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TV GUIDE LIFTOUT – Page 22

MARK RICCIUTO ON HIS WAY TO MOUNT GAMBIER > BACK PAGE BW491053

pRIGHT: There was

a constant flow of
Guinness and an
unusual amount of
green in Flanagan’s
Irish Pub yesterday
as patrons
celebrated St
Patrick’s Day. While
not an official holiday
in Australia, it didn’t
deter Flanagan’s
manager Nick
Charlesworth and
patron Ron Smaling
from celebrating.
Picture: BRETT
KENNEDY

Save life, not time
BY ELLIE TURNER
Email: ellie@tbw.com.au
SAVING your life is more impor-
tant than saving time. That’s
the message in a new campaign
against jaywalking.
One in three walkers struck
by cars are within 30 metres of a
pedestrian crossing, according to
Motor Accident Commission (MAC)
figures, and Mount Gambier is not
immune from the risk.
The MAC has urged pedestrians
to walk the extra distance and
cross roads safely.
The advice came one day after
a Mount Gambier man was taken
to hospital with minor head inju-
ries after being hit by a car on
Commercial Street West in the
small hours of Sunday morning.
Mount Gambier police are inves-
tigating the accident, however, no
more information was available at
press time yesterday.
The MAC said five South
Australian pedestrians have
already suffered vehicle related
deaths this year.
Corporate affairs manager Ben
Tuffnell said many pedestrians
would rather risk their safety
by running across a road to save
themselves a couple of minutes.
“It simply isn’t worth it,” Mr
Tuffnell said.
“There are more than 500 pedes-
trian road casualties each year.
“This included a dozen deaths
last year and almost half a dozen
have occurred in the past three
months.”
About 300 annual personal
injury claims are lodged by pedes-
trians who are involved in road
crashes, costing South Australian
motorists around $50m.
Employees at Mount Gambier
businesses near main intersections
said it was common to see people
crossing the road illegally.
Simply Elegant owner Christine
Tongue said she saw people run-
ning between cars either side of
the Commercial Street and Bay
Road pedestrian crossing on a
regular basis.
“I suppose people sometimes
think ‘oh I’ll just shoot across
there and not worry about waiting
for the lights’,” she said.
“It gives motorists coming
around the corner a bit of a
shock.”
Mount Gambier police station
Sergeant Nick Smith said the
main concern was pedestrians
near licensed premises.
“Wherever alcohol is prominent
is where people need to be the
most careful,” Sgt Smith said.
“When someone has consumed
alcohol they can become oblivious
to common dangers like walking
out in front of cars.
“Pedestrians need to be con-
scious of the law; crossing the
road through the shortest possible
route and using pedestrian cross-
ings where they are available.
“Likewise motorists should
keep their eyes open for people
on foot.”
A $39 penalty applies to pedes-
trians caught crossing a road
within 20 metres of a crossing or
traffic lights.

WEATHER Mount Gambier Today - Fine. Partly cloudy. 25o – full report page 23 KID’S PAGE Page 12 COMICS Page 13 CLASSIFIEDS Pages 14-17

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