DON'TS FOR PEDESTRIANS.

Northern Advocate, 23 August 1924, Page 11 (Supplement)

DON'TS FOR PEDESTRIANS.

MANUAL ISSUED IN PARIS. Motorists will be pleased to learn that a "safety first" guide for pedestrians has appeared in Paris, and is being distributed gratis. They will be pleased because now that a start has been made there is a remote possibility that safety first rules may be framed for other cities. M. Naudin, the Prefect of Police, is responsible for the pedestrians' manual which contains some 50 moral maxims for the use of those who are

still rash enough to insist upon going about Paris on foot. Some of the advice is very much to the point.

For instance: "When a vehicle is approaching you head on, instead of wavering about, stand perfectly still and fix the driver with your eye." The London Motor comments that this sounds like the well-known advice to those surprised by a lion. But it is quite a sound maxim nevertheless.

Other pieces of advice included in the "guide" are as follows:—

"On the road be attentive. Don't wander, don't run, don't read, and don't hold conversations

"Wlien crossing the tram lines make sure that the road is clear.

"On the pavements, never walk along , the kerb, and if you wish to stand still, see that you are close against the wall. "Before crossing the road, watch the direction in which the vehicles are travelling; they cannot come from more than one side at a time. "Leave the roadway to vehicles, as they leave the pavement to you." One obvious weakness in the Parisian manual, it appears to "Eoadstcr," is the advice to "fix the driver with the eye." Tn a long experience as a pedestrian—a lifetime experience— "Koadster" has found that it does not pay to watch the eyes of on approaching; driver or rider. Make up your mind whether you ore going to stop or proceed. If the latter, walk straight across the road and don't look at the driver." If driver and pedestrian watch each other they are each kept guessing, but if the driver sees the pedestrian making a bee-line for a certain spot he can make his calculations accordingly and need not wonder whether the pedestrian is going to stop. jump back, or do one of the many disconcerting things of which pedestrians are capable. The Paris authorities have permission to incorporate this advice in their manual.