SAFETY FIRST CAMPAIGN.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17393, 2 March 1922, Page 6

SAFETY FIRST CAMPAIGN.

meeting of committee. The Safety first Campaign Committee toet last evening, when there were present: Messrs W. H. Benson (in the chair), D. CrOzier, \V. HnVward, P. Thompson, A. Peverill, K. H. Andrews, W. W. Scarff, H. Macintosh, T. Douds, J. S. Hawkes, and T. S. Dacro. . Advice was received from the City Council, stating that at last meeting it had been agreed to pay the Government for the services of three policemen t<) control the trafi>j at the Bank of New Zealand corner, the intersection of Colombo and Cashel streets, and at the Clock Tower respectively. The letter ,Was received. Mr Hawkes, chairman of the Demonstration Committee, said that he had interviewed Police. Superintendent Sheehan ill regard to obtaining the services 6f Constable Sinister, who had had London experience, to give a demonstration of traffic* Control. Superintendent Sheehnn had stated that he would comply with tEe request, and would be pleased to assiso the committee in any way in his power. The City Council wrote granting formal permission for the demonstration to be given. The Fihanee Committee recommended that not tess than £SOO be aimed at, and that various local bodies, motor clubs, business firms, aiid various trades associations be asked for contributions. The report was adopted. The Advertising and Propaganda Committee recommended as follows; (1) That posters be displayed on tramcats, in shop windows, and at street corners (estimate 1000); (2) That mottoes bo displayed on wind screens of motor-carS, etc. (estimate 5000); (3) That leaflets be distributed to school children and the publio (estimate 20,000). ' , . (4) That newspapers display advertisements and articles, giving, if possib'e, returns of street accidents. _ (5) That direction arrows be printed on footpatHs. The estimated cost Ot carryiHg out the programme would be £250 Mr Benson added that it had been decided not to hold ft procession, but to apply the money needed for that purpose to advertising purposes. 'jne report was adopted. The Educational Committee recommended that school children be in* structed regarding "safety first" principles on the following lines:— (1) Keep off the roadway except when vou must cross it. (а) Look for danger, first to right then to left, before crossing the road. (3) When crossing the road, always cross at right angles to footpath. (4) Walk quickly, but do not run across the road. (5) When in the city, only, cross the streets At defined crossings. (б) When leaving a tramcar or vehicle,. look both ways for other vehices, and go straight to foot(7) not play or stand talking on the roadway. (8) When riding a bicycle, be careful to keep on left side of road, sound belt when coaling to corners, keep well cn proper side when turning a corner. (9) Teach ohildren direction signals. It was also recommended that sketches 'illustrating how accidents occur, and what happens to the careless or foolish pedpstnan commonly caled the "jay walker." should be hung in the class rooms of schools. The report was adopted. It was decided to ask the editor of the "School Journal" to insert m an early issue an nrtie'e on ''Safety First. Mr Deuds stated that by thjs means they would reach every child m the Dominion over seven years of age.

TRAMWAY BOARD'S SUGGESTION

The following letter was sent last month by Mr Frank Thompson, general manager of the Christchurch Tramways, to the Town Clerk ot Ohriitchurch:— By direction of the Board, I forward to your Council a suggestion with reSift. «■ m its effort to improve traihei conditions in Christchurch.. At present, people waiting in the square m front of the Cathedral for south-bound cars, distribute themselves over nearly tne whole street, endangering themselves as well as adding to the responsibilities of motorists. The Auckland City .Council, faced with the same proposition at tramway stopping-places, has placed discs in the streets near tram-tracks, with, the words "Safety Zone" printed on them, the object being to confine people to a defined area, and to servo also the interests of motorists. It is suggested that the Board should erect two steel posts of suitable design, carrying strong lights at night, about eight or ten feet east of the present tracks, as' shown on sketch attached. A lino of bricks to be placed in the roadway from pole to pole, similar to those you have used at the Bank of New Zealand crossing. Waiting tram passengers to be encouraged by notices on the roles to keep within the area so markedj and not to stand out in the roadway. There,would still remain about 40 feet quite clear for vehicular traffic, which would fca ample. At present. passengers waiting in the shelter for south-bouhd cars dodge between cars from all positions when getting into place to board their cars. A footway might be defined from the shelter opposite the Council's parcels office by inlnid bricks connecting up with the safety area previously mentioned. Care . would be taken that standing tram cars would not foul this crossing, and a notice could be exhibited that the publio could cross the lines more safely at that spot. If necessarv, the pathway could "be continued right across the street ,to the Cathedral kerb. Another public improvement would-be possible. The illuminated signs ''cars start from here" on certain poles in the square prove very useful to visitors, who compare Christchurch favourably with other cities in this respect, but no such sign is on the shelter with respect to cars which start from there. There are eio;ht of them, which would make the sign too clumsy, particularly as instructions would have to show that in four of the cases the passengers must wait at some other spot. One of tho poles which it is suggested be erected for tJi H safety zone niirposo 06uld used for thifi, thus securing the desired simplicity ?nd clearness from the public point of view.