STREET SAFETY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 June 1939, Page 6

STREET SAFETY

THE USE OF PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS MOTOR UNION ADVOCATES APPROACH ZONES. . CRITICISM OF POLICE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Lack of co-operation by the police in the education of pedestrians was alleged by delegates at the quarterly meeting of the South Island Motor Union this morning, the criticism arising from a remit by the Otago Association regarding pedestrian crossings. New Zealand must be the only country in the world where the police did nothing to educate traffic, said Mr R. Wilson (South Canterbury). The danger to both motorists and pedestrians caused by "the indeterminate and unsatisfactory” method of indicating pedestrian crossings was the subject of the remit. Mr A. E. Ansell said that through the present system of marking the crossings, many motorists were upon a crossing almost before they had seen it, and the fact that pedestrians were not yet educated to their use made matters worse. His association’s remit suggested that a zone should be created thirty feet from a crossing, and when the motorist was within this zone, a pedestrian should not cross in front of that car.

“I think the police could do much more in this matter,” said Mr J. S. Hawkes (Canterbury). “I have often watched the police let pedestrians go against the lights without doing anything to educate them, and have even seen them cross against pedestrian lights themselves.” A great opportunity to help pedestrians was given the police on beat duty, said Mr Hawkes. They seemed to have nothing to do but stand at corners, and could easily explain the lights to pedestrians, especially women, who seemed to be the worst offenders.

The Otago remit regarding the creation of a neutral zone approaching crossings was adopted and will be sent to the Commissioner of Transport.