PEDESTRIANS IN COURT?

Southland Times, Issue 23376, 7 December 1937, Page 3

PEDESTRIANS IN COURT?

Breaches Of Traffic

Regulations ACTION CONSIDERED BY CITY COUNCIL Pedestrians who consistently flout the regulations imposed for their safety in Cathedral square, Christchurch, and abuse the privileges allowed them in the new gyratory traffic scheme may expect something from the City Council which will be far more worrying than a verbal reprimand from a traffic inspector. This was indicated by the Chief Traffic Inspector, Mr J. Bruorton, who told a reporter of The Press that the council was considering the prosecution of jay-walkers.

The special pedestrian crossings were clearly marked, and pedestrians knew their rights on them. Those who abused those rights, he said, and unnecessarily obstructed motorists against the regulations, were committing a serious breach and it was likely that action would be taken against them. It would be informative for many pedestrians to know the by-law that governed their crossing of the new lanes allowed them, and specially marked, Mr Bruorton said. It read:

Every driver of a motor-vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian engaged in crossing the roadway within any authorized pedestrian crossing upon the half of the roadway over which such vehicle is lawfully entitled to travel, and when approaching such crossing the driver shall reduce his speed so as to be able to stop before reaching the crossing if necessary. Under that regulation, motorists gave way to pedestrians crossing the half of the intersection towards which the motorist was travelling; but many pedestrians thought that they had a right, which was not theirs in fact, of halting any motorist on both sides of the roadway. Again when a motorist gave way to some pedestrians already on the crossing others hurried on and expected him to wait still longer. Apart from the minor trouble caused by some pedestrians the gyratory system was working extremely well, Mr Bruorton said. Visitors from overseas had congratulated the council on its success. “One of them said that crossing the Square had previously been a nightmare, and that the new rule was proving well worth while,” he added.