New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-09
Grade Crossing Safeguards
Need of Safe and Sane. Uniform
Highway Signal System

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: Embarrassing collisions be-
tween trains and automobiles are al
most always attended by fatalities.
! The recent disaster at South Amboy
has brought further attempts to over
come these deplorable accidents by
aiming first at the railroads. The let
ter by John Francis in The Tribune,
July 6. says a word for the railroad
when he states: "But say not word
about reducing the speed of automo-
biles."
A locomotive and train. or multiple
unit train, is confined to a certain
right of way by the track over which
it is driven. An automobile is hardly
ever obliged to follow any particulas
right Of way,
How carefully the autoist would APP
proach railroad if he thought for
moment that the locomotive might,
without any sign or warning, swing
around corner and crash into his car.
The train, in addition to being guided
in definite and limited private right
Of way by the rails, is governed by
rigid train orders, speed regulations.
automatic and manual signals, and is
protected in its journey by crossing
gates, fagmen, crossing alarm bells
and large cross-boards at each highway
painted white and bearing large black
letters to warn the highway traveller.
All unfiagged crossings are warned Of
trains approach by the familiar two
long and two short blasts Of the loco
motive whistles.
Men who drive locomotives serve
long and hard apprenticeship as fire.
men before they are advanced to the
right side of the cab. They must sue
cessfully pass a rigid physical exami-
nation and an eyesight and hearing
test, and are recalled for these tests
every three years. In addition to the
physical qualifications, they must pass
satisfactory examinations and have
practical working knowledge of the 10
connective boiler, engine and machinery,
the air brake, the Book Of Rules and
the signal system. 1t usually takes 8
man three to five years to advance -
the grade of engineer, and after he is
promoted his first runs over the divi-
sion are made under the careful guild
ance of pilot engineer, travelling engl-
neer or road foreman OF engines.
Now about the automobile operator
What qualifications is he required TO
possess? How does he advance to the
grade? AS we all know more or less
about the superficial nature Of the ex-
animation for auto driver as given in
most of the states, it is hardly neces-
sary to go into detail here.
When We realize that a huge locomc-
tive and its train of passenger or
freight cars, as the case may be, is
governed while on the road by senls-
phore signals mounted on masts or
gantries, or in yards and terminals by
dwarf or pot signals, we shudder when
we observe automobiles deliberately
speed past signs four feet square
warning them Of busy crossings, dan
gerous grades or bad curves, disre-
garding railroad crossing signs ana
changing gongs.
No form of crossing gates could pro-
tect such autoists. What Is to be hoped
for is safe and sane highway signal
system adopted by all of the states, q
uniform set of examinations for quail
tication as operator and proper penal
ties for the violation Of highway rules
signals and driving regulations.
The growth of the automobile indus
try has been far beyond the means Of
regulating automobile travel, but the
safety first movement will gradually
come to the front and greatly mias-
mize careless driving, with consequent
reduction in the number of fatal acci-
dents. WILLIAM A. LYNCH.
Mineola, N. Y, July Z, 1921.