 August 1921, Page 3

"KEEP TO THE LEFT."

CONTUSION IN SYDNEY STKEETS.

(MOM OCT* OWN CORHMrONOHHT.* SYDNEY, August 9. \ Ever since July Ist, the rule of the streets in Sydney has been "Keep to the left." The people, following the habit of a lifetime, are keeping to the right. Everyone who knows the crowded condition of the pedestrian traffic in Sydney's narrow streets can imagine the result.

The new rule waß not lightly made. It was decided on as a result of a careful study, of .many street accidents." It was found that while all vehicular fib kept to the left, and all pedestrian traffic to the right, persons walking oh the outer side of the sidewalks were going the same way as the; vehicles on. the nearestside of the road. Therefore, I any pedestrian stepping out suddenly into the road was in danger from vehicles coming up unseen behind him. Birt if pedestrians also kept to. the left, the people on the outer side or the footpaths would • always be facing the nearest stream of vehicular traffic, and the risk of accidents would be lessened. . . Everyone recognised the • wisdom of the new rule, and everyone who remembered it.obeyedi it. .But ,for: everyone who remembered, a hundred .did?.not j and the; latter naturally kept;, .to the right.: Police-were put on.special,duty, in the btsier streets to • remind,' yfclie: people .of..:the :new rule. They were readily obeyed. But sooner or later the stream of "Keep to the left" traffic, flowing away from the policeman, would encounter' a forgetful "keep to the right" stream which, had .not, yet met a policeman, and : , been changed over. The conscious ,'flefters" would thereupon barge into .the unconscious "righters," and.in a, : moment there would' be wild confusion. The- people are learning'very there has been much confusion in the streets. The police are'now adopting new tactics. Saridwich-board men are wandering round with . "Keep left" notices, and. similar notices Tare ■ being painted on all the footpaths* A broad white line is also .being drawn along the middle of the city footpaths ad a reminder to pedestrians to keep to the left of it. . ■ „ >T , . Few people realised until they saw the attempt being made to enforce the new traffic law, How. Btrong a thing is habit with? the mass.