STRAIN ON ENGINEDRIVERS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 8 January 1931, Page 5

STRAIN ON ENGINEDRIVERS.

OFTEN AT A LOSS TO KNOW MOTORISTS’ INTENTIONS. NEED FOR STRICT EAR TESTS. The nerve wracking experiences that drivers and firemen of railway engines .undergo at times through the unthoughtfulness of motorists, was mentioned yesterday when the Coroner (Mr A. J. Graham) was inquiring into the circumstances surrounding a level crossing fatality at Palmerston, An enginedriveer was in the witness box and he mentioned that the deceased, according to report, had been affected with deafness. He advocated a more strict examination of motor drivers before licenses were issued or renewed. “We enginedrivers would then know, ” he said, “that when we are sounding a blast on our whistle, it is being heard. Motorists approach crossings taking no notice apparently of our signals and we drivers are often at a loss to know their intentions.

The Coroner: With these special trains are any extra precautions taken? Witness: The onus is on the public but you will have noticed that we drivers always give ■, long warning blasts. The Senior-Sergeant: In any case the public should expect extra trains at Christmas time. Witness: With goods trains there is no regular schedule and they can be expected at any time. The Coroner observed that the railways were taking a terrific toll of human life in spite of mechanical warning devices and bells. The onus was undoubtedly on the public to take the necessary precautions before negotiating a crossing, including looking both up and down the line, a thing ■which deceased apparently had not done. “I am afraid too many motorists are careless in this regard and don't realise the nerve wracking experiences that the tr'din drivers undergo. Moreover, attempting to cross the line in front of a train xs putting the lives of the enginedrivers and firemen in danger if not the lives of all on the train. ” The Coroner said he hoped the public would recognise that extreme caution must be taken when approaching a railway line. He had noted the evidence in regard to more strict ear tests and would see that the attention of those concerned was drawn to the question of granting licenses to people suffering from extreme deafness.