LEVEL-CROSSINGS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19854, 15 February 1930, Page 11

LEVEL-CROSSINGS.

CRITICISM FROM MOTORISTS THE MINISTER'S REPLY.

"I cannot think of any greater danger that could befall motorists than to develop a psychology that throws wholly on the railways, or take s away from the motorist, the duty on the motorist to take due care tor his own. safety," said the Hon. W. B. Taveriiei'j Minister tor Railways yesterday in reply to criticism by Christchurch motorists regarding the erection of compulsory stop signs at level 01 attention has been drawn,' said the Minister, "to certain comments made by motorists in Christchurch regarding the compulsory sign notices now required by law to be placed at certain level road and railway crossings. From the comments made it appears clear to me that gentlemen in question are not in possession of the full tacts regardmg the level crossing situation, and it is with a view to placing the whole position clearlv and fairly before the public that I desire to make this brief resume of the level-crossing position. ' Prior to 1928, he said it had been the practice to erect "Mop, look out for the engine" notices at every levelcrossing, and the law, as it existed prior to that time, required that every vehicle approaching a jevel-crossin„ must slacken when within 100 yards of the crossing to a rate not exceeding 10 miles an hour, and stop before comino* into contact with the railu ay line. Til is applied at, every levelcrossing. , c With the development of motor traffic, it ivas realised that a law requiring overv vehicle to stop at every level crossing might work hardship as there was quite a number of crossings where the view was so good that a compulsory stop was not necessary. 1 was placing a very great tax on human nature to require a motorist to stop at such crossings, and this tended iP engender some neglect of the law. it was realised on the other hand, that such a tendency was substantially increasing the danger as regards the crossings, where circumstances warranted a requirement that motorists should stop before passing on to the raihvav line. Believing that it woum be to the best interests of all concerned for an alteration to be made in the law, that would reliev® motorists of the necessity of stop pi n f at crossings that rn'fht be regarded as reasonably sate, while still preserving: the necessity for stopping at other crossings, the department approached the automobile interests with a view to discussing what changes might ndvpntageomlv be made in this direction. Eventually, it was decided that the best thine could be done would be to classify the crossings into those at which it should be compnlsorv to stop, and those at which it should not.

Strict Enforcement. It was expressly underV.ood that if this were done then the law would be strictly enforced as regards stopping at compulsory stop crossings. The proposal having been acceptea by the motor interests and the railway authorities as a reasonable step, the necessary legislation was promoted Dy the department and passed, and tno law so stands to-day. Officers made a careful personal examination of the conditions at every crossing, and they classified the crossings according as in their judgment a compulsory stop was warranted or no at each particular crossing. After tne crossings had been classified, the whole position regarding legislation, the work of classifications, etc., was embodied in a letter which was sent by the General Manager of Railways to the secretary of each automobile association, and to the secretary of the South Island and North Island Motor Unions respectively. Attached to th letter was a schedule of the level cros ings at which the Department proposed to erect compulsory stop signs. The various associations were invitea to make any representations they desired through the two motor unions.

Close Co-operation. "It will be seen, therefore," Mid Mr Taverner, "that right throughout the Department has acted m close concert witn the established aiithyities repr senting the motor interests in the Dominion. The alterations in the taw were promoted by the Department with a view to helping the motorist and increasing the safety ct , or ,? level crossings. I believe that the alterations have .been the great majority of the motorists accordingly. "If, in the opinion of any orgamsa tion of motorists, the. classification any crossing is incorrect, the " Department would be quite. P repa n ® d to receive their representations and give them the fullest possible conSl^"Thc 10 "osition in connexion with the junction of Stafford, and Kitoarnock streets, Riccarton, is that it ha never been classified as a compulsory brought irto the railway >ard at Rie carton and they were subsequently WrtlK pSti™. » ffi ti,i«»" A o ™!'tS 'TJr 'Zm SSi s&ss "rS&xss" place of the compulsory stop notice. Motorist Must Stop.

"Ohvioaslv the trains cannot stop at assxs.-^s-'-Aa.r Sone y so° far as the railway people are done so provide reasonable concerned is to r P gence & ctSi! The ideal, is the total elimination of level crossings. This, at preis clearly an economic impossibility The next best thing is to provide suitable warning notices Here, on fir as the finances of the D<s- - u„ ve permitted, the Department has taken steps along the lines Sinstalling such appliances as 'wigsSnafs, etc. There still, ..however, remains the duty on the motor1St «'T would repeat that the Department. in promoting the alteration in legislation, was seeking to make this fliitv involve a minimum of lrksome"ess to the motorist while requiring him to take such a standard of care j as occasion required.