MOTORING NOTES

Waikato Independent, Volume XXX, Issue 2425, 9 December 1930, Page 7

MOTORING NOTES

CONCERNING PEDESTRIANS. A Further .Short Talk on the! Subject of Safety First, by It. E. Champtaloup. It may be true that the old German, proverb, “Keep the common way and thou art 8010,“ no longer holds,/but it certainly is true that “Keep your head on the common way” tends towards safety. The lesson which the Auckland Automobile Association hopes to teac)\ both to the old and young pedestrians, motorists or cyclists, is to keep their heads, all the tune. The general public, having no organisation of its own, is most difficult to reach, particularly the older generation. By the instruction of the young, who are in reality the motorists of tomorrow, we are hoping that some of the good advice may go back to the parent, and in this way the association is building up the future generation of adults more versed in how to deal with the dangers of to-day. A certain amount can be, and has been done through the courtesy of the Press and the Radio Broadcasting Company, in the way of emphasising the chief points in which pedestrians can protect themselves. The pedestrian has a right to cross the street at a reasonable pace, without hurry or inconvenience. Every motorist should remember that the right to live is superior to the privilege of driving. Pedestrians with infirmities, and also young children, should receive the utmost consideration from motorists. Special caie should be exercised where pedestrians, are numerous. Watch the string of vehicles crossing a street intersection without interruption. Usually the pedestrian remains standing on the corner waiting to cross. Some of the more venturesome ones move on, and, working their way out into the centre,of the street, judging the speed of the vehicles and if they are successful in avoiding accidents, at last reach the other kerb. Others remain on the kerb fearing that the motorist will not recognise their privileges. They know their rights, but are not always sure that the drivers will recognise them. Perhaps this suspicion is due to a narrow escape in the past. Traffic regulations state the rights and privileges of vehicles, but they do not permit the abuse of these rights and privileges, and an accident cannot be justified by asserting such lights unless the victim were wilfully negligent. The motorist who uses ordinary good judgment with respect to pedestrians, and drives as he wants others to drive when lie is a pedestrian, usually finds himself complying with the established regulations for the public protection. Too many motorists forget their experiences as pedestrians when they arc behind the wheel. In cities it is found that more accidents occur at less busy centres on the way out of town, possibly because they arc less well guarded by police, and pedestrians take less care. The prime injunction for such places is to exercise

vigilance and to wait as long as/is necessary, and above all, never to cross without looking both ways! Remember beyond the city, a vehicle is generally moving faster. During tlio holiday months, many children are in the habit of .jumping on trams at the stops and jumping off again, directly in the path of traffic. During siich holiday periods motor car should . proceed,..more carefully when /approaching frams, for the children cannot usually be -'seen until it is too late to avoid striking them. The motorist w r ho blows his horn suddenly when close behind a pedestrian is apt to startle him into doing

tlio wrong thing. The safer way is to sound tlu; horn in time to allow the pedestrian to see the approaching motor vehicle and decide which way to go. This has the added advantage of giving the motorist time to stop his ear if the pedestrian becomes confused or seems unable to get out of the way. In conclusion, I would make an appeal to parents. I have noticed in numerous,quarters around the city that children arc permitted to play on busy thoroughfares. I would not suggest that the children should be deprived of their games, but that they should be encougraged to select some spot where they would be immune from the dan-

gers of road traffic. Children accustomed to finding amusement on the road gradually become, what one would term “rather cheeky, ’’ and act in sueh tv way as to confuse a motorist, to the danger of the child. Probably the parents would not permit such behaviour if they were aware of the way in whieh the child were acting, but a busy , mother cannot for ever have t|em under'' ,h r er. .eye, .and I simply, thrown- out., the suggestion that where children are inclined to play on the road, especially if it is a thoroughfare that permits, fast travelling, the children should be warned of the danger and encouraged to observe the principles of Safety First.