RUSHING THE LIGHTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 134, 3 December 1938, Page 8

RUSHING THE LIGHTS

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —The traffic problem in New Zealand, though not yet one of immense proportions, is to the observer a genuine comedy,- if a serious one. I write at present only as the problem affects Wellington City areas and though I have not long been a resident here I have been struck by the lack of consideration of the city pedestrians. lam not arguing on behalf of the motorists but being rather a tram rider than either a motorist or pedestrian I have been able to view ' the battle from the advantage of the heights.

Dozens of motor-cars are pushing along the streets. Swarms of pedestrians pack the pavements, travelling at the usual pace of people walking when the day's work is over or not begun. Everything is all right with everyone until the first obstacle appears, an intersection, let us say one equipped with automatic lights. Now every pedestrian develops a feverish desire to get to some destination. A man or a woman who ten yards back spent ten minutes admiring the Christmas display window cannot now afford a fraction of that time to wait till the lights are favourable. One thinks that, as the person ahead got across before the red light, he is also entitled to do so, being only a few yards behind. The one. behind thinks the same and so we see every night about five pedestrians streaming across those lightequipped intersections incessantly until almost physically forced to retire, by oncoming traffic.

More care at these crossings by pedestrians is certainly overdue. The lights themselves should be sufficient to stop intelligent citizens. I have dealt with only one instance of pedestrian failing, but I hope that before long the view from the tram-car will give signs that the intelligence of Wellington pedestrians has merelybeen in abeyance.—l am, etc.,

REFEREE.