The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-05-25
Reduction in Crossing Acct
dents Shown This Spring,
According to Committees
Report, But This Is Attrib-
uted to Road Conditions
During First Four Months
More Caution Urged

Minot, N. D., May 25.--iP,-Rcduc-
ton of grade crossing accidents this
spring in comparison with preceding
years may be laid to bad roads
rather than to more care on the part
Of automobile drivers, Fay Harding,
state railroad comm ssiOner, told the
state safety council here today.
Presenting the report Of the com
mittce on grade crossings, Harding
said there were 80 grade crossing
accidents in North Dakota in 1926
as compared with 80 in 1925. From
the 81 accidents in 1926 there were
80 injuries. % less than in 1925, and
IL fatalities. two less than in 1925
"Ovcr 28-month period ending
April 80, 1927, our records show that
in accidents in which 72 vehicles
driven by 81 men and five women
were involved. there were "a in
jurics and &c fatalities Harding
said. 1.-TWO of the vehicles ran down
the crossing flagman. Sixteen, or 81
per cent. of these vehicles were
driven into the side of train and
81 were struck by trains.
One Fatality This Year
"Of these ~ accidents 81 occurred
in broad daylight and Is after dark
There has been one grade crossing
fatality SO far this year 1t oc.
CURED May 2 and is not shown in
this report. This accident occurred
in broad daylight, ut an open cross
ing where the train could be seen 70,
at least one -half mile.
"ln the first four months of 1926
there were four accidents, involving
four injuries. In the corresponding
four months Of 1926 there were /:
accidents, involving Is injuries and
five deaths. Possibly the improve.
ment of 1927 over 1926 should BE-
credited to the wcatherman as during
the greater portion Of the first four
months of 1927 the highways were
almost impossible. Possibly the
drivers Of the motor vehicles were
riding on the train instead Of run.
ming into the train"
Characterizing the 1925 stop
crossing law as toothless, Harding
said new law permitting the rail.
road board to close crossings where
such action seemed advisable might
go long way toward eliminating
grade crossings and reducing TIL,
grade crossing hazard.
The only safe grade crossing il
| one that doesn't exist, Harding said
Since it is impossible to elminat,
all grade crossings because Of tn
expense. another remedy must b
! found at least for temporary use, tn
.speaker said. He gave better engi
neering and education Of the publ
as these remedies.
BY changing the trend Of dcns
traffic in laying out main highwa
arteries and thus avoiding grad
crossings the engineers can do thei
share, he said. Adequate and uni
form warning signs properly located
were given as other engineering aid
to safety.
Improperly Marked
In some parts of the state, he said
railroad crossings arc marked by an
cient crossarms on posts IA to
feet high. "Thesc arc more properl
warning signs for aviators than TO
the modern highway vehicle, Hard
ing said. "Thesc signs should b
brought on a level with the cross
ing. Wherever possible trees, build
ings. snow fences or other obstruc
tions to the view of the driver shout
be removed. The locomotive warn
ing whistle should terminate at O