DANGER AT CROSSINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20556, 6 May 1930, Page 12

DANGER AT CROSSINGS.

KEEPER KILLED BY TRAIN. CYCLIST DISREGARDS WARNING. COMMENT BY THE CORONER. [BT TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] CHIUSTCHURCH, ilonclfty. Before giving liis verdict in the death of Arthur William Bright, , tho crossingkeeper who was killed at Waltham Road on April 11, tho coroner, Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M,, severely critised motor-cyclists and others who do not heed the warning signals at railway crossings. He added: "The Railways Department also takes risks." The coroner held that an unknown motor-cyclist who disregarded the Keeper's signals and caused him to run out on to tho lino was in somo way responsible for Blight's death. "Onco moro tho evidenco reveals that the greatest caro should bo taken by all tho public when crossing railway lines," said Mr. Mosley. "It seems to mo from tho evidenco that this man might bo alivo had tho motor-cyclist, about whom evidenco has been given, promptly obeyed tho keeper's warning. It seems a great pity that a few irresponsible people should cause a great deal of this trouble, for I am satisfied that the great majority of people who drivo motor vehicles, either ori business or for pleasure, promptly obey tho signals. It is a good job for them and for tho general body of tho railway peoplo that they do. "There aro a few, unfortunately, who aro only too ready to disregard tho signals. They seem to think that to bo checked is an infringement of a liberty which they ought to have in a city liko this. They think 'IIo is just an old fogey trying to make us do what ho wants—wo can well disregard him.' In nine cases out of ten they get away with it. In tho tenth case there is trouble, as thero is here. I am happy to say that from my experience only a few drivers act in this unpardonable manner. This man would probably have been alivo to-day had his signal been obeyed." When questioning tho driver of tho train, Andrew Ternent, whether tho public took risks, and whether two keepers wero required at tho crossing, Mr. W. S. E. Moylo, who represented tho Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, said "I ask this question because tho keepers complain that motor-cyclists will take risks, probably forgetting tho trains travel three times as fast as themselves. Tho general public will stop and take notice, but thero aro always these wretched peoplo." "You can't put brains into heads where there are none." commented the coroner. "Some peoplo will take terrible risks, and I know that they will habitually disregard precautions. Tho Railways Department also takes risks." Both the witness Ternent and a cross-ing-keeper, Eli Dewe, spoko of tho risks taken by tho public, and said it would bo an advantago to have two keepers at tho Waltham Road crossing, at anyrato in busy times. KEEPER KNOCKED DOWN. INJURED BY MOTOR-CYCLE. [BT TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. An elderly crossing-keeper, H. McGrath, received severe • bruises through being knocked down by a motor-cyclist at tho Colombo Street crossing on Saturday evening. A race train from Amberley had just crossed, when tho motorcyclist, who was going south, crossed tho lines and knoclusd tho keeper down.