LEVEL CROSSINGS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVIII, Issue LXXVIII, 14 June 1919, Page 5

LEVEL CROSSINGS

NEED FOR WARNING BELLS

(BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION

PALMERSTON N., June 13. When returning a verdict of accidental death on J3an Pedersen, agvid 10, who was run into at a leAoi crossing 'by the New Plymouth-Wellington express on May 27, the coicikt \\lv Page, S.M.) stated^ the train was evidently travelling tnrough the croswiijr at a high rate of speed. The whisth.was properly sounded, but on account of the adverse wind the sound of Ui<> whistle of the approaching tmin v,;is not so noticeable as it might hav e been under other conditions. It was eleur that if the children^in the trap h;:<i taken proper precautions they would have seen the train approaching and averted the tragic occurrence. Tin1 coroner added the following rider: "Whatever may be the legal position of the Railway Department, .1' think, ill xde public interest, there should !»• at crossings of this nature an auto, matic alarm bell to give warning of th e approach of trains. The crossing is in the centre of a small township, is used a great deal, and some trains pass over it at great speed. If such a bell had been installed the child would not- h;ive lost her life. Although an adult in possession of his or her normal faculties would probably not be caught at this crossing, it must be remembered that the crossing is used by children, who may be thoughtless, and also by others, such as elderly people for instance, whose faculties may not be keen."