ROAD SAFETY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 1, 19 July 1946, Page 5

ROAD SAFETY

INFANT SCHOOL PROBLEM TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT’S RECOMMENDATIONS A letter from the Whakatane Borough Council regarding the safety of Infant School pupils crossing the road, was received by the Whakatane School Committee at its last meeting. The communication was supported by Inspector Sharpe, Traffic Department, who attended personally to convey a broader outline of the recommendation that some alternative arrangement should be made in order that kiddies would not have to cross the road in the dangerous posi r ; tion of the present pedestrian crossing, on leaving the school ground.

.Council’s Recommendation

The letter contained information to the effect that a recommendation from the Traffic Department had been -made regarding the present position of the main gate and pedestrian crossing leading from the Infant School on to Domain Road. The contention was that both gate and crossing should be shifted from their dangerous positions on the corner of McAlister Street and Domain Road, and placed midway bemain Road, and placed midway along the block. Discussing the communication prior to the Inspector’s report, Mr Lysaght stated that it would be an expensive undertaking to shift the gate. The committee had only recently spent between £6O and £BO on the concrete entrance. He did, however, think that it would be a wise move to shift the crossing, and inaugurate the School Patrol system whereby the children were directed across the road. The chairman drew attention to the point that as there were only Infant children at the Infant School, the patrols would have to be selected from children in the higher classes. With regard to the shifting of the gate, he added that as in the course of the next few years, the school was to be abandoned, there could not be too much money spent upon it at present. Inspector’s Report Reporting on the position, and the advisability of altering the crossing, Inspector Sharpe stated that it was not only bad policy to have a crossing running parallel to a flow of traffic, as it was in this case, but it was also contrary to a regulation. The present zone was in an exceptionally bad position as cars turning into Domain Road were upon the crossing before the driver realised it.

Considering the expense which had been involved in laying the concrete entrance to the gate, he thought that it would be cjuite satisfactory if only the crossing were shifted, and the School Patrol system inaugurated, to guide the children safely out of the gate and across the road. He himself was prepared to assist in every way with the training of the selected pupils, and the Department was prepared to supply all equipment necessary. He also suggested that the committee contact the Chief Traffic Inspector in Auckland, and request that the Road Traffic Instructor visit Whakatane to supervise the commencing of the patrol system. ‘ The minimum number of a patrol, the Inspector concluded, was two members. If ten pupils were selected and trained, and two were on duty each week, it would mean that each pupil would not be required to attend very frequently. It was decided, after the Inspector’s remarks, to inaugurate the School Patrol system, and to write the Chief Traffic Inspector as suggested. It was also decided to communicate with the Borough Council requesting that the pedestrian crossing be shifted to the position suggested by the Traffic Inspector.