ONE-WAY RISKS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 11 August 1928, Page 15

ONE-WAY RISKS.

FORCE OF HABIT. PEDESTRIANS APT TO MAKE . MISTAKES. The development of one-way traffic routes iras brought, into being a number of factors which have to be considered by the car driver —some of them advantageous and other® dubious (says a motoring writer). But we have to take tilings as we find them, and when further responsibility is thrown on our shoulders we must be prepared to face it. A case in point is that in which one-way traffic confers on the car driver the right—and duty— of driving on the right-hand side or the road.

In itself that presents little difficulty to the motorist. But it is obvious (and experience already proves it) that it presents added danger to pedestrians. The careless are still to he guarded against; hub to these must lie added the. careful —who may instinctively look the wrong way for approaching traffic.

TWO POINTS TO WATCH. In these circumstances it is the obvious duty of tire motorist to he more than normally careful and more than normally considerate. It is neither morally sound nor sporting to argue that because the law permits such wrong-sided traffic your responsibilitv ends there.

The plain facts are two: Firstly, it is extremely difficult for even 4he careful pedestrian” to remember always to .look to the right in such places when instinct suggests looking to the left. Secondly, the one-way idea is for the motorists’ benefit.

As we lienefit at the expense of unavoidable added danger to pedestrians, it is palpably our duty so to drive as 10 eliminate, that danger as far as Juima nly pinrt icahie.