“STOP, LOOK, LISTEN”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 85, 1 July 1927, Page 14

“STOP, LOOK, LISTEN”

TOLL OF LEVEL-CROSSING PENALTY OF NEGLECT (From Our Resident Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. It is the claim of the New Zealand Railway Board —however extravagant it may appear to the general public—that every level-crossing accident recorded has been the result of a breach of the law by the. motorist. Upon analysis this does not appear in the light of such an extravagant claim for, as the board points out in its message through the Railways Magazine, in no case has there been an accident where the motorist has stopped, looked and listened before attempting the crossing. During last year, it says, the number of motor vehicle collisions at level-crossings increased from 87 to 116, an increase of 33 per cent. As the number of registered motor vehicles operating increased by only 22 per cent., it will be seen that the position has become worse instead of better. Last year the department ran an extensive “Safety First” campaign by means of advertisements and posters, and the Press of the Dominion devoted much space to impressing on the roadusing public the need for care. Crossing signals, bells, keepers, booms, signs, and warnings of every description are failing everywhere to restrain crossing recklessness. Fortunately two checks have been found effective. One is the action of certain firms in requiring their employees to stop on every occasion before negotiating a crossing; the other is the formation of societies where the members pledge themselves to a like course. The honour called for in keeping a pledge of this kind is likely to do more than anything else among New Zealanders of all classes toward the prevention of crossing accidents.