LEVEL-CROSSING RISKS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 823, 18 November 1929, Page 16

LEVEL-CROSSING RISKS

REDUCING THE DANGERS VISIBILITY AND WARNINGS Special to TUB SVN WELLINGTON, Sunday. By improvement in visibility and by the erection of warning devices more rapid progress can be made in reducing the dangers of level-crossings than by endeavouring to eliminate the hazards altogether. Following this policy the Main i Highways Board hopes to reduce the | risks of accident at these danger i spots within a reasonable time. The j hoard lias been in close touch with ! the Railway Department during the j past year. The board’s annual report indicates that both the department and board are prepared to continue to make reasonable sums available for the elimination and improve-1 ment of level-crossings, but the cost of j elimination is so great that only ai very few crossings can be dealt with annually. IMMEDIATE BENEFIT "It is agreed,” says the report, "that it would be advisable to consider the question of diverting a substantial proportion of the capital expenditure toward carrying out improvements in visibility, and the installation of automatic warning devices at a large number of railway crossings. Such a change in policy during the next year or two would confer much greater immediate benefit upon users of the road than by devoting the whole of the available funds to elimination work. “There are a great number of crossings throughout the country where the expenditure of a moderate sum could he devoted to the removal of obstructions on railway property, on the roadway and on private land, resulting in ; greatly improved visibility and a pro- ] portionate reduction in danger to the road user." The attitude of the Main Highways Board toward these suggestions, as far as the main highways are concerned, is summarised as follows: (1) Where it is necessary for the improvement of the view at a crossing to remove obstructions on railway property the board is unable to make any contribution. j (2.) Where it is necessary to remove ; any obstruction on the roadway for the | purpose of obtaining an improvement ; to visibility the board will, in conjunc- ; tion with the local authorities, provide i the necessary cost. BEARING THE COST (3) In cases where it is necessary to take private land for the purpose cf carrying out improvements to visibility the board is prepared to bear half the cost with the Railways Department. The board will negotiate with the local bodies in respect to any contribution which it thinks should be made by them. (4) The board is prepared to bear 50 per cent, of the cost of the installation of automatic warning devices, and 50 per cent, of the annual cost of their maintenance. It is also considered necessary by both the Railways Department and the Main Highways Board that there should be power to enter upon private property for the purpose of removing obstructions adjacent to level-cross-ings, without going to the extent of taking land, but at the present time there is no enabling statutory authority.