ROAD RISKS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 113, 6 February 1935, Page 8

ROAD RISKS

It has been frequently emphasised in these columns that for their own safety pedestrians walking along the highway at night should keep to the right-hand sijde. At an inquest at Palmerston North concerning the death of a boy who was knocked down by a car while walking on the left-hand side, the Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death and added a rider that there should be a rule directing pedestrians to take to the right-hand side. Cyclists, it might be added, could usefully do likewise, but while pedestrians may choose to walk on either side of the road at their own discretion, a rule of traffic would have to be provided for the cyclists. But that is not the whole of the matter. For some .mysterious reason the traffic authorities seem either unable or. unwilling to deal with dazzle headlights, which seem to be increasing in number on the highways at night. A motorist facing an oncoming car fitted with these lights is unable to see any obstruction on his own front until he is almost upon it, and frequently too late to avoid it. As was stated in the evidence at the inquest referred to, it was in such circumstances that the boy was fatally injured. Against the possibility of similar accidents in the future action should be taken to deal with this aspect of road risks.