LEVEL CROSSINGS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20099, 1 December 1930, Page 15

LEVEL CROSSINGS.

NEW SIGNALS FOR ROAD USERS. IX OPERATION FROM TO-DAY. From to-day the green flag which the railway crossing-keeper waved by doy ana the «reen light which he used by night to control traffic will disappear from all level crossings in New Zealand. Instead the keeper will be provided with a sian painted yellow, with the warning "Stop" shown on both sides in letters of glass. At night these letters will be illuminated by the lights of motor vehicles approaching the crossing. Where keepers are permanently in charge of crossing** they will each be given on© of these new signs, which will be the recognised signal, both by day and by night. The road-user who sees the warning displayed will know that he has to stop. But the keeper will also havo a red flag by day and a red light by night, either of which lie may use to warn and hold up approaching traffic, though it is expected that this method will be resorted to only in cases of emergency, or where something has happened to the "Stop ' sign. On the red being displayed the engine-driver* would also stop the train.

In the case of crossings where a keeper is not permanently stationed, but which are under the care of shunters or other officers; during movements of trains, the signal to the road-user to pull up will be, by day, tb*i holding up of the hand, and, by night, the display of a red light, which will be made by a hand signallamp. Thus, while at the main crossings the "Stop" sign in yellow will be the warning, the user of the road must not forget that at any crossing at all whera red is displayed lie must stop. That is important Change of Attitude The new system represents a complete change of attitude on the part of the Railway Department towards the control u1" traffic at level crossings. Formerly it was really the train which was signalled, not the user of the road, the display of the green flag or light denoting to the engine : driver that the way was clear for him to proceed, lload-users, seeing this signal in green —usuallv the sign of safety—wero apt to think that the way was clear for them, when what it really meant was that there was danger ahead for them. All illio ic r»linr>erprl. t.hnt now it will be the road-nser_ who is signalled am] the formor illogical position will bo done away with, for now the signals will mean what thev any. Officers of the Railway Department advise motorists to exercise care until they become familiar with the new signals, but they are so simple thai no ycrir.us confusion is anticipated.