“DANGER IS THERE”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22416, 25 August 1947, Page 4

“DANGER IS THERE”

SAFETY CAMPAIGN CHILDREN ON ROADS MOTORISTS’ OBLIGATIONS Motorists and cyclists should continue to exercise the utmost care when children are on footpaths or the roadside and watch also for children alighting from cars or buses. Most readers will have been required at some time to brake suddenly to avert an accident or have seen how uncertain are the movements of children near or on a roadside. That is a note of caution struck by the Gisborne Junior Chamber of Commerce road safety campaign committee as it enters its second and final week today. “Jaycees” have been distributing copies of the road code as issued by the Transport Department. Special mention has been made of children —although road users have obligations also to the aged, the infirm and the blind—because of evidence of a certain carelessness displayed by some motorists who travel too fast when children are near. Children should not play on the roadway, according to the road code, but they often escape the vigilence of their harassed mothers and have short memories. Their movements arc spontaneous. The following extracts have been taken from the code rules and brought to the notice of readers in the interest of greater road safety.— To pedestrians.—“ Where no footpath is available keep to the edge of the roadway and, if you have a reasonably clear view ahead, keep to your right of the roadway.” “At night it is safer to cross in the vicinity of street or shop lights.” “Loitering on pedestrian crossing is an offence.” To Cyclists.— “ Never ride two abreast at bends, corners, on narrow roads, or while overtaking another vehicle.’’ Finally, because of some confusion in the minds of road users in relation to the right-hand rule it is quoted, as follows: —“At other than controlled intersections give way to all vehicles on your right unless they are horse-drawn or unless they are turning to the right and you are going straight ahead; if turning to the right yourself, give way to all vehicles not horse-drawn.