Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-29
CROSSING SAFETY
MEASURES DEFINED
Speed Limit of Is Miles Is
Favored Where View of
Tracks Is Distracted.

way Safety as an essential precaution
in preventing accidents at these places.
If the obstruction to view is extreme
or there is other unusual danger, the
conference favors a complete stop be-
fore entering on the tracks.
If the operator of the vehicle can see
the tracks for 400 feet or more in both
at the crossing Is indicated by the con-
ference. The reckless-driving penalty,
in the view of the conference, should be
enforced against drivers who pass over
crossings at speeds in excess of IS miles
an hour.
Crossings should not be entered upon
at any time, according to the confer
ence, until the vehicle operator has ex-
ercised due precaution and has definite
assurance that train Is not approach
Ing from either direction.
New Crossings Increase.
In considering the crossing problem
che conference pointed out that, not
withstanding the work of eliminating
grade crossings, the expenditure for
which has averaged $50 000, 900 a year
Tor the last three years, the number of
new crossings is increasing faster than
others are being removed by viaducts or
underpasses. In 1928 there we're 1900
crossings were opened to traffic.
While the accidents at crossings have
remained at slightly less than 5000 q
year since 1925 and there has not been
an appreciate increase in the number
OF deaths per year at such places, still
the number of deaths in 1929 was
2,485 and 6,804 others were injured.
The situation is such that the con-
terence urgently declared that protec-
zion OF crossings through more adequate
signs, signals and markings, as we'll as
greater safety precautions by vehicle
drivers, are essential to reducing this
phase of the accident toll.
In considering the elimination OF
crossings, the conference said:
Elimination of railway grade cross
1ngs, either by relocation of highway:
or rail lines or by grade separation
which constitutes the only perfect solu.
ton OF the problem, should be carried
on under q proper program. First fol
elimination should be the most danger.
Gus crossings on thoroughfares carrying
heavy traffic.
Program Is Proposed.
THE program should have due regard
20 the relative costs and ADVANTAGES Of
grade crossing elimination and other
methods of protection and should be
given the most thorough joint consider
atlon by proper authority. In laying
out new highways or railroads or relo.
eating existing highways or railroads
grade crossings should be avoided OF
eliminated whenever feasible.
In eliminating grade crossings, mar
row or obstructed underpasses and
sharp turns in the approaches, should
be avoided. Authority to order grade
separations or proper protection al
grade crossings should be vested in the
commission having jurisdiction over the
railways, and this commission should
also determine the proper division OF
costs between the railroads and the pub
lie in States where this Is not prede-
termined by State law.
The State highway department OF
other highway authorities should plan the
improvement and initiate the proceed
1ngs Tor all highways under their juris-
dtction. Time is an essential element
and prompt decision should be pro-
vided for in the law"
OF the 100000 grade crossings in the
United States, 205, 1888 are protected by
nxed signs, 5,707 have crossing gates
1887 are provided with crossing watch
men, 1904 have visible and audible sig
mails. 1885 have visible signals only
4,572 have audible signals only and
&,s41 have no signs or markings at all.
The conference stated, that in order
b facilitate the prompt arrangement OF
more adequate protection at crossings
there should be a fair division of the
costs, including the elimination of OBJ
StructionS to view and other hazards,
between the State or county govern
ments and the railroads. The confer
ence said:
Protection of railway grade crossings
should include reduction of physical
hazards and the installation of special
protective measures.
Reducing physical hazards to a
minimum requires a practically level
and smooth highway surface over the
tracks for at least Is feet and preferably
so feet on each side: approach on grades
not exceeding 4 or 5 per cent; widening
the roadway at crossings; avoidance of
sharp turns and functions within $50
feet; avoidance of standing railroad
cars; parked highway vehicles or other
temporary obstacles, and removal of
banks, trees shrubs, standing crops,
buildings, billboArds or other permanent
obStructions to sufficient view; special
care where artificial lighting of crossings
Is practicable to locate the lights so as
to illuminate the fixed signs without
glare interfering with visibility"
Standard Signs Advised.
The conference recommended that
each crossing should be provided with
standard fixed signs, as follows:
l. An advance sign at each highway
approach; in addition, on hard surfaced,
heavy travelled highways, and where
railroad traffic Is fast or frequent, the
standard form of pavement markings
approved by the American Association
OF State Highway Ofncials.
2. II the view of the track Is not OBJ
etructed and no special hazard exists,
q 25-mile speed sign; If the view is OBJ
Structed, q 15-mile speed sign; and If
due TO extreme limitation of view or
other special hazard the proper author
lty has designated the crossing as one
at which all vehicles must stop. a
standard stop sign; where the speed or
stop sign cannot be seen sufficiently in
advance, standard slow sign in adj
vance of the stop sign.
8. At all crossings a standard railroad
cross-buck sign carrying indication OF
the number of tracks in the case of
multiple tracks.
At crossings where the movement of
trains Is frequent, the conference be-
lieves that other means should be pro-
vided to give warning to the vehicle
driver. Such warnings, the conference
said, should consist of: Automatic train
approach signals of either wig-wag or
flashing lights, or manually controlled
yates, signals or Waterman where fire.
uuent switching movements, or short
ness of intervals between trains, require
more prompt indications and clearances
OF the crossing.
RurrOs EnnIOved