SAFETY ON STREETS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 102, 27 October 1934, Page 26

SAFETY ON STREETS

ACCIDENT IMMUNITY

EXAMPLE OF SUNDERLAND

The linglish Press generally has taken a great deal of notice of the traffic control system sit Sundcrland which came into prominence as a result of the reply to Mr. Hore Belisha, British Minister of Transport, when he sought the reason for its remarkable freedom from accidents. Headers will remember that the reply came as a shock to the Minister, for it attributed its freedom largely to a -system of filtering that is contrary to law. There is more to it than this, however.

In a note on the Sunderland letter "The Times" said: The secret of Sundcrland is the secret of persuading the users of the roads to side with authority and with each other, instead of imagining an enemy in everyone on wheel or on foot. that they may see.

And what Sunderland can do, the rest of the kingdom can do, if it chooses. If il chooses —in those words Ho threequarters of the matter. "Public Opinion" quotes from t|io letter of the Town Clerk of Sunder-land-as follows:*—

There is no reason why the present satisfactory position in regard to freedom from accidents should not continued For some considerable time past the' police have, .given particular attention to traffic problems, and in a tactful way have exercised a control which has had the effect of reducing unnecessary fast and risky running. Cautions in writing an^ verbal warn-ings-have been-issued wh'ero necessary, and only in serious eases, which have now-been reduced to a minimum, have proceedings been taken against drivers. ■~.,-■

Through the medium of a local Safety Week, which was held-from August^ 13 to 13, the general public have been made aware of the seriousness of the position so far as regards road accidents, resulting through' carelessness or neglect. During1 that week upwards of 250 large appropriate warning positers were displayed on boards made by members of .the .Fire Brigade and affixed to tramway and an; lamp standards, park railings, urid'in other suit-, able positions" af ' important intersections, including the sea front, and also on-the palisading and. gates, of school premises. Transparencies bearing a warning were also supplied to drivers, and affixed by them to the windscreens and windows of all types of motor vehicles, in addition to which the managers of theatres and picture halls were good enough to show a slide two or tlTree times each day, bearing advice as to the avoidance of accidents. Instruction on safety first.' principles is also given in all the elementary schools throughout the year. For some considerable time past constables-, on duty near to school promises which adjoin busy thoroughfares have had'instructions to give attention to children mossing the roaclw.ij's. During three or Sour periods of the day the children are assisted across the carriageway when travelling to and from school, and it is felt that Ihis action on the part of the police lias had a most beneficial effect, the fact that the police fire taking an interest in their welfare being the means of instilling in their young minds methods which doubtless will bo adopted by them in avoiding risk and danger. This arrangement has been very favourably remarked upon by many people who witness the children assembled at these points, near the constable, waiting to be escorted across the road.

In addition to the foregoing, it; is tho intention of the Chief Constable, wlion the schools reassemble after the summer holidays, to have 20,000 wjsrniiijr notices in the form of small hanflhills printed and handed to-schoolchildren by the constables on duty near llio schools. These, of course., will not lie handed to all the I'hildren attending: elementary schools of the borough, but ■ tho distribution ■will 'generally In.l confined to children between Hie a^es oh' six and i:> years.

For some time p.'ist tlie National Saftttv First Association lias supplied the Chief Constable weekly with a number of window posters, which, at liis request, have been very effectively displayed by shopkeepers and others. As a result of tin; above, and of tho assistance which i.; readily given by tlio local-Press, tli i.ublic arc becoming more accustomed ilny by. day to the great increase in vehicular traffic.

in conclusion, 1 would point out tli.'it, whilo every effort is made to impress upon driver* of fast-moving vehicles ami upon the general public the necessity for taking proper care to avoid accident, I here is no undue slowing up' of traffic, ' ami congestion is reduced to the absolute minimum.