Evening journal., 1916-12-05
Grade crossing
ST PS Discussed
Railroad Commissioners May
Determine Where Motor
iSt Should Halt
APPROPRIATE
SIGNS ARE NEEDED

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Dec. 5. ~
When shall an operator Of motor
vehicle be compelled 10 come 20 a full
stop at a railroad crossing at grade
was the question which occupied the
most consideration in the recent con
ference at WaAhingtOn, participated
IN by representative of the National
Association of Railway Commission
ers. the American Automobile Asso-
ciatlon and the American Railway As
sOciation
The meeting had as its purpose the
country-wide adoption OF q uniform
system OF signals and other precau-
tionary measures, it being set forth
that zone sign should signify the
same thing everywhere, installed so
as 20 be in plain view of the driver
Of a vehicle and so that II could be
plainly read at night by automobile
headlights"
Unanimlty existed as 10 the type Of
first warning sign 10 be erected by
city. town or county. and also that
n should be located not less than 300
feet from a crossing. But the full
stop proposition came I'm for much
discussion. Chairman Osborne l. yell
lott OF the A. A. A. Legislative Board,
thus presents the contention Of the
motorists
CROSSINGS Made Safer.
.It was realized by the a. A. A. rep-
resentatves. who included President
II. NJ Rowe. that while the number OF
accidents at grade crossings was al
most Infinitely small in comparison
with the number OF such crossings
made safely by motorists during the
course of a year. nevertheless some
steps should be taken TO minimize ac-
cidents TO the smallest possible de-
gree. Two propositions were sug-
eosted by the spokesmen OF the rail-
roads the FIRST providing that within
100 feet Of the crossing the motor We
hicles should not proceed at a rate
Of speed greater than 10 miles per
hour. and the second that the motor
vehicle should be brought TO a full
stop not less than 10 feet from the
nearest rail OF the crossing.
.sThe first suggestion was objected
10 on tho ground that Il was unrea-
sonnhie and would tend 10 give rise
70 the maintenance Of obnoxious
speed traps az such crossings, with
the resulting inconvenience and in
Justice to many motorists who we're,
I'm fact. exercising all proper caution
IN approaching the crossings IN ques-
ton. The second was objected te
mainly on the ground that II was I'M
reasonable to require motorists u
stop at an crossings regardless. since
in many instances the tracks IN eithel
direction are visible for such dis
tances as TO make stopping entirely
unnecessary. II was finally agree
that motorists should he required q
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 10 determine
the crossings at which IL was rca-
sonably necessary that stops be
made: such fun stop crossings 20 be
designated by appropriate signs, and
the failure of motorist to stop al
such to be prima facie evidence that
he had not proceeded cautiously IN
making such crossing
Hull Stop Optional.
"ln making this latter concession
the representatives of the motorist.
realized that there are some grade
crossings az which ordinary prudenc'
requires a full stop. and that mas
much as conditions vary SO much a
this class Of crossing. il would be bet