RULES OF THE ROAD AND THE FOOTPATH

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3094, 26 May 1917, Page 8

RULES OF THE ROAD AND THE FOOTPATH

THEIR NON-OBSERVANCE. Sir,—Will you allow rne a little space to explain to "A Londoner" (whose letter appeared in your Wednesday's issue) the reason ; why the rule of tho footpath is not observed in Wellington, nor in most colonial towns. Tho reason is the silly London contradictory rules for the road and,/the. footpath. For .the "road it is "keep to the left"; for tho footpath "keep to the right." The rule of the road is a very sound and proper one, as the driver of a vehicle sits on the right side of his seat, and when meeting another vehicle has his own right wheel as well as the other driver's right wheel in full view. Now, a great majority of pnr citizens are well acquainted with the rule of the road, as it applies to all vehicles, as well as to equestrians, bicycles, motor-care, motoV-cydes,' boats on a river, etc.'But why the rule for the footpath' should be the opposite of the rule for the road, perhaps "A Londoner" can explain; for I cannot. I have done a good deal of driving when a young man, and although. I have not driven a vehicle for the last twenty years, whenever : I find myself on a crowded footpath I instinctively feel inclined to "keep to the left," 60 strong is the "force of habit." And it is not only the inconvenience of persons dodging each other on the footpath that has to be considered, but also the many accidents from collisions on the. roadway. "Who can tell how many accidents in tho streets of London in the course of a year are caused by the confusion owing to tho contradictory rules-of the road and the footpath?—l am/etc, KEEP TO THE LEFT. .