LEVEL CROSSINGS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 4 October 1924, Page 2

LEVEL CROSSINGS.

TOO MANY ACCIDENTS. “CARELESS MOTORISTS.” There are still too many accidents taking place at.level* crossings,” states tiie General Manager of Railways (Mr. R. \V. Mc\ illy) in ‘his annual report, ancl, practically without exception, circumstances have shown them to he clue to want of care on the part of the motorist. and other automatic similar appliances, as well as the signals of crossing-keepers, are not infrequently disregarded, with the re wmu ia t accidents have happened. lhe only absolutely effective means or safeguarding motorists against their own carelessness is the provision of subways or overbridges; but, as I have previously had occasion to point out, and as is, indeed, sufficiently obvious, it is not practicable to make such a provision at every level crossing nor would the financial burden which would be cast on the community he 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 lias also co-operated, and is still willing to co-operate, with local bodies in the provision of overhead bridges where the circumstances of the case justify the outlay involved. Apart from this, the Department purposes to continue its policy of prosecuting every motorist who, by omitting to take proper precautions when using the level crossings, endangers the safety not only of himself, hut of the users of the railwav.”