IMPROVEMENT NECESSARY

Chronicle (Levin), 27 June 1947, Page 4

IMPROVEMENT NECESSARY

The unfortunate accident which occurred in Levin on Tuesday night, in which an elderly man was knocked down while crossing Oxford Street, stresses the need in this town and throughout New Zeaiand generally of a more mod=r ern type of pedestrian crossing. It has not yet been ascertained whether the man injured on Tues^day night was actually on the crpssing when struck by the car, but it was evident that he must have been very close to it. The fact remains, however, that •conditions similar to those pertaining on Tuesday night make it very difficult for a motorist to , see the white lines. within the arc of his lights. Though it was not raining, the surface of the road was still wet from a recent shower. The street was in total darknesS and there was a low mist. E.ven in th.e best9 of conditions, and when the road is not glistening, it is very difficult at night to see road markings from a driver's seat. " In Great Britain and many other countries th;e • white lines . marking pedestrian &-crossings have been supplemented with red reflectors or technically "fairy lights." Besides requiring no internal lighting, and consequently no great expense to operate, they are easily fitted into the road surface and are lit up by the headlights of oncoming vehicles from a considerable distance. The Public Works. Department', which controls the road, would be well advised to investigate the possibilities of such installations,' 'and the Junior Chamber of Commerce could make this one of its first aims in its Dommion-wide road safety campaign. .