KEEP ALERT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 December 1928, Page 13

KEEP ALERT.

HOW TO AVOID ACCIDENTS. “THE FIRST DUTY.” With the opening of the school term, which in Sail Francisco is to-morrow, motorists, especially those- in _ large cities, are called upon to exercise increased vigilance, according to the safety department of the National Automobile Club. The opening of school means that every school clay will see thousands of children on the streets during the hours before and after classes. Motorists and parents have well-defined duties, and must see that these duties, are performed if the child accident toll is to be kept down, says the club safety department. CAREFULNESS IS DUTY.

The first duty of the motorist is to be careful. When driving in school voiles it is not enough to exercise ordinary precaution. In dealing with the problem of child safety there is the element of the child mind to consider. There are many accidents in which the motorist has not been held responsible. For example, a child ran directly in front of a car. It was called unavoidable that the driver could not stop in time to save the child’s life. But, it is pointed out, if the driver had been ever alert and watching for such unaccountable actions on the part of the child, he might have been able to stop in time to avoid the tragedy. The motorist, declares the club safety department, must remember that his is the responsibility—morally in all cases, and legally in many. Children are by nature incapable of figuring out just how to act under stress of circumstances.

PARENTS MUST CO-OPERATE. Then there is the duty of parents hi this connection. Children must be taught which are the safest streets to walk and which are the safest intersections to cross; must be drilled in (the idea of safety first; must have the principles of safety first installed in their minds, according t<> the club. Children must foe taught always to be on the lookout for passing automobiles ; taught that there are reckless drivers who may not be trusted nor depended upon to look out for the safety of children. If every driver would increase Ins vigilance and pay particular attention to the actions—often aimless actions — of children, and would use the greatest care while driving when children are, or may be, about, and if parents would supervise their children’s going and coming to and from school, the child traffic death figures would drop, asserts the club.