Many Fatalities At Level Crossings

Northern Advocate, 2 August 1949, Page 5

Many Fatalities At Level Crossings

WELLINGTON, Tue. (P.A.)—There have been 401 fatal and personal injury accidents at 310 level crossings in New Zealand in the past 12 years. This was reported at yesterday’s conference in Wellington between representatives of the Railways Department, roading and local body authorities and road users, with the Commissioner of Transport (Mr G. L. Laurenson) to discuss means whereby risks of railway-motor vehicle collisions at level crossings could be reduced to bedrock. A statement of the proved effectiveness of warning devices, as worked out by the United States Bureau of Public Roads, gave top position to automatic gates, and the conference decided to recommend that the Railways Department should instal such a gate on trial and demonstration. A proposal from locomotive drivers and firemen that all level crossings should be made compulsory stops, and that motorists should signal to the train crew that they had seen the train, was not accepted. The opinion was expressed that there were already too many compulsory "stop signs, and that observance would be much better if they were removed from all points except where essential. The Railways Department is to be asked to consider a new colour for railcars, as, under some conditions, it was stated, the, present colour might merge with the'background. and also to try out a warning device more distinctive and arresting than the present electric horns.