"KEEP TO THE LEFT"

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 40, 16 August 1921, Page 7

"KEEP TO THE LEFT"

CONFUSION IN SYDNEY STREETS. (riSK BBK SWN' COIR8BP»K»«NT.) SYDNEY, 9th August. Ever-since Ist July, the rule of the streets in Sydney has been "Keep to the Left." The people, following the habit of a lifetime, are keeping to the right. Everyone who knows the crowded condition of the pedestrian traffic in Sydney's narrow streets can imagine the result. The new rule was not lightly made. It was decided on as a result of a careful study of many street accidents. It was found that while all- vehicular traffic kept to the left, and all pedestrian traffic to the right, persons walking on the outer side of the sidewalks were going the same way as the vehicles on the nearest side of the road. Therefore, any pedestrian stepping out suddenly into the road was in danger from vehicles coming up unseen behind him. But if pedestrians also kept to tlie left, the people on the outer side of the footpaths would always be facing the nearest stream of vehicular traffic, and the risk of accidents would be lessened. Everyone recognised the wisdom, of the new rule and everyone who remembered it obeyed it. But for everyone who remembered a hundred did not,, and the latter naturally kept to the right. P.olice were put on special duty in the busier streets to remind the people of the new role. They were readily obeyed. But sooner- or later the stream of " k'eep-to-the-left" traffic, flowing away from the policeman, would encounter a forgetful " keep-to-tho-right" . stream, which had not yet met a policeman and been changed over. The conscious "letters" would thereupon barge into the unconscious " righters," and in a moment there would be wild confusion. The people are learning very slowly, and there has been much confusion' in the streets. The police are now adopting new tactics. Sandwichboard men are wandering round with ." Keep to the Left" notices, and similar notices are being painted on all the footpaths. A broad white line is also being drawn along the middle of the city footpaths as a reminder to pedestrians tc keep t» the left of it. Few people realised until'they saw the attempt being mado to enforce the new traffic fiiw how, strong a thing is habit with the mass. '