LEVEL CROSSINGS

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3477, 13 October 1926, Page 10

LEVEL CROSSINGS

DO TRAINS GIVE ENOUGH WARNING? MOTOR UNION'S RESOLUTION. A brief discussion took place at the annual meeting of the South Island Motor Union regarding the blowing of whistles by the drivers of engines on railway trains and a motion was carried asking the Government to make more adequate provision in Ibis connection. The president. Mr A. E. Ansell. read an extract from a reply which the Prime Minister had given to the North Island Motor Unions’ conference, in which it was stated that tlio regulation provided that railway engine drivers should give a long blast on their whistles :um yards before reaching a crossing. Tf (ho train was travelling at forty-live miles per hour it would take 12 seconds for it to reach the crossing It was the inslruction to drivers to continue blowing their whistles for half that distance, that was 6.J seconds. Mr Ansell said that recently bo had iiincd the whistling of an express (rain and had found (hat.it did not. last for two seconds. He thought, (hey should approach the Government again on the matter, tic did not wish to place the onus on the train drivers as the onus must necessarily be on the. motor owners. He moved that the Government should bo approached again on the matter. In seconding Ihe motion. Mr. P. \V. Johnston expressed flic view that a. great deal of good would be done ami many -accidents avoided if rhe engine drivers were to renew their blasts 200 yards and 100 yards from tbe crossings. The. majority of accidents were due to temporary lack of attention. The motion was passed on (ho lines suggested by Mr Johnston.

C. 0. MacNAUGHT,

Manager,