Restricted Lighting And Traffic

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21994, 20 June 1941, Page 4

Restricted Lighting And Traffic

THE further lighting restrictions which come into operation on Monday have been criticised at meetings of the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce and the Automobile Association (South Canterbury). At the Chamber of Commerce meeting the Timaru Lighting Controller, Mr J. M. Bishop, mentioned that in the opinion of the local committee which is defining parking light areas for recommendation to the Dominion Lighting Controller, the regulations, as they affect motor traffic, are too drastic. The same idea was even more vigorously expressed by Mr S. G. McClelland at the Automobile Association meeting. The regulations admittedly are drastic, but it should be assumed that they have not been designed simply as a bureaucratic exercise. Last year there was evidence enough of the presence of enemy ships in New Zealand waters. What has happened once can easily happen again and in the circumstances it is much better to be prepared for the worst, even though it may never happen, than to run the risk of tragedy which would provoke a public outcry if it were caused by the slightest negligence on the part of the Government. It is true that the regulations, which compel motor cars to drive only on parking lights in certain areas, will cause traffic dangers, and it is likely that careless pedestrains will be placed in peril of limb and life. The responsibility for accidents will rest with the motorists, but this is not a matter in which technical rights and wrongs are of much importance. Unless the Government thought the regulations necessary they would not have been introduced, and since they have been introduced the responsibility rests with pedestrians and motorists alike to make traffic conditions at night as safe as possible. It may be that the regulations will be modified in accord with experience, but in the meantime the < duty of the public is to make them work smoothly and safely. The larger onus, perhaps, is placed upon the pedestrians. Motorists abroad at night will be facing unfamiliar conditions. There will be a risk of accidents, but if pedestrians and cyclists exercise the utmost caution danger will be reduced. Pedestrians will have to remember that they are expected to use the footpaths, while motorists and cyclists have their domain on the roads. Pedestrians using the roads, or coming to street crossings, should keep all the dangers in mind and act prudently. Only by mutual recognition of new responsibilities will accidents be avoided.