SAFETY FIRST.

Shannon News, 13 May 1927, Page 3

SAFETY FIRST.

INSTRUCTIONS TO ENGINEDRIVERS.

That the majority of accidents at railway level crossings were due to the failure of the engine-driver concerned o blow the locomotive whistle when pproaehing was the contention of a notorist in a communication received by the Wellington' Automobile Club m Monday night. The motorist stated that he was recently on his way to>almerston North and when approaching Mackay’s crossing, near Paekakariki, passed a car within twenty yards of the crossing. “In coming on to the railway line,’ 7 he said, “I noticed a* light on the line whieh I took to be the light of the car behind. To my amazement it was on a fast train, and I managed to pull up within a yard or two of the train. M The writer added that he considered representations should be made to the Department to have engine-drivers instructed to blow a whistle on this crossing. The Mackay crossing should not, in his opinion, continue to exist, but a viaduct should be provided in its place. The secretary (Mr. H. J. Stott) stated that he had brought the matter before the Railway, Board, who had replied that they had given engine-drivers definite instructions as Tegards whistding at crossings. The necessity for a rigid adherence to the instructions had been impressed uppn them.