"SAFETY FIRST LEAGUE"

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 128, 26 November 1938, Page 10

"SAFETY FIRST LEAGUE"

PEDESTRIANS AND

DRIVERS

MORE CO-OPERATION NEEDED

If the regulations were'observed bymotorists and pedestrians alike road safety would be more assured. At present these two camps of road users are distinct, if not inimical, and the opinion was expressed by a traffic officer today that unless more mutual consideration was shown co-operation would remain distant. Uniformity, not only in regulations, but also in the ideals of their observance, would be necessary throughout the country before the position was really improved.

In a letter sent to the Commissioner of Transport, Mr. A. K. Murray, secre-tary-manager of a Wellington taxi company, offers a solution to bring motorists and pedestrians into unity. Ever since pedestrian crossings have been in vogue, he writes, he has observed the regulations, but has noticed that many pedestrians totally disregard all signals, and jog along regardless of anything.

"Here is a suggestion for consideration," says his letter to the Commissioner. "That the Department organise a safety first league among pedestrians and motorists, the idea being to draw up a list of rules which would become the basis of the pledge for members to sign, undertaking to themselves to obey the rules and to urge other people to also express care. When the member signed the pledge I suggest your Department issue a badge to be worn on the lapel of a coat or worn as a brooch. If the idea is considered juvenile perhaps it could be adopted in schools and various young people's societies. Personally I think adults would assist, and it seems to me that your Department would be able to create a "safety first consciousness."

The City Traffic Department has had men at busy intersections instructing pedestrians, but naturally, could come in contact with only a small proportion of the people of Wellington. Pedestrians are, of course, subject to penalties for non-observance of the regulations, but so far no appreciable revenue has accrued from convictions, though offenders are liable to a fine of £2.

Both motorists and pedestrians vary in their method of carrying out the regulations. Many motorists slow down to allow pedestrians to pass, but it is sometimes noticeable that those who do study those'afoot, once halted, may stay there almost indenfiitely while straggling twos and threes of shoppers and others saunter leisurely across. Other motorists sail over the white lines fast, and in their purposeful expression one may draw an inference that the pedestrian had better keep out of the way. He does. Then again, there are pedestrians who really study the motorist, and skip nimbly over and let him on his way. COURTESY BY VOLITION. The league suggested by Mr. Murray would have the advantage that, while everyone would still have to observe the regulations, there could be a common understanding of the best way to do it to save both parties trouble and inconvenience. Badge wearers would necessarily have to show courtesy, whether behind the wheel or in front of it, and in time road courtesy would be achieved by the general public of its own volition, and not in the grudging cat and dog fashion in which motorist and pedestrian now succeed in missing each other. In a city the size of Wellington, where, apart from the main thoroughfares, the pedestrian traffic is not heavy, the distance between official crossings seems long to shoppers. In the larger cities overseas, crossings only are used as a matter of course, but already it has been found that the congested pedestrian traffic has slowed down vehicular movement there to the extent that it clogs itself. This position will probably not arrive in Wellington for very many years, but the diagonal use of the street by pedestrians and the free use of unofficial crossings makes for a feeling of uncertainty galling to both parties.

There are always people who will not observe regulations of any kind unless they are penalised. In most city streets the numbers of people who still cross diagonally, in spite of the fact that they are liable to a £2 fine, are amazing. With the certainty that they would be joined by sufficient others at the nearest intersection to obviate long waits, they could easily get into the habit of crossing only at the white lines, and motorists would feel relieved.

One of the difficulties motorists say they find is that the position of the white lines is not always clearly visible to them when approaching. Prominent signs on the kerbs would solve this, but it is difficult to devise a prominent sign which is not in itself an obstruction.