SCHOOL TRAFFIC

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 254, 24 September 1940, Page 9

SCHOOL TRAFFIC

EXTENSION OF PATROLS.

A complaint from Foxton about lunch-hour traffic there and the dangers of cyciists travelling more than two abreast led to various resolutions being passed by the general committee of the Manawatu Automobile Association at its meeting, last evening, about the extension of the school traffic patrol system. Mr W. H. Brown (chairman), who is also a member of the Wanganui Education Board, said he had asked the chairman and members of the board if they would be prepared to let the association's officers assist in educating the children in every ’ school in the iManawatu district on traffic matters. Ho had suggested' that the officers would be prepared to go to Foxton and. put boys there through a patrol test. He thought that the best idea j would be for the Transport Depart-] ment’s officers to go to Foxton in the, lunch-hour, not with the idea of ob-] tabling convictions, but so as to educate. people not to ride two abreast. The Foxton headmaster was keen on the patrol system. He had received advice, said Mr Brown, that the Central School had] taken off its patrols, because it was not considered that they were of any value without lines on the road. A report had been prepared on pedestrian crossings at schools, which showed that some of me crossing markings had worn away. He lelt that the association should press the matter all it possibly could outside Palmerston North. The City Council could also be approached to have pedestrian crossings put in good order. He suggested that-an officer be sent to Foxton to have the patrol system organised there, and that the association should then move further afield.

Mr E. It'. B. Holben said that the position at Foxton was awkward be-cause'lunch-hour traffic from a factory and the children came out on to the streets at the same time. Mr Brown said he had suggested that the school allow tile children to leave at five minutes to 12.

Mr T. M. N. Itodgers said that the association would be endeavouring to train the pedestrians of the future. It could be a tremendous hindrance to. motorists if pedestrian crossings were not used intelligently. New regulations were now being considered by the Transport Department for pedestrian crossings, particularly a new type lor schools, which would be used at certain hours only. The scheme suggested would train the motorists for the new crossing scheme, if and when it was put in operation. Mr M. A. Eliott asked whether it was not a fact that it had been decided to do away with a number of crossings in Palmerston North.,

The chairman said that that was

Mr Eliott said that this would account for some of the crossings appearing to be in bad order. On Mr Brown's motion it was decided to approach the City Council asking it to have the crossings at schools repainted. The association further decided to send an officer to Foxton to educate the school children on traffic matters, and to send a concise outline of its school patrol scheme to the Wanganui Education Board. Tt was also resolved to ask that a Transport Department inspector visit Foxton, not to obtain prosecutions, but to educate cyclists.