DANGERS OF JAY WALKING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22344, 15 February 1936, Page 17

DANGERS OF JAY WALKING

Sir, —Judging by the number of Court cases against drivers, pedestrians are proving not only a menace to themselves, but also a very serious danger to motorists. It is quite refreshing to notice that a campaign against jav walking has been launched by the City Council, and it would be a very excellent idea to prosecute pedestrians for careless walking or endangering the lives and liberties of motorists. Our roads are becoming heavily congested by more and still more licensed vehicles, which have a right to use the roads, but experienced drivers and most respectable citizens are running a terrible risk of killing irresponsible jay walkers, and perhaps having to face the dangers, and expenses, of a Supreme Court trial. It is only within the last two years that the roads have become absolutely dangerous to cross, except with extreme care, and it is high time that pedestrians should learn some road sense. The roads do not belong to them any longer, they have been leased to modern traffic, and the time is not far distant when the police will be obliged to take charge of the walking public, as they do in London. The A.A. has perfected a splendid scheme of putting signs throughout the country, pointing out dangers of the roads to motorists; could not those same posts be used to hang brilliant red danger signs, warning thoughtless jay walkers to look before crossing? There are almost" as many accidents on country roads as in the city, simply because a number of inhabitants believe the roads are to_ be used only as footpaths. How many lives must bo sacrificed before road boards and others realise their responsibilities? Look Before Crossing.