RAILWAY CROSSINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20221, 4 April 1929, Page 8

RAILWAY CROSSINGS.

The new rules governing motor traffic on roads which cross railway lines are to come into force presently, thus submitting them to the practical test, of trial in operation. So far as they promise to be effectual in reducing the appalling toll of life at these danger spots they arc to be welcomed, though they do not in any way affect the basic principle that the only way to eliminate the peril of the level crossing is to eliminate the level crossing. That position may be reached some day. but in the meantime its approach seems very slow. While crossings remain everything should be done to make them as safo as possible. The one outstanding featuro of both the new clauses in the Act, and the new sets of signs to be erected, is that they enjoin cn the drivers of motor vehicles the necessity for caution and alertness. The signs point to tho coming danger spot, the law demands that. the driver take care, under penalty. This is necessary, of course, hut it should not obscure the fact that another party is involved, and that so long as the Railway Department maintains unguarded crossings it too has a duty to perform, a duty not wholly discharged by erecting warning signs. Unless and until it can arrange to have road traffic go above or beneath its lines, its responsibility is to do all possible to give good visibility on both sidc-s. 1o see that regulations requiring its employees to observe precautions arc strictly observed, and especially to increase the safeguards at any crossings where the traffic is growing. This done, it may discharge in part its responsibility for keeping safe the level crossings that remain ; but above all and beyond all is the necessity for doing away with such crossings as quickly as that result can be achieved.