ON LEFT OR RIGHT?

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 169, 12 April 1930, Page 10

ON LEFT OR RIGHT?

PEDESTRIANS ON ROAD MOVE FOR GENERAL SAFETY Whether pedestrians should walk on the right or left side of the roadway, especially at nights, was a matter upon which emphatic opinions were expressed by members of the North Island Motor Union yesterday at the annual meeting. The view was strongly expressed that they should walk on the right-hand side. Mr. W. G. Walkley (Taranaki) said that he had given a good deal of thought to the subject, and for some weeks past had paid close attention to the effect of pedestrians walking on the left-hand side of the road both by day and by night He referred to a recent case at Wanganui where Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., gave a judgment in which he said:

“A point that was not taken for the defence but which might I think, carry some weight, though I do not propose to base my decision upon it, is that the plaintiff and her husband chose to walk upon the left-hand side of the road. The rule of the road is thus stated in ‘Beven on Negligence,’ 4th. edition, at p. 684: “ ‘The custom or law of the road is that horses and carriages should respectively keep on the near or left side and foot passengers take the right hand, and this is judicially recognised without proof.’ “The advisableness of this rule will be plain since the foot passenger walking on his right hand side of the road will be facing any approaching tiaffic and will run comparatively little or no risk of being overtaken or run down from behind. The necessity for the observance of such a rule would, I think, apply even more strongly on a dark road at night.” A Proper View.

The magistrate’s view was a very practical and sensible one, Mr. Walkley submitted. To put the position concisely, it appeared at the present time that the law was that motor traffic must keep to the left and overtake on the right. Although it might be the rule of the road for pedestrians to walk on the right hand side of the road the practice in this country was for pedestrians to take the left hand side. The object of making it obligatory upon motorists to keep to the left was obviously to make the highway as safe as possible for vehicular users. It seemed only reasonable that regulations should be made making it equally obligatory for pedestrians to observe some universally recognised rule of the road.

In fixing such a rule two cardinal points must be kept in mind: (1) The safety of pedestrians, and (2) the protection of other road users. He had come to the very 'definite opinion that as long as wheeled traffic kept to the left pedestrians should keep to the right hand side of the road or walk on the left at their peril. He moved that the union take steps to secure regulations in the desired direction. “Safar for AH.“ Mr. H. J. Butcher (Auckland) supported the proposal. Mr. F. J. Hill (Wanganui) said the danger was still greater on bitumen roads where there were no footpaths. Mr. Walkley: Motorists don’t want all the road, but if we can- make the roads safer for everyone we should do it Mr. L. A. Edwards: It is a question of common law.

The chairman suggested that the matter should be referred to the authorities, and this course was adopted. ,