The Dominion THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 1929. THE RISKS OF THE ROAD

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 84, 3 January 1929, Page 8

The Dominion THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 1929. THE RISKS OF THE ROAD

Taking a general line through the Press records of road accidents within recent months, it would appear that serious motor casualties arising from actual collisions on the open road are experiencing a decline. This is probably due to the fact that the public,- both motoring and pedestrian, is developing a new road sense. Nerve reactions are more soundly established upon human experience than upon rules, although the latter are important in influencing the formation-of habits. It is a well-established fact that a particular individual is likely to profit more by personal experience than from the experience of others. Many motorists, and not a few pedestrians, will testify to this. Others may enjoin caution here and prudence there, but until a few risks have been taken and a few salutary escapes experienced these injunctions do not strike home. . In a few tragic instances the wisdom of the injunction is realised too late. . The dangers of the level-crossing offer a case in point. T.he holiday season has recorded several incidents wherein caution might have averted tragedy. Two were reported yesterday. In this class of accident the average does not seem to have declined. . The risks of the level-crossing are not only serious, but uncertain. In many cases the motoring tourist is travelling over country in ignorance of local train schedules. The level-crossing, therefore, is always an unknown quantity. That being the case, why take the risk? It is not even safe to rely entirely on alarm signals, for these are subject to breakdowns. For quite obvious reasons it is impossible, for the time being at any rate, to provide overhead ramps for all the crossings in the country. This must be a gradual process. The responsibility therefore, must lie upon the individual, who, as the Press reports of accidents show, is reprehensibly slow to learn the viitue of CaUt The only crossings which may be approached with confidence are those which offer a clear view of up and down traffic for. a safe distance from the intersection. For all others, the official injunction to “Stop, look, and listen,” should be sciupulous,y observed. The precaution may mean a minute or two of de,ay, but it surely is well worth while. Most . drivers are probably familiar with the feeling of impatience and irksomeness of stopping the car and looking out for possible dangers ahead. But is it not much better to do that than run needless risks ? . It is the emergency which tests the, skill of the driver, but the experienced and careful driver sees to it that emergencies. are reduced to a minimum, and his precautionary measures strictly exclude the gamble of taking level-crossings on the run. He knows, as everyone else should know, that the driver of a train cannot pull up to avoid a crossing collision. The responsibility is entirely upon the motorist.