RAILWAY CROSSINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 230, 28 September 1922, Page 4

RAILWAY CROSSINGS.

In his annual report the General > Manager of Railways has a reference to | level crossings that is worth a little I notice. Mr. MeVillly reports that | automatic bells at crossings are being 1 installed ";is circumstances permit." ; that thirteen crossings were so equipped | during the year, and that automatic j (lag-signals, which are a superior form ! of warning, have been fitted in four j places. Mr. McYillv takes motorists to ! 1 - I tusk for the carclcssticsss with which | they approach crossings. During the ; year, he says, many drivers "displayed j a total dis regal'l of warning signals." I whether these were given by bells or ! ero-aing keepers. "The experience in , this country and elsewhere is that the advent of the motor vehicle has created dangers thnt were previously non- j existent, and the great majority of accidents that occur at railway crossings . are due to the failure of the driver of ' the motor vehicle to exercise proper ! care when approaching crossings and his disregard of the warning signals exhi- j bited in the vicinity." Not e\en ! motorists themselves would deny that I there is justification for these remarks. A driver who is generally careless and reckless will he liable to lie so on a rail- | way crossing. Hut the implication that; the Department has no responsibility j fo.- accidents should not he allowed to I puss. What of the unequipped crossings I that are dangerous because of the trees j or embankments that obscure the! driver's view* There used to he such a I crossing in the Auckland district | prob- i ably it has been fitted with a sign;il by I now), where even if a motorist stopped.! alighted, went to the line, and looked I each way. he could not be sure of safety, for by the time he had climbed ; into his car again and was on the line | a train might be upon him. The Depart- | ment must not be allowed to place all (he responsibility on tin , motorist. It ■ is certain that if our railways were . owned by companies the safety equip- > ment of crossings would be much more. extensive than it is to-day. The Slate , would insist upon a higher standard of safety. i