ROAD ACCIDENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23137, 8 September 1938, Page 17

ROAD ACCIDENTS

PEDESTRIANS' PART

| EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN ■ CORRECT USE OF CROSSINGS An educational campaign to impress upon Auckland pedestrians their responsibility in the avoidanco of street, accidents is to bo recommended to the traffic authorities by tho Automobile Association (Auckland 1 ). Tho president of tho association, Mr. F. G. Farroll, said yesterday that widespread carelessness on the part of pedestrians 'was a dominant factor in a report on observations of foot traffic, which had been submitted by officials of tho organisation. "Rules are laid down in tho traffic regulations governing tho conduct of motorists on city streets and there are indications that the motor-vehicle driver is becoming more conscious of his obligations in this respect," Mr. Farrell stated. "An immense amount of publicity has been released, but, unless thero is undue congestion and inconvenience to the motoring section of our population, it is essential that peoplo on foot should co-operato and be thoroughly familiar with the rules concerning tho use of authorised crossings." Authoritative Action Needed It did not seem to be generally known that authorised. pedestrian crossings, which were indicated by special markings, immediately became inoperative if tho intersection was under the control of a traffic officer. Then, pedestrians and motorists must obey the signals of tho officer who was controlling traffic. Yet, frequently in the city one observed a waiting lino of cars begin to move forward on receiving tho signals of an inspector, only to bo suddenly baulked by people rushing across in front of them in direct opposition to tho pointsman's signal.

"Is it that these people are ignorant of tho law or do they openly flout it?" Mr. Farrell asked. "It is a point on which authoritative action is needed if accidents are to be prevented. The adult pedestrian is 0110 of our traffic problems and has consistently resisted general attempts at safety education. Something more definite is needed." Benefit to Children On the other hand, remarkable results had been achieved with the children, and the comparatively few accidents with pedestrians of school age was a. great tribute to the effective work of the association's child safety educational service. An important feature of the activities of Association patrols was the regular talks on safety given to children at the country schools throughout the province. Within tho last 10 months approximately 65,000 pupils of primary and secondary schools had received Automobile Association safety-first instruction—a work in which the association was receiving tho greatest co-operation from the teachers. Mr. Farrell added that to assist in this direction, the association had published copies or a special safety code for girls and boys, which were distributed to the children after each lecture. The association was continuing the work among the children with added vigour and had arranged for a safetyfirst motion picture film to be shown in conjunction with the patrols' visits to schools.