The Rule of the Road

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, 24 February 1891, Page 2

The Rule of the Road

To those who have beenaequainted with crowded streets it will be evident how necrsstftyn? 01 ' ■ everyone's comfort that! a*" ralesof the road " is adhered to. We notice that in Wellington the ( ity Council has determined, in its most busy thoroughfares to erect notices requesting pedestrians to keep to the right. In London, by neglect of this caution, we have witnessed many absurd encounters between the most polite of men, on a crossing. The two will advance till they meet, face to face, each believing that the other would have borne oft' a little ; they face each other, apoligise, and then both take a sharp step to tl^e left-, still facing each other ; a" pause, waiting for the other to move, 1 when the impulse seizes both to move to the right; again vis a vix, most unsatisfactory to progress, and impels ft, long delay to see who will move next tfteVesult being that they both rush at on.e^janother and graze a passage. It both had kept to the -right time and temper would have been saved. in driving the rule is just the contrary, the driver must keep to to the left, and a vehicle going the same way. must bo passed on the rigKTT Here we have some satisfaction, as the driver who is on the wrong side, is answerable for all accidents. There is a very old piece of rhyme wo i'th learning as it impresses the rule well on the mind, it is :— - The rule of the Road is a paradox quite ; For in driving your carriage along, If von hear to the left yon ar>> sure to go right, If you turn to the light you go wrong, Bu in walking the stroots 'tis a different ease ; To the right it is proper to steer ; On the left theiv should bn ouongh of clear space For the peop'e who wish to walk there 1