The Press Junior THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1938. Traffic Courtesy

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22335, 24 February 1938, Page 4 (Supplement)

The Press Junior THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1938. Traffic Courtesy

There has been some discussion recently about the new pedestrian crossings and the difficulties that are caused because people have not yet learned to use them properly. Although the fault may sometimes be with the motorists in not allowing those on foot to take the right of way where they are entitled to it, the pedestrians are probably, more often to blame for hesitating when the motorists stop to allow them to pass. Mr F. W. Johnston, a member of the Automobile Association, Canterbury, said at a meeting recently that he almost had to get out of his car and tell the pedestrians to go across. This is surely not satisfactory, A motorist who observes the regulations and considers the pedestrian should not be caused inconvenience through the pedestrian’s ignorance. He should be given every co-operation, so that both will learn to obey the regulations and take advantage of them. The work of the traffic inspectors would then be made easier and there would be fewer accidents. When walking through town it is essential to keep the traffic regulations in mind until it becomes completely automatic to obey them. On no account should the street be crossed at any other place than at the authorised crossings. Where an inspector is stationed one should watch his signals closely and observe them just as if one were driving. Only by doing this can the possibility of accidents and inconvenince to traffic be avoided. Moreover, a knowledge of the signals and a readiness to obey them will be of great value when one learns to drive a car oneself. At Cashel street, it is hardly necessary to say, no attempt is made to cross till the light changes to green: But it is at the new pedestrian crossings marked by diagonal lines that it is now most important to act carefully. When a motorist stops there should be no hesitation in crossing, but no attempt to cross should be made till the motorist has stopped. The first move in following the regulations lies with the motorist. It is his duty to stop; if he does not do so he is breaking the rules. But it is obviously unwise to assume that he will act as he should and to rush out in front of a car while it is still moving. The considerate motorist, however, expects the pedestrian not to keep him waiting any longer than necessary. Mr J. Bruorton, the chief traffic inspector, has compared traffic with sport. Both have their rules, and the inspector is a referee to see that the rules of traffic are observed. To cross the street at the wrong place or time Is as bad as disobeying the referee in a game, and to refuse to doss when entitled to do so is like refusing to take advantage of a referee’s favourable decision.

To act like this in sport would seem very foolish indeed, but in traffic people are doing it every day. Yet it is just as much a matter of honour to observe the rules of traffic as of sport. Indeed, it is more so, for neglect of the rules may mean endangering human life. At times when one is in a hurry it is tempting to think that it does not matter just for once. But anyone who has seen a serious accident in the street will realise how foolish it is to take this attitude. A glance at the ' accident column of the newspaper will show that scarcely a day passes without some pedestrian or cyclist being injured. Many of these accidents could have been avoided by a little caution of the kind that would show not only care for oneself and others but a real sense of sportsmanship and playing the game.