TRAFFIC REGULATIONS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 158, 10 May 1940, Page 5

TRAFFIC REGULATIONS

TO BE OBSERVED BY ALL • NON-OBSERVANCE CAUSES ACCIDENTS "To say the least, observance of traffic rules here is lax. The traffic authorities have been lenient, but it cannot be expected that their leniency will last for ever. It behoves residents to put their house in order; a warning is better than a fine, provided it »is heeded. To anyone with a knowledge of traffic problems it is obvious that while conditions here are not exactly Bedlam, they are certain to be altered by the authorities in the near future unless citizens take the matter l into their own hands." Thus the! "Hauraki Plains Gazette" in a recent article and as there is usually a list of offenders against the traffic regulations dealt with at the Whakatane Court every month, we reproduce the article. Ignorance no Excuse. Needless to say, ignorance of the traffic regulations is no excuse. The law lays it down that "every person who has the power of understanding is deemed to know the law, and that ignorance of the law is no excuse for the breach of it." But probably every motorist knows the rules of the road. If only they were properly observed there would be a large reduction in the number of accidents. They cover not only the road behaviour of the vehicle, giving way to the right, keeping to the left, speed restrictions, but also the condition of the vehicle itself. A faulty tail-light, or brakes that are "not too good" may seem just petty annoyances but they can lead to hideous accidents or death. Making the recognised signals every time they are necessary is imperative. Too many motorists in Paeroa pull out from the kerb with no more w T arning then the sudden roar of the eingine, or swing suddenly tothe right after only a cursory glancebehind. This sort of thing often brings bad trouble. Parking also comes under the official eye. Motorists persist in considering convenience before safety, and' sometimes "double-bank"" in the busiest parts of the town. It is all very well to pull up for a „chat in the middle of the main street, but what about the other fellow who wants to get by? Cyclists As Well. Cyclists too often fail to realise they fire included in the word "Traffic." Riding no-hands may look spectacular but it is a futile and stupid habit.

Again Paeroa has good roads, but many cyclists seem to prefer the pavements. This leaves the unfortun ate pedestrian with no place of safety at all. Cyclists riding three abreast are a nuisance to motorists and often cause accidents. This is another dangerous practice which must be stamped out. Equipment of bicycles goes a long way towards safety. Bell/ red re-< flector, light and white painted mudguard make the cycle less dangerous than otherwise. Cyclists should also make a point of observing the rules of the road. It is in their own interests; when cyclist and motorist collide, it is seldom that the cyclist wins! Pedestrians Too. Pedestrians are at fault as much! as anyone. Such rules as keeping to the footpath and using pedestrian crossings should be strictly observed. Loitering on pedestrian crossings at roadways is dangerous and inconsiderate. People meeting in town on a crowded Friday night like to stop for a chat. There is nothing to prevent them doing so, but they should realise that the outside of the pavement is the logical place to do it, where they will not obstruct other people with more urgent business. The official "Move along please" is an order, maybe resented by the citizen of independent mind, but it is backed by authority, and more than that, by common sense. Winter evenings, wet and dark* are coming: accidents trend upwards; wet roads and poor visin bility aggravate any careless or inconsiderate driving. Reasonable observance of regulations made with an eye to safety shouldl go far to avoid that upward trend. At all events, the onus of observing road regulations falls on the citizens. It is up to them to keep the rules, and not causa themselves, other people, and the traffic authorities, a great deal of unnecessary time andl trouble.