LEVEL-CROSSING ACCIDENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20601, 27 June 1930, Page 16

LEVEL-CROSSING ACCIDENTS.

Sir,—No one with a thought for life and limb can pass this subject by after the Hikurangi and Sockburn tragedies. Overhead bridges are out of the question for all crossings, belt-ringing is all right for pedestrians but not for motors, eotices on the side of the road just seem to be familiarity breeding contempt, after the driver has become familiar with the line itself. Let us ask ourselves when do the majority or the worst of: these accidents happen. The two- qrioted above were just after nightfall, which is the worst time to my mind. I ask motorists who have had experience of their lights looking direct on a raised crossing with a line of trucks following the engine to think over the situation. There is not much to be seen till the car lights lift with the road and then in many cases it is a very sudden rise to the crossing. The eyes of the motor driver as a rulo follow the real body of the motor lights and fail to see the body of the trucks higher up. The carriages are not the real danger as they are lighted. I make this suggestion, which would cost little. At the floor level of the trucks and carriages adjust a red reflector, one on each side, that would reflect the danger signal direct back to the motorist's eyes. As soon as the lights came in' line with the line of red lights created by his own motor then iiis action would be prompt. For the engine, which is equally as dangerous from side on, I would have a red light on each side Onlooker.