LEVEL CROSSINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18404, 21 May 1923, Page 8

LEVEL CROSSINGS.

PREVENTING ACCIDENTS.

SPEED OF ROAD VEHICLES.

A subject > of considerable importance, that of level-orossings and the prevention of accidents, was dealt with in Wellington last week by the newly-elected chairman of the ■ technological section of the Philosophical Society, Mr. G. AY. Wyles, assistant signal and electrical engineer, Railway Department. "It is a problem," he said, "which has occupied the attention of most people concerned with transportation for some considerable time, and "owing to tho fact that part of the question involves dealing with the personal equation of a largo proportion of the population of the country, it is one for which it is difhcult to find a solution. \ . . . ' "At levol-crossings the position is that two conflicting streams of traffic both moving at high speeds intersect, and the consequent liability to accident is tho result. So long as one stream of traffic was slow, accidents were few and far between, but, during the last few years, they have become a frequent occurrence, due to the growth of motor traffio and tho consequent increase of speed. "Railway traffic ■ must mainitain its speed, and no reduction of its speed over crossings is possible. In other words, the railway traffic must have right of road over the more mobile road traffic. All the warning that can bo f given, apart from signals, is for the engine to whistle on approaching a crossing, and give warning of its approach. This is the universal practice. ..•.., - Need for Restrictions. " Following the contention that reduction in the speed of railway traffic is not practically possible, it follows that the road traffic must comply with certain restrictions to insure immunity from accident. Now, provided that speed control is carried out and road vehicles approach crossings at low speed, the liability to accident will be reduced to a very largo extent, and I justify this statement by the records of very infrequent accidents in tho past before the road traffic was motordriven. The increase in railway traffic also affects the question somewhat, but, personally, I am convinced' that the slower the speed of road traffic over a crossing the fewer will be tho accidents. The problem to me, therefore, appears to be, now is speed reduction to be enforced?" "v. ' " i Warning Signs and Signals. Mr. Wyles mentioned the provision of warning signs by tho road-side, which would be sufficient to guard against accident if their injunctions were obeyed and proper caution exercised. Accidents, however, continued to occur through these warnings being neglected. Then signals to give actual warning of a train's approach wore installed, one result of which was a tendency to ignore the road signs and a consequent general increase of speed. This increase in speed greatly aggravated the liability to accident, oven with the most efficient* warning ■ signals, while a failure of one, under these conditions, brought about a condition of very real danger. " ' ■•.■'. ; ', : After describing different methods of protecting crossings, Mr. Wyles said that there was a consensus of expert opinion that accidents would not occur if proper care was taken by the users of the road, and that warning signs and signals would not deter the people who took risks or were careless. ■" Circuitous Approaches.,' > : "*au would appear," lie said in conclusion, " that nothing except the bridge will afford absolute safety, and further that the greatest protection against accidents is the carefulness of the drivers of road traffic themselves. Warning signals may help in the case of careful drivers, and are useful at blind crossings, but unless combined with a careful look-, out will not prevent accidents. Gates and crossing-keepers ■ are from experience less'.: efficient than tho "warning , signals. The liability to accident increases with the speed, and, therefore, the question of humps or circuitous routes to the crossing forcing a reduction in speed needs very careful consideration." •