'Parents don't realise danger'

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 55, 11 July 1974, Page 1

'Parents don't realise danger'

A Taupo businessman has expressed concern at the number of accidents involving young children on the intersection of State highways 1 and 5 at Waipahihi. The man, who preferred to remain anonymous, believes motorists are not to blame in most cases. "People are sending young children to the dairy for bread or potatoes and most of them don't know how to cross the road," he said. "Parents don't really seem to

realise the danger and I have often seen cars park across the road and then the children are sent into the store. "They often try to beat cars." He said the corner was a very busy one and he felt if children were going to be sent on errands they should at least be accompanied by someone older who had control of them. "If older children are sent with the young ones, they often hang back while the others run on across the road without looking."

A young Taupo boy was injured in an accident on the corner last weekend. "This is the fourth or fifth accident which has happened on the corner since I came here 15 months ago," said the businessman. Another hazard for motorists in the area are the number of dogs which are allowed to roam loose. "Four or five of them are usually out loose on the intersection chasing cars," he said.