SAFER ROADS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19107, 31 August 1936, Page 11

SAFER ROADS

WHOLE WORLD ACTIVE COPING WITH PROBLEM EDUCATING THE MOTORIST LONDON, .Tiily 1 1. In all. G 521 people wove killed on Britain's roads lust year; 218,70 S men, women, and children were injured. All over the world highway authorities arc mobilising to cope with the problem of the rising rates of traffic carnage. This is what other countries arc doing to cut down the toll of the! roads: — UNTTF.T) STATES Killed on the roads lasi year, 3 0.400. For motorists: “Scare" methods successful in some areas, decreasing deaths by as much as f)0 per cent. Tims: — Offenders sentenced to visit morgues and gaze on their victims. Films screened showing the aftermath of accidents. Lurid pictures put up at danger points showing what may happen to careless drivers. Offenders against road rules sent Jiomo to write out 50 or so copies of tho highway code, like naughty school-children. Dummies thrown in the path of drivers by officials who time how long is takes them to pull up. If a driver runs over the dummy he receives a note next day: “That might have been a man." GERMANY Killed on the roads annually (average), 7040. For jay-walkers: Prosecution. Fines for careless walking to be increased Persons line one mark (about a shilling), to be, paid on the spot. At intervals on the pavement notices are being painted to warn people to beware of stepping into the roadway without looking. For cyclists: Riding two abreast in busy streets prohibited by law. Special tracks on ordinary roads. Riding with one hand only on the handlebars, is an offence. FRANCE Killed On the roads last year, 4737. For motorists: Level crossings to be abolished. Traffic signals in the form of illuminated studs in the road. Tunnels at dangerous crossings. Main roads to be flood-lil to make headlamps unnecessary and do away with dazzle. ITALY For motorists: Whistles and “cat-calls" in place of horns in town areas. Impatient drivers liable lo heavy fines, long imprisonment, but permitted to shout at other dilatory traffic. Crooked roads straightened, resurfaced; heavy punishment for white line transgressions. Every bad corner or narrow stretch mapped, being cleared away gradually. ” For jay-walkers: Pedestrians forced to cross roads at specified points, under pain of arrest and fine. Special “street police" enforcci rules.