“STRATFORD EVENING POST” MONDAY, JULY 2, 1928. RAILWAY CROSSINGS.

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 81, 2 July 1928, Page 4

“STRATFORD EVENING POST” MONDAY, JULY 2, 1928. RAILWAY CROSSINGS.

IN a recent editorial dealing with railway crossing fatalities, a Wan- - ganui paper said “the red roll of railway tragedies is a tiiagio record of the incompetence or callousness of the authorities in regard to ensuring the safety of the public ” Thi s is a very serious statement to make, but it is one that we think will not re-1 ceive general support. It is true that numerous fatalities Rave occurred at level crossings, but we do not remember any case in which the kuthorities could be accused of callousness. The crossings exist, and unfortunately many of them must exist in their present form for a long period, and that being so motor drivers must take adeauate precautions. Though it- seems absurd to have to state it, is is nevertheless a fact, that in order for a car to be wrecked at a crossing it must be on the railway line when the train conies along, but the way some) people talk leaves the impression that they are of opinion it is forced to get into such a postion merely to add a spice of variety to the otherwise hum drum existence of the train crew. Our local Magistrate, Mr R- W. late, S.M., once said that if the ordinary rules of the road were obeyed there would bo few if any motor accidents. The same applies to crossing fatalities.lf motorists would take adequate precautions land see that no train wavs approaching before they negotiate a crossing, accidents could not happen.. There is nothing, more to it. Of course there are decidedly dangerous crossings, hut an endeavour is being made by the Government in conjunction with local authorities to improve these in a number of cases. They cannot all be done at once, the state of the public purse being the deciding factor. It is necessary for crossings to be tnhde as safe as possible, and every endeavour should ho exercised in this- direction, but motorists have responsibilities which must he shouldered 1 .