Some Reflections on Road Traffic
| Author | J. L. Thomas |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X5703000109 |
| Date | 01 January 1957 |
| Published date | 01 January 1957 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
SOME
REFLECTIONS
ON
ROAD
TRAFFIC
49
ignored. Coates denied the offence,
but
afurther search of his pro-
perty at his home revealed the paper-knife. He then stated that he
had
bought this from a man in a public house.
He was further charged with this offence,
and
evidence
of
the sole
identification was given, but when he appeared at
Quarter
Sessions
he changed his plea to
"Guilty"
and
was sentenced to three years'
"corrective training."
Incidentally, the second intruder has yet to be found.
Some
Reflections
on
Road
Traffic
By
SUPERINTENDENT
J. L.
THOMAS
Bradford City Police.
THERE have appeared in these pages from time to time many
authoritative articles dealing with various aspects
of
the
road
traffic problem. As a rule these articles have dealt with a specific
subject,
and
this has been treated in a purely Objective fashion.
The
present contribution, on the other hand, ranges over a wide field
and
consists almost entirely
of
personal experiences
and
impressions.
The
topic is one of which almost everyone has first-hand experience
and
about
which most people hold strong views which they are not
averse to expounding whenever the occasion arises.
For
example, the
debates during the passage of the recent
Road
Traffic Act through
both
Houses of Parliament produced an abundance
of
panaceas
and
suggestions, whilst from time to time there appear in the press letters
debating the pros and cons of the subject. Generally, the major battle
is waged between pedestrians
and
motorists, although occasionally
minor skirmishes develop involving such adversaries as pedal cyclists
and motor-cyclists.
Probably no other subject evokes more prejudice and partisanship,
and in the circumstances perhaps it would be as well if every writer
or speaker
had
to "declare his interest" at the very outset, thus en-
abling his readers or audience to make due allowance when assessing
the validity
of
his assertions. So far as
I-a
police officer with some
twenty-five years'
experience-am
concerned, I have always been
primarily apedestrian, although I cycle many miles each week
and
motor
many more.
It
is possible, therefore,
that
my reflections will
not
be found to be unduly biased; on the other hand, I may, alas,
end up by alienating all parties!
PEDESTRIANS
Let us start with pedestrians, who, after all, constitute easily the
biggest 'class of road user. Their major problem nowadays, at any
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