THE PASSING SHOW.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16747, 13 March 1926, Page 11 (Supplement)

THE PASSING SHOW.

COMMENT AND CRITICISM. (By "Free Lanoe,”) In a recent statement regarding the Bailway Department’s efforts to minimise the dangers of level crossings the secretary of the Railway Board, after detailing the experiments already made and yet to he carried out with various warning signal devices, summed up the position as follows: “The Department is always on the defensive in this matter, but the fact remains that the Department is doing everything it can to protect the public against themselves and at the same time to carry on its work as a transport organisation. It cannot stop the limited express to let a man drive past in his buggy.” And this, despite the outcry which periodically follows some ban accident at a railway crossing, is, one. feels inclined to admit, putting tho case very fairly. There is no room for argument regarding Hie danger of many of these crossings, inasmuch as there is a risk of even careful drivers being caught at some of them if their vigilance slackens in the slightest degree. It will also be conceded that at many danger spots the roadway would have been taken across the rails in a different manner when they were first laid had it been possible to foresee laterday developments in the volume and speed of vehicular traffic due to motor propelled conveyances. But even as things are, road drivers would not often be caught by a train if they paid due regard to the warning notices erected at level crossings; at all events not during the daylight hours. Tiierc should be less risk of collision when driving a mechanically propelled vehicle than in a horse-drawn one, seeing that n achinery is not subject to fright, whereas a horse is, and under the influence of fear may take matters temporarily under its own control despite the efforts of the reinsman. Yet motor vehicles manage to be hit far more frequently than did horse-drawn ones even when they were the sole means of conveyance in this country.

The root cause of the trouble seems to be the practical impossibility of making anything absolutely foolproof. If drivers, in the interest of their own safety will not lake every precaution when about to negotiate level crossings, then of a surety accidents will continue to happen. Primarily the onus of looking after their personal safety lies upon their own shoulders. As the secretary of the Railway Board pointed out with regard to warning devices it is essential that these should be as nearly as possible 100 per cent mechanically efficient, for, should a moving sign of ar y type fail to operate, the road user, who had become accustomed to heeding its warning, might be led to disaster. This is the soundest of sense, as any unbiased users of the roads must admit. Probably there arc some motorists who would be unwilling to concede even this, but they arc of the class whom one has seen endeavour to sneak over the Victoria Street crossing behind the keeper's back whilst a train was approaching. Such people s- pm to regard Departmental precautions and restrictions merely as a source of annoyance, and deserve little sympathy if disaster overtakes them.

The ideal, of course, would be to do away with level crossings altogether, but the cost of this in New Zealand has been, according to Mr C. M. Banks, when speaking at a meeting of the North Island Motor Association, estimated at between kb,000,000 and £1,000,000. Mr Banks pointed out mat the Railway Department could net do the work from its own funds unless it was lo be run at a big loss, and be suggested a yearly tax of ;>s upon motorist $ (estimated to produce £'.7,000 annually) as their contribution towards the cost. But the meeting would not agree lo suggest any further lax upon motorists, and merely sent forward a memorandum urging tiso Railway Department or the Government lo provide separate grades at busy level pressings or where a char view of Hie line is not obtainable. As usual, nobody wants to pay—the Government ct.ght to do that. Which 11 cans that even hedy lias lo help irrespective of tiow much or how little they are upon the roads. Meanwhile Ihose who use the faculties Providence endowed them with will probably escape damage at level crossings, and tin se who don’t may run into it, in winch case innocent occupants of the vehicles will in many eases suffer for the drivers' lack of rare.

When all is .-.aid and done, crossings are not Ihe chief danger on the roads in New Zealand to-day. The careful motorist stands very much more risk of being hit by some speed tie ml, ci:•> liken, or otherwise incapable driver oil Hie roads than lie does of corning into collision with a railway engine. Qirte apart from level crossing mishaps, I lie appalling frequency of motor accidents lately shows ttiat some no (hod of elT'cling an improvement fcbculd be earnestly sought. Many 11 ere or less tragic occurrences in this c uncclioii are, of course, due lo unavoidable causes, but the fact remains Pa t far 100 many may he traced to drunkenness or reckless disregard for the safety of oiliers. Obviously some extensive change'in Hie mental characteristics of many motorists will lie fi’i essnry ore much betterment can lie expected, hut how to bring this about is not equally apparent.

Certainly the lot cf a man convicted of drunkenness whilst in charge of a ear lias lately been rendered fairly thorny by the Mag.slral.es by whom ll.e eases have been heard. Rut this, alUr all, is very 'title better than shutting (he stable door after ttie horse, has vanished. As a general rule the intoxicated driver penalised lias hit something or somebody, and the damage lias been dene. The problem, one ventures to say, should be tackled at Iho other end—that is to say, before Iho driver ran become drunk. A person whilst in r.o.argo of a motor vehicle should he compelled to wear an official biPlon or badge, of some sort anil he liable, to 1 fine if driving without that budge openly displayed upon his fVPliing. Aral whilst wearing ttiat badge he lion id he. ipse facto, a pro--11:1 >'! 1• < 1 person, and liable lo punishment if lie takes alcoholic liquor at all t irrespective of his sobriety or otherwise), while any person supplying him e.i'.h any alcoholic liquor whilst wearing I lie badge shoi.’hl become equally liable. Such regulations, drastically .■l;forced, wnuiq in all probability save more damage annually than is done at aii New Zealand level crossings.