096/97

The Land Transport Safety Act 1993 requires the LTSA to undertake activities that promote safety in land transport at reasonable cost. The LTSA may not establish safety standards unless the value of the benefits to the nation exceed the costs. The discussion document "Road Signs and Markings for Railway Level Crossings" issued by the LTSA for consultation in February 1994 proposed a minimum level of treatment to be provided at any level crossing (public or private). The consultation and evaluation failed to establish that the project could meet the reasonable cost requirement. Regulation 124(1) of the Traffic Regulations 1976 states that every controlling authority shall erect such warning signs before a level crossing as it considers necessary to inform drivers of the level crossing and to promote safe responses from drivers approaching and crossing the level crossing. The Traffic Regulations make no distinctions based on ownership of level crossings; obligations upon owners depend on public usage. Regulation 124(1) applies to level crossings which are used by the public. The 4th Schedule of the Traffic Regulations 1976 specified the signs which may be used. The manual of Traffic Signs and Markings issued jointly by Transit New Zealand and the LTSA contain a recommended minimum treatment for level crossings used by the public, where annual average daily traffic is below 50 vehicles. The Traffic Regulations 1976 require new signs to be in place by 31 December 2000. The LTSA considers implementation by road controlling authorities and rail operators of the new signs and markings at all public crossings to be the highest priority at present and any extension subsequently to private crossings would be at the discretion of individual roading authorities.