SAFE WALKING

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 February 1939, Page 4

SAFE WALKING

THE FIVE “C’S.” Gene is the time when the three R’s reading, ’riting, and ’rithmetic stood lonely in their glory as the fine fundamentals of learning. They have now been joined here by the live C's (writes the London correspondent of the “Christian Science Monitor”). To those who wish to stand well in the modern world the five C’s are, indeed, just as important as the three R’s. For the five C’s are the basic rules of how to cross a. road, and every pedestrian knows that crossing a road nowadays is just as complicated a,s compound fractions or English spelling. The five C’s form the final word of the Pedestrian Association in a leaflet entitled “Pedestrian Crossings—Advice to those who u,se them,” which is now being distributed throughout Britain.

Pedestrian crossings, marked with the übiquitous yellow “Belisha Beacon” (named after Mr Leslie HoreBelisha, former Minister of Transport), are the legal “Tom Tiddler’s Ground” of those who walk in British cities. On crossings not controlled by lights or policemen a pedestrian is always right, and motorists are obliged by law to approach each crossing sufficiently slowly to be able to pull -up should a. pedestrian start to cross at any time. Despite this tact, it is felt that pedestrian crossings are not used as much as they ought to be. It is this that has caused’ the Pedestrian Association to distribute its five C's. The first C is “cross constitutionally,” which means in accordance with the regulations. The second C is “cross consistently,” which means “use the crossing whenever there is one near at hand.” The third is “cross conspicuously,” which means “make it clear to motorists that you intend to cross.”

The fourth is “cross confidently,” which means “get over the road promptly a,nd don’t hesitate.”

The fifth is “cross considerately,” which means “don’t take unnecessary advantage of your legal rights to cross at whatever moment you like.” AH five might be said to roll up into one big corporate “C,” meaning common sense.