PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28972, 13 August 1959, Page 11

PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS

“Attitude Of Courtesy”

A courteous and reasonable attitude by both drivers and pedestrians was needed at pedestrian crossings, the Christchurch City Council traffic superintendent (Mr G. P. Kellar) said yesterday. Mr Kellar was commenting on a letter to the Editor of “The Press” from “Harassed Motorist and Pedestrian.” The letter read: “As Courtesy Week is being continued this week would the City Council try to educate the citizens—motorists and pedestrians —in the correct use of pedestrian crossings? There is no town in New Zealand where these crossings are more abused than in Christchurch—through ignorance of the rules. With traffic officers on the spot could pedestrians be told the correct time to step off the footpath or over the middle line and so prevent the rush from both sides of the crossing whenever a motorist stops for a pedestrian actually op the crossing, and the correct use of the middle line? Could motorists be told the use of the middle line and so stop them from beckoning on pedestrians waiting (correctly) till they have left the crossing? Would it be possible to have the rules and regulations regarding these crossings taught to school children and so lay a good foundation for road safety in the future?” “Rule Taught” Mr Kellar said traffic officers of his department “continually taught the rules and regulations” to schoolchildren in talks at schools. “They are also con-

tinually trying to educate both motorists and pedestrians in the correct use of the crossings.” He said: “I disagree with the statement that there is no town in New Zealand where pedestrian crossings are more abused than in Christchurch.” Mr Kellar said he had been pleased to see the school prefects’ judging panel in the road courtesy crusade choose for an award a motorist who had stopped to let an elderly woman cross the road although she was not on a pedestrian crossing. A courteous and reasonable attitude was the best approach to any traffic situation. Mr Kellar said.