Road safety throughout the years in Oldham

One of the most crucial aspects of road safety work is education and awareness.

Throughout the 20th century people have tried to ensure pedestrians and drivers stay safe on the roads.

In 1934 the Chief Constable of Oldham, Mr AK Mayall, said in an article about road safety that “the value of teaching in the school of ‘safety first’ ideas cannot be overestimated.”

One of the earliest lessons in road safety was the kerb drill, invented by Jocelyn Arthur Adair Pickard.

This ‘code’ was military style, helping children to understand the seriousness of road safety. “At the kerb halt! Eyes right, eyes left, eyes right again. If the road is clear, quick march—walk straight across.”

In 1937, Oldham’s safety committee devised a list of their nine road rules for children.

1) Never run into the roadway under any circumstances – whether going to or from school, playing in the streets or with ball or hoop.

2) If possible, always cross busy streets where there is a policeman, a ‘refuge’ or a ‘pedestrian crossing.’

3) Always look for vehicles turning corners.

4) Always look and listen for warning signals.

5) Never run behind or ‘steal’ rides on motors, lorries carts or other vehicles.

6) Never throw caps or push each other into the roadway.

7) Always wait until the ‘bus or tram stops before getting on or off.

8) Never throw things at moving vehicles.

9) Always look both ways before crossing the road, or before passing in front of or behind a stationary vehicle, even if about to use a ‘pedestrian crossing’. Never attempt to cross without being satisfied that there is ample time to do so. More care should be taken when the roadway is wet and slippery.

In the 1960s, a road safety gained a new mascot, Billy Beacon.

Billy Beacon was an anthropomorphic road beacon who taught children the rules of the road.

Although he may seem rather terrifying now, during a 1963 Oldham safety committee meeting the Deputy Chief Constable commented that “Similar Billy Beacons were in use in many other parts of the country and had been found to be very popular, particularly with younger children.”

In the 1970s a new approach was taken to road safety nationally, with the replacement of the kerb drill with the green cross code.

In a committee meeting in 1971, the accident prevention officer said that ‘most of the message embodied in the new code had always been taught by the police and himself in Oldham.’

The green cross code was embodied on television first by the green cross code man, played by David Prowse.

In 2014, David Prowse’s green cross code man made a comeback, this time to teach adults of the dangers of using smartphones and earphones when attempting to cross the road.

As time went on, the green cross code changed slightly in form, but the basic message remained the same.

During the later 1970s the mnemonic Splink was used (pictured), which was introduced on television by John Pertwee.

Later, the message changed to “Stop, Look, Listen, Think.” As of 2018, the green cross code is: THINK! STOP! USE YOUR EYES AND EARS! WAIT UNTIL IT IS SAFE TO CROSS! LOOK AND LISTEN! ARRIVE ALIVE!

The Splink notice shown here was photographed on Chadderton Way, Northmoor in 1973.

However, one of the more unusual experiments occurred in the 1930s in Oldham when pedestrians along Union Street were segregated using a white line!