Ninety-six years ago, in January 1922, we had to get used to a new way of driving. We had to drive on the right,
following the rules already in place in much of North America, rather than the left.
The editors of the Daily 91原创 offered their words of wisdom.
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With the amount of publicity already given to the subject, it should be unnecessary to warn the people that the greatest care must be exercised in accustoming themselves to the change of the rule of the road which is now in effect.
For the next few weeks, and possibly during the present month, there should be a slowing up in all traffic. Since no regulations have been passed reducing the speed of motorists, especially in the case of cars passing each other, drivers should voluntarily adopt this practice.
They should also take every precaution within their power to ensure the safety of pedestrians, who are likely to find the greatest difficulty in changing their habit of crossing streets.
A few temporary regulations dealing with speed reductions would have obviated almost every possibility of any extra accidents, but in the absence of these, the onus will rest on the motorists themselves, as well as on pedestrians, who will have to exercise a new care and alertness until usage wears away the novelty of the changed conditions.
It may be anticipated, with such a revolution in traffic coming into effect, that the streetcar system will be handicapped for some days.
The company, as we understand the matter, is doing everything it can to facilitate traffic under the new law, but delays will occur until all equipment has been changed, and more particularly until the public become accustomed to what is an innovation in this part of the province.
For these reasons, a good deal of patience will have to be exercised, but we feel assured that those who use the streetcars will co-operate with the company in making the change effective, and will be tolerant of the handicaps which are inevitable.
The advice to 鈥渒eep to the right鈥� cannot be impressed too forcibly during the present month, after which period it will probably become a habit. It will be a tribute to the adaptability of the people if the change can be effected with the minimum of accidents.
The government is putting the onus on the people, and it is for them to exercise their intelligence.
Daily British 91原创, Jan. 1, 1922
