THREE A DAY

Hokitika Guardian, 10 May 1929, Page 5

THREE A DAY

TRAFFIC DEATHS IN LONDON, STARTLTNG FIGURES. LONDON, January 24. In 1 927 traffic deaths in London reached three a day. The complete figures for 1928 are not yet available, l,ut those for the first nine months are so alarming that tho London Saiety first Council is calling a conference of all the local authorities in the Greatei London area to consider the possibility of devising concerted measures to check this growth. .. .. ft is thought that when the full figures come to hand they will show something like 120(1 deaths a year. General Bovs, the secretary df the L.S.l'. Conn. ( .j| is convinced that it would lessen the number of accidents if all pedestrians would keep to the left, so that those on the outer side of tho footpath always faced the traffic approaching them This would diminish the liumhor of deaths caused by people caro-h-ssly stepping off' the kerb in front oil vehicles —a more common occurrence than you would ever believe, unless you had bad experience of driving in liomlon. In theory, no doubt, the suggestion is sound; in practice, I doubt whether it would ever be possible to force pedestrians to adhere to the rule. To give but one instance Irom several that might be quoted, there is a subway leading from the' underground

station at Victoria to the main line stations across the yard. This subway is usually pretty crowded. It would certainly speed up progress if those going opposite ways kept to opposite sides, and, indeed, .huge placards at frequent intervals invite you in big letters that none hut a 'l,find, man could miss seeing to “ Keep to the Left.” Does anybody heed them ? Not so that you’d notice it. Progress through that subway at crowded hours is only accomplished to the accompaniment Pf a constant succession of “Sorrys” and “Pardons” ns you bump or are bumped in vour turn. Wo it is in any busy shopping street in London, and so, I fear, it is lively to remain, whatever new rules inav be introduced.