WORDS ON ROADS NOT FAVOURED

Northern Advocate, 18 August 1936, Page 6

WORDS ON ROADS NOT FAVOURED

INDICATING PRESENCE OF SCHOOLS , * A proposal that a sign, “School, Drive Slowly,” be painted on the roadway approaching schools in the borough did not meet with the unanimous favour of members of the Whangarei Borough Council last night. Cr. G. H. Morrish moved that such a sign be painted on the road in the vicinity of the town schools. He said that the matter had been discussed by the Whangarei School Committee, which had given the matter serious consideration. The headmaster was seriously perturbed by the danger of traffic opposite the school, and the committee was anxious that something should be done to lessen the danger in some way. Otherwise they would have no alternative but to ask the Minister of Transport for help. Children returning after the lunch hour were in particular danger, and, though they did look up and down the road, their natural anxiety to reach the school again made them forgetful. A.A. Favours Signs. The A.A. authorities were in favour of signs on the road. The fact that that day a number of people had been prosecuted for speeding past schools showed that they were oblivious of the fact that they were passing a school. They were all reputable citizens. . A Councillor; Not' if they were driving like that. Cr. Morrish said that the A.A. held that the word “School” on the road would be a means of curtailing speed, as many motorists kept their minds on the road and forgot that they were passing schools. The Whangarei School Committee was prepared to assist in painting the sighfe for their school. Cr, N. E. Crimp seconded the motion, The danger was a real one, he said, and it was very diffidlilt to estimate the speed of cars coming from both directions. The signs would “hit” the motorists in the eyes and they would automatically slow down. Cr. Tibbits: I am against it. The signs would not be seen until they were right ahead, and cars would pull up suddenly and cause accidents. Cr. Parkin did not think that the signs would be of any benefit. A more effective method would be to have “School” signs on the side of the road.

An Amendment*

Cr. Menzies was not in favour of signs on the road. In Auckland he had noted that notice boards indicating “Slow” were placed three chains from the school, and “School” opposite the school. He moved an amendment that signs such as these be better placed than they were at present. Cr. Morrish pointed out that councillors disagreed with writing on the road, yet they had put “15 miles per hour” signs there. They now said that these signs were useless. If they were going to adopt the amendment, they should first consult these interested and try to work in with their requirements. Their main interest was to guard the lives of the children.

Crs. Donaldson and Brown both considered the signs on the road would not be of much value. Cr. Finch said that if they continued to prosecute that would do far more good. The Mayor, Mr W. Jones, said that if he could be convinced that signs on the road would be of any value, he would support their use for the little cost that would be involved. The solution of the problem was that all motorists should make up their minds to respect the lives of pedestrians and other people.

Cr. Crimp: Signs would remind them.

The amendment was carried by 7 votes to 2.