11 JANUARY 1952, Page 16

On and Off the Zebras

Ste,—Janus, a car-owner, chivalrously takes the side of pedestrians in the matter of zebra crossings. May a pedestrian do a like service for car-drivers ?

1. If pedestrians used to the full their new " rights " traffic in busy parts could be brought to a complete stop simply by a pedestrian stepping on to a zebra as the last of a crowd was stepping off it.

2. I never saw a case of a pedestrian being hit by a car on an old Belisha crossing, but I have already seen several hairbreadth escapes on zebras. The reason for this is obvious, if you think it out, so I will not take up space by explaining it.

It is no answer to say that time is required in which to educate the public, because danger will always be near when foreigners and visitors to our cities are in the streets. In short, zebras are a mistake.—Yours