RAILWAY CROSSINGS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CI, Issue 15397, 14 July 1914, Page 9

RAILWAY CROSSINGS.

SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC. JUDGES AND THE REGULATIONS. "Hoiv can ;i man see a '.ruin approaching half a- mile away if tin.- viiA'v of iv is obstructed from a- crossing,-'' asked Mr Justice Cooper in the- Appeal Court at AYolliugton. during argument in tho 31 iirton "ease. .Broad v. tlio Crown. Mr .Justice Cooper was referring to certain legal precautions laid down as necessary to be observed by persons crossing tho , railway line. . Air Justice. Edwards observed that in 99 oases out of 100 hi New Zealand tho views at level crossings were obstructed. "The crossings,'" lie said.

"seem to have been constructed at curves and comers.'' The Alar ton ciossing was ti particularly bad one. Mr Justice Denniston said tho »precautions would amply preserve life ii : duly carried out. that is, if each person riding n. motor-cycle, or anything else, dismounted, and had a look along tho lino to s,oe if anything was approaching. Tie did. nob say this was reasonable, but if a person choose to take overy precaution, though under the law it may not be his duty to do so, this precaution would ensure his safety. Mr Justice Edwards: If this were done by all persons where crossings are in- the main' streets of -a town, as at Paimerston North and Marton. traffic .would- be-repeatedly stopped and disorganised. Mr Justice- "Oounistomi: "What I mean is that if the maximum amount of earo he taken to avoid being killed, no man need bo killed. Sir Robert ' Stout: It came, about after this accident that at Paimerston and oilier places where tho lino traverses the town speed was reduced to .ten miles per hour. The Solicitor-General: It might ha reasonable to reduce speed in a town but if it had to bo done at all crossings it would disorganise railway tvaffis. His Honour: You could not carry it out. A few minutes later Mr Justice Edwards, who himself rides a motor-cycle f.aid that sometimes it seemed that the Safest way to get over railway crossings was to go as fast as vou could. (Laugh-'-teri.V ■•■..- ....."The section.of the Act referred to by Tbeirl Honours and the, Solicitor-Gene-ral lays down that all 'right of access to a railway crossing shall cea.se when a railway.engine or carriage is approach"ing to within a dista'neo of half a. mil'e. Another section of the law directs ■ that a■-.person shall _ stop -and lopk to see if a train is withuThalf a mile.