PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 July 1938, Page 7

PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS

ESTABLISHMENT IN CARTERTON. FIRST IN THE WAIRARAPA. (“Times-Age” Special.) Carterton is to have the first pedestrian crossings in the Wairarapa, the Borough Council agreeing at its meeting last night to a suggestion by the Mayor, Mr D. L. Taverner, that permission be sought to establish pedestrian crossings from the Post Office across High Street, and from the Post Office across Holloway Street. Mr C. Nicholson, Traffic Inspector, explained in detail the principles and workings of pedestrian crossings. Referring to the need for educating pedestrians to use the crossings, Mr Nicholson said that if there were pedestrian crossings in Masterton they would have acted as good guides for the Carterton people. Unfortunately there were no crossings in Masterton, although there was no doubt in the minds of many that there should have been pedestrian crossings there long ago. He congratulated Carterton on its progressive proposal, but said it was no use considering pedestrian crossings unless pedestrians were taught to use them and motorists were made to respect them. Pedestrians must use the crossings if they were within reasonable distance. Loitering on crossings or walking across the road diagonally when pedestrian crossings were provided were offences. Mr Taverner: “That means that a pedestrian can be prosecuted the same as a motorist?” The Inspector: “Yes.”

The question of adopting pedestrian crossings in Masterton, said the Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, this morning, was discussed some time ago with Sergt T. H. Dyer, when he was stationed here. The opinion was held then, both by the Police and the Borough Council, that if these crossings were installed, there possibly might be trouble with congestion of traffic and that it would be better to leave matters as they were. Mr Jordan said the position in Queen Street was particularly difficult, as the main business portion of the thoroughfare was intersected by two cross streets. The best course appeared to be to get traffic through Queen Street as quickly as possible.