A "STANDING START"

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 128, 4 June 1929, Page 8

A "STANDING START"

New "stop" notice-boards, signifying compulsory stops for motor and other traffic, have now been- erected at some of the level crossings on the railway in the Hutt Valley. It is to -be assumed that these crossings are considered to be relatively dangerous, and that drivers of motorcars will come to a standstill, and

will re-start after inspection of the railway to assure themselves that no train is approaching. But not all dangerous crossings are of such a character as to render the complete stop completely safe. In many cases the motor-driver's line of vision is limited by railway property or by private property, and as the "Evening Post's" motor contributor "Autos" pointed out on 27th August:

There are crossings where a view of the line from one direction or both is so, obscured that, a train may be actually almost on the crossing before it can be seen, or sometimes even heard. Whistles are no more a real safety-guard than are motor horns, and it is gratifying to note that bells also are now authoritatively regarded as unsatisfactory. ■

If the compulsory stop means getting out of the car, looking up and down the railway, then getting in and restarting, the loss of time may in such circumstances result in the arrival of the train just when the motorist (on the evidence of his inspection) does not expect it.. A good deal depends, of course," on promptness in re-starting, and as no fumbling such as would result; in the engine stalling while the car is on the rails. Still, it is well to hope for the best, and to hope that motor-drivers will make an honest attempt to comply with the new "standing start" wherever possible. Either the stop will be obeyed, so that the system will be thoroughly tried out; or it will be disobeyed, strengthening 'the Railway Department's position in the Courts,