CROSSING TRAFFIC

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 57, 4 September 1937, Page 10

CROSSING TRAFFIC

BETTER OBSERVANCE

JAY WALKERS CONTINUE

The effect of the warning given by the. City. Engineer that action will be taken against both drivers and walkers . who . do. not. observe > the traffic regulations, was very evident / this morning, for there was a far better observance of the rules, particularly by motorists at marked pedestrian crossings.

Pedestrians did not play their parts equally fairly as regards "jay. walking," but if regulations are fair enough for drivers, to the end of making the streets safer for pedestrians, they are fair enough, for walkers also, to give motorists a. road not impeded every few, yards by people wandering across at any angle.

The observance by pedestrians of Signals given by pointsmen or lights at controlled points was also considerably better, but there is still a long way to go before Wellington pedestrians learn: ,

(a) To wait for signals;

(b) To cross the roadway expeditiously and at the busier 'intersections in groups. .

The Traffic Office has never specialised in prosecutions, and has no wish to build up its finances on fines. The decision tc; take action against offenders was made when continued ignoring of quite well-known rules made it clear that "education" was not acceptable without a certain amount of compulsion. However, the improvement today was so marked that drastic action may. not be so necessary, but a flash in the pan will not suffice and the City Engineer and the Traffic Office are determined that the improvement is to be permanent. •