KEEPING TO THE RIGHT

Taranaki Daily News, 7 November 1935, Page 16

KEEPING TO THE RIGHT

PEDESTRIANS ON ROADS AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION MOVE. SUPPORT FOR NEW LEGISLATION. “The sooner steps are taken, the better for everybody,” declared Mr. R. Day, when the Automobile Association (Taranaki) decided last night to support requests for legislation compelling pedestrians walking on roads without footpaths at night to walk on the right. The decision followed a circular from the North Island Motor Union explaining that the English law compelled pedestrians to walk on the right. In giving details of the necessity for legislation restricting pedestrians to using the right-hand side of the road the secretary of the North Island Motor Union, Mr. W. G. Walkley, said in this circular that during a claim for damages in the- Palmerston North Supreme Court on October 31 reference was made to the English common law that pedestrians using highways should face traffic approaching them on their side of the road. The Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, commented that, though it was not in his province to advise upon matters of legislation, it was likely that such a law was desirable. If one jury after another added riders favouring such legislation, that might compel further attention to it. Sir Michael promised to convey the recommendation to the proper quarters. Mr. Walkley also cited a recent case at Wanganui where Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., in giving judgment, commented on the advisability of the English law, particularly on dark roads at night. “Two cardinal points must be kept in mind, the safety of pedestrians and the protection of other road users,” said Mr. Walkley. “I am definitely of the opinion that as long as wheeled traffic keeps to the left pedestrians should keep, to the right, or walk on the left at their peril. Advantages of the rule are that the whole responsibility for accident is placed on the driver, that there is less likelihood of a pedestrian being run down in the ‘black area’ that always occurs when two cars meet at night, and that on a wet or foggy night the maximum of visibility is achieved by the face, collar and shirt front of the pedestrian. Disadvantages are the difficulty of educating people used to walking on the left and the overtaking of one car by another, leaving the pedestrian with his back to the overtaking car. The disadvantages are largely removed by the facts that it took only a few weeks to educate New Zealand motorists to4he right-hand rule, and that the onus of care is upon the driver of the overtaking vehicle.”

In a discussion last night Mr. Day said the great argument in favour of the law was that a pedestrian would not be run over from behind. Mr. W. C. Weston suggested that tlie association should support the move. The Chief Justice had evidently approved of the scheme. One was never happy while walking, say, on Avenue Road, at New Plymouth at night on the left-hand side of the road. “Cars are so silent nowadays that one cannot hear them until they are right on one,” said Mr. Day. The fact that on the right pedestrians were walking towards the oncoming car was important, said Mr. W. Wilton.