FLAT CROSSINGS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1791, 2 July 1913, Page 7

FLAT CROSSINGS.

• D the inadequacy or notices. "Motorist" writes:—A special telegram from Christchurch, published in yesterda/a Dominion, drew attention to risks taken by motorists at railway, crossings. In many cases, the motorist has no desire to take any risks, but coming without, any warning suddenly upon the crossing hi ha 3 not time to pull up and takes the sporting chance 1 and crosses, i Notices actually on the line are useless; in fact, all notices to motorists are_ useless unless they are placed in ft proaunent place some distance from the object of danger. As an. instance, take the crossing at .Tohnsonville on the main Wel-lington-Balmerston Road. Coming to Wellington the motorist comes over a hill and immediately begins to come down the other side at a fair speed. Suddenly he sees the crossing about ten yards in front of him—the trains in either direction are masked—and if it so happens that an express train is passing, tne chance 3 are against the motorist either getting across or pulling up. Motorists who know the Toa/I go warily but, even / so, several people have had narrow escapes at 1 this crossing. : . t . Of course, the careless driver who thrives upon "thrilling escapes" will take little heed of any 1 notice, but the majority of motorists do take heed, and to Cifeguard these, the notices might well o placed in a mora sensible position.