CROSSING RULE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23401, 18 July 1939, Page 15

CROSSING RULE

PEDESTRIANS' EIGHTS DISREGARD BY MOTORISTS NEED FOR ENFORCEMENT [BY TKLEGRAI'H PRKSS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Monday The importance of enforcing the regulation which requires motorists to give way to pedestrians on marked crossings was emphasised by Mr. Justice Reed in his charge to the grand jury at the opening of the criminal session in the Supreme Court. "Whether there are difficulties in the way of enforcing it I do not know, but the regulation is honoured more in the breach than in its observance," said His Honor. There were many decent motorists who would slow down when they saw a pedestrian <>n a crossing, but a large number of others seemed to have 110 regard for the rights of pedestrians and dashed past them 011 crossings, he added. He did not know whether there ■were any difficulties in prosecuting persons for doing that, but something should be done to stop it, particularly as the exhibition was coming on in Wellington and there would be a large number of strangers coming to the city from places where the regulation was enforced. "Otherwise we will have people killed or injured during the time that many strangers are in Wellington. People living in Wellington know that they cannot always rely 011 vehicles stopping when thev are 011 crossings, but strangers who do not know that may suffer." A presentment was made by the jury that the laws governing the rights of pedestrians 011 crossings should be more rigidly enforced, with the idea of affording more protection to pedestrians. His Honor said it would he referred to the proper authorities.