LINE NOT CLEAR

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18397, 15 May 1934, Page 4

LINE NOT CLEAR

INCIDENT AT CROSSING 9 __ v ' MOTORIST FINED £1 Very few motorists can be aware that it is an offence to drive over, a railway crossing at a greater speed than la miles an hour, even when the line is clear; yet such a regulation exists, and the first prosecution under it in Gisborne was heard in the Police ,CouH this/morning, arising out of an 'incident at the Makaraka railway crossing. The defendant was William Henry Adair, who appeared before Mr. E, L. Walton, S.M., on charges of failing when approaching within a distance of 100yds of tho Maknraka crossing to reduce his speed to not more than 15 miles an hour, and of crossing tM line when it was not clear. He admitted both charges. Sergeant- Clark explained that a train had been shunting at the Makaraka station, and its operations necessitated the train crossing the road. Two ears were waiting, on each side of the crossing for the line to become clear, but as tho train was backing to go into the yard the defendant came from tho direction of Makaraka, passed the stationary cars, and drove straight across,, despite a signal from a porter standing on "the end of the train- The department had taken action against the defendant in view af the' number of accidents 'Which had. taken place at' railway crossings. The defendant explained ’ that he thought the train was going on to town, but when he saw that it was coming back he had to speed up to get across. On the charge of crossing when the line was not clear the defendant .was fined £1 and costs; but in respect of the other charge the magistrate remarked that a lot.• of people crossed at more than 15 TnOea an hour,; and ‘ convicted the defendant' without penalty.