The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-01-06
TO CONTINUE
SAFE CROSSING
EFFORT IN n. D.
Railroad Commission AnnOun.
ces Plans For Campaign
During Year 1925
COOPERATION SOUGHT

Cooperation of the public in a
campaign for the prevention of ac-
cdents at railroad grade crossings
is sought by the board of railroad
commissioners. In Il statement on
the subject. the board today said:
ut is the intention Of the Board
OF Railroad Commits Sioners to con-
tinue throughout the year 1925, it's
campaign for the prevention of ac-
cidents at railroad grade crossings.
We have abundant evidence that
our previous campaigns have brought
gratifying results, but we cannot
cease our work until all crossings
are made safe for the use Of the
public and accidents have been at
least reduced to minimum.
"The success of the safety cam
pa!gns may be attributed to the
fact that we have received the CO.
operation of the press, and also the
railroad themselves. The publicity
received ut the hands of the news
papers has assisted in arousing
drivers of vehicles to the necessity
for exercising care when approach
ing railroad crossings, so that we
have also had the splendid cooper
alton of persons most vitality con-
cerned.
"rhe State Highway Commission,
in conjunction with the railroads,
has eliminated many crossings by
relocating roads and in many eases
separating the grades by the con-
struction of overhead or under
ground crossings.
Making Crossings Safe
"Naturally when we speak Of max
ing crossings safe for the use of
the public, the first thought that
suggests itself is that the crossing
should be eliminated. When it is
remembered that there are over
$500 railroad grade crossings in
North Dakota, and new crossings be-
ing established annually, it will be
seen that it is impractical to i'm
mediately eliminate all crossings by
grade separation. Not only would
1T require years to complete the
work, but the expense of construct
ing the passes would bankrupt the
railroads. We believe that the only
positive cure for the crossing evil is
the elimination of the crossing, and
that the work of elimination should
go forward as rapidly as possible,
but in the meantime there are many
practical measures which, if gener-
ally adopted, will result in great
saving of lives and property.
There is diversity Of opinion as
to what constitutes dangerous
crossing. The generally accepted
opinion is that crossing, the view
OF which is obstructed by trees,
buildings or cuts, is the most dan
gerous. This phase of the. problem
was discussed at some length at the
Annual Convention Of the National
Association Of Railroad Commission
crs, held last month and attended
by two members of this Commissi on
1t was stated by many commission
ers who are daily investigating
crossing accidents, that actual eX-
perience indicated that most cross
ing accidents occurred at crossings
where a view of approaching trains
could be had for great distances. 1t
is significant to note that this is
true Of accidents occurring in North
Dakota. Where the view is obstruct-
ed it appears that drivers of auto
mobiles and other vehicles will adopt
precautionary methods, such as
slowing down, stopping or shifting
gears, but if view can be had from
either direction, safety methods are
often disregarded.
"This brings to our minds the
fact that accidents at railroad
crossings are not altogether railroad
problems, but are matters in which
the public generally are concerned
This being true, it is the plain duty
of every individual to post himself
as to the causes of such accidents.
"Tbis year 1924 saw the automo.
bile industry make probably it:
greatest strides. Motor driven We.
hicles are rapidly replacing Other
vehicles, thus creating new hazards
4 Statistics show that 80 per cent OF
all crossing accidents involve mo.
tor vehicles. The need of estab
fishing effective precautions i.