‘Be safe, be seen’

Press, 7 June 1982, Page 12

‘Be safe, be seen’

Many careful, attentive Christchurch drivers can tell hair-raising tales of nearly hitting cyclists or pedestrians on dark, rainy nights. Too many Christchurch drivers are neither careful nor attentive. Combine this with the carelessness of many cyclists and pedestrians about having adequate lights on their bicycles or wearing sufficiently light or distinguishing clothing and the likelihood of accidents is clearly high. The road accident statistics confirm this and two recent accidents in Wellington involving boys making milk deliveries have grimly underlined it. The major responsibility for averting such accidents rests with cyclists and those who travel on foot. A reliable, sturdy bicycle light is expensive, and cyclists have grounds for complaint 'that bicycle safety equipment is too often either shoddy or prohibitively expensive. Steps both to set standards for such equipment and to ensure that duties and taxes do not discourage cyclists from buying what they should are overdue. But having good safety equipment such as lights is a wise measure of self-defence and reluctance to pay for it could one day be greatly regretted. In

addition, ensuring that some night-time clothing at least is light coloured and making liberal use of reflectors or reflectorised tape are neither of them expensive steps for pedestrian or cyclist. The Accident Compensation Commission’s steady campaign to encourage those travelling by bicycle or on foot at night to “be seen” is directed at the right people. At the same time, the lack of attention some pedestrians or cyclists give to making sure they can be seen in the most adverse conditions is no excuse for drivers out in such conditions not to be careful and vigilant themselves. The separation of motor vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians would solve the problems posed by inadequately lit cyclists and pedestrians. But this is obviously impractical. So long as drivers, cyclists and pedestrians must share the same road space, all must be considerate of and watchful for the others. In the case of cyclists and pedestrians it means taking the necessary steps, and incurring the necessary expense, to be easily visible, from consideration for other road users, but also as a matter of self-preservation.