Quarterly Commentary
| Published date | 01 January 1948 |
| Date | 01 January 1948 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X4802100101 |
| Subject Matter | Quarterly Commentary |
VOL.
XXI, No. I
POLICE JOURNAL
Quarterly Commentary
ROAD
SAFETY
THE Final Report of the Committee on Road Safety now in the
hands of the police provides interesting reading material although
its recommendations, in the main, merely reiterate maxims which
have long since been accepted by
the
Service.
The
paragraphs setting
out
the role of the police will generally be agreed and when the men
and machines become available will be implemented.
The
report
reminds all concerned
that"
one of the principal duties of the Police
is the prevention of offences" and sets out, in detail, the heads under
which the activities of the mobile patrols fall.
The
Committee con-
sidered the policy of dealing with offenders by warning or by prosecu-
tion and advised that the present practice of issuing a word of friendly
advice to the offender whose fault arose from thoughtlessness or mistake
rather than from viciousness should be continued.
The
influence of
the Chief Constable members can be seen in the expression of opinion
that the discretion as to which is the appropriate method to apply should
continue to be vested in the local Chief Constable.
It
is appreciated
that local conditions demand consideration in such matters and the
Chief Constable is in the best position to give them full weight.
It will be interesting to see whether the views of the Committee
that public opinion has reached
the
stage when it will be appropriate
to introduce restrictive legislation on the use of
the
roads by pedestrians
at controlled intersections is correct.
The
recommendation has raised
no public outcry to date and as new legislation might be by regulation,
penal clauses may become operative without much further notice.
The
recent Divisional Court decision in Stimson v. Pratt which, in
effect, was that all the pedestrian crossing places at a light controlled
intersection are " controlled "irrespective of the colour of any of the
lights, will make it imperative, at busy intersections, for an " all
red-
cross
now"
period to be included in the light sequence. Highway
authorities have been reluctant to introduce such a phase, for the
passage of pedestrians could not be restricted to such periods. with
B
THE
JANUARY-MARCH
1948
To continue reading
Request your trial