PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 July 1939, Page 2

PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS

OBLIGATIONS OF MOTORISTS

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, July 17

The importance of enforcing the regulation which requires motorists to give way to pedestrians on marked crossings, was stressed! by Mr. Justice Reed, in his charge to the Grand Jury, at the opening of the criminal session of the Supreme Court. “Whether there are difficulties in the way of enforcing it, I do not know, but my personal observation, and others must have noticed it, shows that the regulation is honoured more in the breach than in the observance," he said.

There was a large proportion of decent motorists who would slow down when they saw a pedestrian on a crossing, but a large number of others seemed to have no regard for the rights of pedestrians, and' dashed' past them on crossings. He 1 did not knew whether there were any” difficulties in prosecuting persons for doing that, but something should be dtone to stop it. particularly” as the Exhibition was coming on in Wellington, and there would bo a large number of strangers coming to the city, from places where the regulation was 1 enforced. "Otherwise,” he added, ‘‘we will have people killed or injured during the time that strangers are in Wellington. People living in Wellington know they cannot always rely on vehicles stopping, when th'ey r are on crossings, hut strangers who do not. know that may suffer." A presentment (was made by the jury, that the laws covering the 'rights of pedestrians on crossings should be more rigidly enforced, with the idea of affording more protection to pedestrians.

Mr. Justice Reed saidi that, it would he referred to the proper authorities.