Traffic Laws For Pedestrians ?

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 159, 8 July 1939, Page 5

Traffic Laws For Pedestrians ?

UHIUAGO —Foot travellei.' mu-; obey tratiic. rules the same as auto drivers, many cities are ruling >ince a survey has proved that communities where jicdcstrinn;-- observe traffic law.have only half the accidents of those where jay-walkers abound. So stales lhe International A'-ociation oi' Uhiei.oi Pulice. Wit h all the i atnpaigiiing 10 ediicat ■ motorists in safe di i'ing piaclires, the pedestrian has mostly been permitted to go his unrestricted way, walking on icd lights and dodging in front of cars, but no longer is he to Lie a “teacher's pet” i in an increasing number of cities. Some cities have written new ordin- ■ ances forbidding jaywalking ami pro I \ iding penalties for disobedience. \\a>h- | ington, beginning its pedestrian control [ in March, first warned jaywalkers, and ! now is following through with arrests and fines which may mount to a peak | of 300 dollars or 10 days in jail. Sall Lake City, Utah, first defined in , tin ordinance the pedestrians's right-uf I way al intersections and cross walks,; then began arresting and convicting, jaywalkers and' light-crashers. Whiie j its pedestrians had maintained a go-ci i record before the new ordinance, 9J , per cent obeying tratiic rules, with strict ■ enforcement a still better record i- ■ being made. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Fa., are ’ appealing for pcdestiian co-operation by I means of placards. In the former Li:; . ■ W.P.A. labour makes posters, ami the; Better Traffic Committee distributes; .),000 cards a month to taxicab compan- 1 ies and others. New York powers the police to enforce pe<lc-l riu n i traffic regulations. And on the Wot Coa.-t, pcde.M 1 inn | lanes are being provided in the middle 1 of blocks as well as at intersection'. \ | pedestrian in a lane lv > precedence o'.ci 1 approaching cars. Portland, Ore., Seat tie, Wash., Los Angeles, and San I’raii •isco are among the cities having such lanes. The California State Le.giiature has recently approved an act ■!•• fining pedestrian right-. Pass Along, Please! A verv fat man was pu'-ing through a street near Covent Garden—where the pavements are narrow and vans ami lori ies ar< 5 s overhanging the kerb. Suddenly a porter ■au ■• < Img ca 1 ry* ing two crates of lettuce on his head. When he met lhe fat man, both stoo'd and looked at each other, but the fa: man made no attempt to allow the porter to get by. The porter tried to pa.-, but gave it up, and linally squeezed through the lorries. Then he turned and said: “After all, guvnor. I’m carrying two crates of lettuce and the man with a load has right of way.” In reply the fat man glared at him and in a loud voice said: “Man with a load . . two crates of lettuce,” and, placing his right hand in the region of his waistcoat, asked, “ What the blazes do you think this is—a bunch of watercress ? ■' ’