Death Stands Watch and Auckland Does Nothing

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 12, 5 April 1927, Page 10

Death Stands Watch and Auckland Does Nothing

Safety! So much has been written and so much said on this subject. Traffic problems, reckless or bad driving, jay-walking—these still form the major causes of the accident toll that supplies headlines for Monday’s papers, and that of seevral other days. Motorists and pedestrians combine to cause at least 50 per cent, of accidents. The motorist has rules as to what he should do —is often incapable of doing it—and the pedestrian does as he darn well pleases. Motorists ask —why? The answer so far as Auckland is concerned is easy. Simply this: That the Auckland City Council employs a chief traffic inspector whose duty it is to control the users of the street, and when he asks for authority to bring about changes necessary for the safety of all road users the council side-steps the issue. Death continues to reap his harvest, and Auckland looks on, and works on the principle that things will right themselves as time goes by. - Traffic will never be regulated until a properly administered system of control is instituted, and a decision of the Auckland City Council on Thursday evening to paint lines round about the junction of Customs Street and Queen Street with the idea of controlling city street traffic is only pathetic. The continuing of the presumed right of the pedestrian to use the road as he pleases is old fashioned —in the ‘light of modern days a foolish idea that has lead to the death of many an ill-advised pedestrian. In no way does the question become one of motorist versus pedestrian. It has become necessary in many large cities to control all road users, and Auckland has reached the stage when foot traffic education could be commenced, both with a view to decreasing the huge mortality percentage, and to meeting the constantly increasing traffic difficulties. YEARS OF INACTIVITY According to the council order paper, it was as long ago as 1924 that the chief traffic inspector recommended the council to consider the need for regulation of pedestrians crossing the

street, and it was decided to “ hold the matter in abeyance.” On February 28 last, the inspector again brought the matter before the Finance and Legal Committee, and recommended in detail the following: 1. That pedestrians must cross all streets in the city area at right angles. 2. That on certain main streets, including Queen Street, Karangahape Road, Customs Street and Symonds Street, pedestrians cross at right angles on street intersections and other places allocated by the council. 3. That officers of the council’s traffic department enforce the regulations made to cover these suggestions. The report of the inspector stated further that the prohibition of indiscriminate or “jay” walking in the city streets was urgent, not alone for good regulation but for public safety, and it was unnecessary to dilate on the dangers of “jay” walking. Motorists had them forcibly impressed -on their minds. The motorist was controlled by a set of regulations to which he must conform, and a breach of these regulations necessitated his appearance at court. With the exception of the “ keep to the left ” rule the pedestrian was permitted to rove about in a promiscuous manner—a danger to himself and a responsibility on others. The town clerk also submitted a report, in which he stated that, though the Auckland traffic difficulty was not relatively serious compared with other large cities visited by him, the council would be wise to take s+eps to educate users of the roads. He suggested that pedestrians should be impressed with the necessity for greater care, and the fact that the present method of pedestrians indiscriminately crossing such important streets as Karangahape Road and Queen Street, must lead to serious accidents. The density of traffic alone would shortly prevent it. In the large cities of the world instant disaster would follow if pedestrians stepped out on to the roadway as they do in Auckland. He recommended six special crossing places in Queen Street and two in the main portion of Karangahape Road. And the committee of self-consid-ered experts decided to issue due warning and get on the track of pedestrians at the bottom of Queen Street. Well, who envies a conscientious officer trying to do his job?