Evening star., 1927-11-11
Supreme Court Rule on Grade
Crossings Stirs Wide Opinion

| grade crossings. 1t has declared in
| general terms what the courts hence
| forth shall consider due precaution on
| the part of the motorist. The distinc-
| ton ought to be apparent. But if the
| Supreme Courts opinion Is ambigu-
| Gus or leaves room for dangerous in
| terpretations, it ought to be clarified
| by the court. This newspaper pro-
tests against the implication that this
| decision relieves the railroads Of their
share in responsibility for safety at
grade crossings. or that 1t offers
either the railroad or the public any
excuse to dodge their joint obligation
for abating the grade crossing 5
menace"
Yet, asks the Milwaukee Journal:
'Will it not serve to cause the rail-
roads to be less diligent in their ef-
forts to end crossing accidents and 10
develop crossing protection? What
would be the status of a case, if
motorist climbed out of his car, de-
cided that he had a clear track and
then a train came around a bend and
hit him as he drove upon the cross
ing? 1t looks as though, under this
ruling, the only time the railroad
could be liable would be when the
engine jumped the track and ran
down the road after the motorist."
And the San Bernardino Sun re-
marks, IF the railroads are no longer
interested to the point of correcting
such situations with lessened speed
and other precautions. we are fearful
OF what the results will be-
Similar suggestions come from the
Miami Daily News. MANY railway
crossings are left with the view from
the highway unnecessarily obstruct.
ed, says the Florida paper Some
OF these instances are so obvious as 10
be almost criminal. In many cases
the quaptity of traffic over a crossing
would justify the use of gates or sig
nal lights where no such thing is pro
vided. The Supreme Court decision
does not absolve the railways from oh
legations in these respects. The pos
slbllitles in the way of effective auto
matte crossing signals have not been
exhausted
On the other hand, the South Bend
Tribune. mentioning safeguards al
ready adopted, expresses the view that
1t Is unlikely that the railroads will
interpret the ruling as an excuse for
FAILURE to reduce hazards at less I'M
portant crossings"
Many newspapers look forward to
ducing the number of grade crossings.
The decision cannot but be a great
stimulus to this movement" accord
ing to the New York Evening World.
The San Antonio Express notes that
the opinion upholds the States stop
laws, which. though failing to prevent
or even greatly reduce Embarrassing
accidents. have the merit of fixing the
responsibility on the motorist.''
The opinion, as explained bv the
Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, is .'only
an application Of the principle of due
care which is as old as the law" and
that paper also AYERS that "as mat
ter OF public policy, railroad grade
crossings should be eliminated wher.
ever practicable and more effective
means of warning and protection
should be installed" The Chicago
Daily News says that track eleya.
tion will continue, one must think. if
governing bodies negotiate in the right
spirit with the railroads affected, dis.
play reasonable firmness and pass
fair ordinances, specifying the terms
of the improvements"