LEVEL CROSSINGS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 78, 29 September 1924, Page 8

LEVEL CROSSINGS

TOO MANY ACCIDENTS

-"CARELESS ■ MOTORISTS."

"There are still too many accidents taking, place at level-crossings," states the General Manager of Railways (Mr. R. W. M'Villy) in his annual report, and, practically without exception, circumstances have shown them to be due to want of care on the part of the motorist. Warning-bells and other automatic similar appliances, as well us the signals of crossing-keepers, are not infrequently disregarded, with. the result that accidents have happened. ■ "The only absolutely effective means of safeguarding motorists against their own carelessness is the provision of subways or overbridges; but, a9 I have previous^ had occasion to point .out, and as is, indeed, sufficiently obvious, it ;s not practicable: to .make such a provision at every level crossing, nor would the financial burden which would lie cast upon' tho community be warranted in order to guard against the carelessness of the comparative few. _ "The Department is, however, continuing to instal warning-appliances at crossings where conditions involve any substantial element of danger, and has also co-operated, and is still willing to co-operate, with local bodies in the provision of overhead bridges where the cir- | cumstances of tho case justify the outlay involved. Apart from this, "the Department proposes to continue its policy cf prosecuting every motorist who, by omitting to take proper precautions when' using the level crossings, endangers (he -safety.not 0n1y...0f himself but of 'the ussrs of Ui.b railway .,'!■ .•■