CARELESS PEDESTRIANS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5156, 25 July 1927, Page 4

CARELESS PEDESTRIANS

PENALTIES SHOULD BE IMPOSED.

REMEDY FOR MOTOR ACCIDENTS.

That pedestrians should be liable to penalties for negligence while walking over public thoroughfares was ope of the remedies suggested by the Chief-constable of Carmarthenshire (Mr W. Picton Phillips) to counteract the high casualties among modern road users (reports the Western Mail). Reporting ?t, the quarterly meeting of the Carmarthenshire Standing Joint Committee on accidents in the country during the year, he said that in only one instance could a motpidriver (a motor-cyclist) be held to have been in the least degree responsible for loss of life, whereas five pedestrians had undoubtedly been responsible for five dea.ths through thoughtlessness or carelessness. The absent-minded pedestrian by suddenly stepping from the footway, crossing the load from behind vehicles, and generally acting unconsciously as if no one else had a right of way, and young persons by darting blindly across streets or rushing wildly out of houses and side-roads into or. in front of moving vehicles, were the predominant cause of accidents. Nevertheless, although not responsible for accidents to the extent gentrally imagined, there was still much dangerous and negligent driving by motor-drivers. There had been 105 persons convicted and fined during the year for such offences. If pedestrians were also liable to a penalty for negligence the record of. street accidents would be considerably reduced. Unfortunately, the careless pedestrian did not risk his> own neck only, but jeopardised the lives of others.

A little road sense by pedestrians would very materially' counteract the added dangers due to the speeded-up traffic of modern times. There was obviously such a thing as “walking to the common danger,’’ as well as “driv-> to the common danger,” and it seemed to be more relevant.

“I am certain, if those on foot were as, careful as the average motor driver, many of whom drive fast, but drive safely,” said the chief constable, “there would be very many fewer accidents, and the large number of adult pedestrians and children who lose their lives would be considerably reduced.

“It is an indisputable fact that tnere are far too many ‘jtjy walkerst’ to use an Americanism ; that is, persons who amble across the roads and loiter about public crossings without sufficient regard for the dangers, to which they expose themselves and others by their thoughtless conduct,’” says the South Wales News. “They have not adapted themselves, to the greatly altered circumstances, and in some cases they seem deliberately disinclined to do so. Mr. Phillips attributes several recent fatal accidents in Carmarthenshire to these ‘jay walkers.’ They may escape harm themselves, but their thoughtlessness and recklessness frequently involve others in fatal injuries, for a considerable proportion of accidents are incurred by motorists in trying .to avoid foolish persons who seem to be lacking a proper sense of danger. Certainly there is need for persistent propaganda warning the public of the increasing dangers of the roads, and, urging the exercise of more caution and discretion on the part of all who use them. Safety requires .the cooperation of all concerned. The most careful motorist may be wrecked by a foolhardy pedestrian, and vica versa.

“It is obviously absurd to preach safety first to pedestrians and at the same time allow motorists: lacking in necessary experience and qualification to venture upon the road. We hear much about the risks: to which motorists are exposed by th© folly of pedestrians, but not half enough about the greater risks to which they are exposed by the folly of incompetent drivers. We shall never, gain adequate protection save by educating all concerned.”