H.—4o.

Schools and Playgrounds. 19. When proposals for the erection of new schools are under attention, steps should be taken to see that the entrances are on to side streets or roads. 20. In some cases of existing schools it may be desirable and practicable to move the entrance from the main road to a side road. Education Boards should be instructed to make a survey with a view to ascertaining the cases where action in this direction would be desirable. 21. Barriers, erected at the edge of the footpath opposite the school gates, should be provided where necessary. These might be given an added value by having a Safety First sign displayed thereon. 22. Tram and bus stops should not be placed immediately near school exits. 23. In fixing the position for pedestrian crossings due regard should be given to the needs of children attending schools in the vicinity. 24. The desirability of providing play-areas, including small playing-spaces for young children, should be considered in connection with housing schemes. Boroughs and City Councils should make a census of all areas suitable for children's playing-grounds. The possibility of employing supervisors of such areas should be considered. 25. Municipal authorities could be asked to investigate these matters. The co-operation of the Ministry of Housing would be valuable both with respect of the Government's housing schemes and those undertaken by local bodies. Supplementary. 26. The Committee has considered the question of school patrols. There seems some reason to believe that children acting as patrols, or their parents, could be held legally liable in the event of accidents occurring to children in the charge of patrols. Apart from this, it is very doubtful whether the responsibilities involved should be placed upon school-children. Adult control is preferable and, at busy spots, indispensable. The question is one which, we think, should be examined by Education Boards and local safety committees before action is taken to encourage the establishment of school patrols. 27. Local interest would be created and co-operation brought about by the establishment of local Children's Safety Committees on which local bodies, teachers, and School Committees could be represented. They should be advisory bodies, and their recommendations as to the particular needs of localities would come forward to a central body and by that body be forwarded to the Departments of Education and Transport. 28. (a) During or at the conclusion of each matinee a slide should be shown on the screen to remind the audience to observe the traffic rules. A similar slide should be shown in every theatre at the conclusion of every performance. The slide should enjoin safety on both motorists and pedestrians. (b) Films depicting road-safety precautions should be prepared or procured and shown at special, matinee, or ordinary performances. 29. Talks on road safety have already been given during the schools educational session. This service should be continued. If statistics of accidents to children were available these should be broadcasted during adult sessions. These statistics should be published regularly in the Education Gazette. 30. Ihe question whether pedestrians should walk to the left or to the right on the highway should be definitely determined. 31. Post-primary schools should consider the possibility of forming classes for training youthful motorists who are pupils of the schools. J. W. Mcllraith, Chairman. [Adopted by the Council with amendments as incorporated and subject to the attention of the children being drawn to the provisions of the Highway Code concerning keeping to the footpath and keeping to the right on roadways.] VEHICLE AND HIGHWAY LIGHTING. 1 have to report that this Committee, in view of the urgency of finalizing the proposed Traffic Regulations, has so far devoted its attention wholly to the question of vehicle-lighting, leaving the matter of highway-lighting for future consideration. Lighting Eegulations. The Committee has made a thorough examination of all the clauses of Regulation 7 of the proposed Traffic Regulations and recommends a number of amendments for the consideration of the Council. Regulation 7, amended according to these recommendations, would read as follows (substitutions or additions being in italics) :— Clause (1) : To read as formerly : — Save as provided by clauses (9) and (10) hereof, no person shall operate a motor-vehicle during lighting-up time unless it is equipped as provided in this regulation and unless the lights required to be equipped are operated so as to comply with the requirements of this regulation." *

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