The sun., 1916-11-26
DISCUSS The GRADE
CROSSING MENACE
A. A. A. Interested in PROPOSE
ton Of Requiring Full
Stop at Some Points.

SHSlI an opefotOr OF y motor vehicle
I've compelled to come to q full stop at Q
railroad grade crossins7 This question
received the most consideration in the
recent conference at Washington par
ticipated in by Representatives Of the
National Association of Railway COM
m%issioners. the American Automobile
Association and the American Railway
Association.
The meeting had as It's purpose the
adoption OF a uniform system Of sig
nails and other precautionary measures.
II was set forth that "one sign should
signify the same thing everywhere, in
stalled 80 - TO be in plain view Of the
driver Of = vehicle and 30 that II could
be plainly read at night by automobile
headlights
Unanimity existed as to the type of
hrst warning sign to be erected by city.
be located not less than 500 feet from a
crossing. But the full stop proposition
came In for much discussion. Chair
man Osborne I. Yellott Of the A. A. A.
legislative board thus presents the con-
tention Of the motorists:
1T was realized by the A. A. A. rep
resentatives. who included President III.
VI. Rowe. that while the number OF ac-
cidents at grade crossings was almost
infinitesimally small In comparison with
the number OF such crossings made safely
by motorists during the course Of n
year. nevertheless some steps should he
taken to minimize accidents to the
smallest possible degree. Two PROPOSE
tons were suggested by the spokesman
-. the railroads. the first providing that
within 100 feet OF the crossing he mo-
t6r vehicle should not proceed At a rate
OF speed greater than ten miles an
hour. and the second that the motor
vehicle should be brought to a full stop
nor less than ten feet from the nearest
rail of the crossing.
'The first suggestion was objected to
IN the ground that II was unreasonable
and would tend to give rise to the main
tenance Of obnoxious speed traps at such
crossings. with resulting inconvenience
and injustice to many motorists who
were. In fact. exercising all proper eau
ton in approaching the crossings IN
question. The second was objected TO
mainly on the ground that Il was unrea-
sons bic to require motorists to stop at
all crossings regardless. since In many
Instances the tracks In either direction
are visible for such distances as to make
stopping entirely unnecessary. 1t was
finally agreed that motorists should be
required to reduce speed and proceed
cautiously at all crossings. and that the
public service commissions or railroad
commissions of the several States should
have the power to determine the cross
ings TT which II was reasonably neces-
sary that stops be made. such full stop
crossings TO he designated by a%ppropri-
ate signs. and the failure of a motorist
TO stop at such to be prima facie evil
dence that he had not proceeded cau-
tiously in making such crossing.
In making this latter concession the
tives of the motorists realized
that there are some grade crossings. at
which ordinary prudence requires a full
stop. and that inasmuch as conditions
vary go much at this class OF crossing
II would be better to leave the determi.
nation Of such 20 responsible bodies such
as public service commissions"
While the complete proposed bill ten
t~atively agreed upon by the participants
in the three cornered conference was not
adopted BY the National Association of
Railway Commissioners. In their subse-
auent general gathering. approval was
given TO the seven propositions put for
ward in resolutions adopted at Chicago
in June las, by the special grade cross
inSs committee OF the American Rail-
way Association and n similar commit
tee from the railway commissioners
These proposals set forth the need OF
uniformity and also describe the sir OF
sign and its location. In approving tho
report Of It's committee on grade cross
ings and t~respassing or railroads the
railway commissioners recommended 10
the several state commissions the SUBJ
mission TO legislatures Of whatever bills
NAV I've necessary 'to nut said commit
tees recommendations into effect. to the
end that pending the separation Of
grades. which We regard as the nnal
objective. uniform and effective protec-
ton may be provided At grade cross
ings IN the several States.'
Speaking for the motorists orEaniza-
ton Chairman Yellott infers that the
full stop proposal will be combated ex-
cept under me plan which he sets forth.