NO CONSIDERATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 33, 9 February 1938, Page 12

NO CONSIDERATION

CARS AT CROSSINGS RAFFERTY RULES AGAIN REGULATIONS A JOKE . Though for a time Wellington motorists, and Wellington pedestrians, too, began to show some interest and some intelligent mutual consideration ct street crossings, a great part of what was achieved by an intensive campaign of education has been lost, and RaHerty rules prevail again. Education, says one. school of traffic people, must come first, and then, when everyone knows what the regulations are, the regulations will apply themselves by themselves, for each driver will know what is expected of him and each pedestrian will return courtesy for courtesy: harmony and safety will reign over the city streets. But it has not worked out that way. There is not a motorist or walker in Wellington who does not know perfectly well what the markings- are for, but as compulsion has not followed education the regulations are not being observed. The pedestrian who still proposes to stick to his rights to make a safe crossing had better have another think about it, until a further and permanent campaign is undertaken to ensure that knowledge gained is applied. MARKINGS IN BAD ORDER. The Cuy Council has been criticised by a correspondent ("Citizen") for its flagging interest in crossing control, as evidenced by the lack of attention given to crossings x for weeks past. In some localities, he wrote, these special markings have just about disappeared. The public are entitled to know whether the crossings are to be permanent. If so, who is responsible for. giving them proper attention? It looks very much like a policy of drift- either the job should be done properly and the markings kept visible or they should be wiped out altogether. • • . The complaint that the markings are in bad shape is justified. They were repainted just before Christmas, not for decorative purposes, but to bring all the order ''that could be had into Christmas traffic. Six weeks of wear under motor, wheels has scrubbed them down to a pale grey, invisible at night and not nearly effective enough for daylight. More than that, a good deal of surface treatment has been given city streets during the last few weeks, wiping the lines out altogether, and these have not been renewed. Generally the position is unsatisfactory. PAINT NOT LASTING. It is evident that the continued repainting of lines will- never be satisfactory either. Each set of crossings on a four-way intersection costs five pounds or upwards at each application and is good for not more than a month to six weeks at outside, so that the paint and labour cost is very high indeed over the whole city area. A number of alternatives'haveSbeen considered, one of the most likely being the laying down of a wide cross strip of concrete, which would cost more to begin with but would last at least for years, but as the regulations are framed this marking would not be an "authorised" crossing place. Belisha beacons and standards at the kerb would cost a good deal; but would be permanent, but except in streets clear of verandah and other streetside poles these are not sufficiently visible to drivers. The Transport Department, it is understood, is considering some amendment of the present regulations to permit the laying down of permanent lanes, as in a plain or coloured concrete slab. In the meantime the present regulations are not being given- a chance when lanes rubbed out by traffic or surface sealing are not renewed, and where the crossings are perfectly evident, and are further marked by the unmistakable safety zones, some motorists are deliberately ingoring them, knowing that the pedestrian will have to wait or jump for it if he thinks j'otherwse, and knowing also that the campaign for mutual consideration and greater street comfort is for the time

being at an end. . .