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Show ii wra. mil FOR THE AUTOMOBILE There Should Be Only One Signal for Specific Things Over All the Country to Be Plainly Read at Night. f When shall an operator of a motor vehicle be compelled to come to a full stop at a railroad 'crossing at grade, was the question winch occupied the most consideration, in the recent conference con-ference at "Washington, participated in by representatives of the National Association of Railway Commissioners, Commission-ers, the American Automobile association, associa-tion, and the American Railway association. asso-ciation. The meeting had as its purpose the country-side adoption of a uniform system of signals and other precautionary precau-tionary measures, it being set forth that "one sign should signify the same thing everywhere, installed so as to be in plaip. view qf the drivgr of a vehicle ve-hicle and so that it could be plainly read at night by automobile head- lights." I Unanimity existed as to the type of) first warning sign to be erected by. city, town, or county, and also that it should be located not less tban 300 feet from a crossing. But the full stop proposition came in for much discussion. discus-sion. Chairman Osborne I. Yellott of the A. A. A. legislative board thus presents pre-sents the contention of the motorists: "It was realized by the A. A. A. representatives, rep-resentatives, who included President H. M. Rowe, that while the number of accidents at grade crossings was almost al-most infinitesimally small In comparison compari-son with the number of such crossings made safely by motorists during the course of a year, nevertheless some steps should be taken to minimize accidents ac-cidents to the smallest possible degree. de-gree. Two propositions were suggested suggest-ed by the spokesmen of the railroads; the first providing that within 100 feet of the crossing the motor vehicles should not proceed at a rate of speed greater than 10 miles per hour; and the second that the motor vehicle should be brought to a full stop not less than 10 feet from the nearest rail of the crossing. "The first suggestion was objected to on the ground that It was unreasonable unreason-able and would tend to give rise to the maintenance of obnoxious speed traps at such crossing, with resulting inconvenience incon-venience and injustice to many motorists motor-ists who were, in fact, exercising all proper caution in approaching the crossings In question. The second was objected to mainly on the ground that it was Unreasonable to require motorists motor-ists to stop at all crossings regardless, 'since In many instances the tracks in either direction are visible for such distances as to make stopping entirely unnecessary. It was finally agreed that motorists should T5e required to reduce speed and proceed cautiously at all crossings, and that the public service commissions or railroad commissions com-missions of the several states should have the power to determine the crossings cross-ings at which it was reasonably necessary neces-sary that stops be made; such full stop crossings to be designated by appropriate ap-propriate signs, and the failure of a motorist to stop at such to be prima facie evidence that he had not proceeded pro-ceeded cautiously in making such crossing:. "In making this latter concession the representatives of the motorists realized that there are some grade crossings at which ordinary prudence requires a full stop, and that inasmuch as conditions vary so much at this class of crossing, it would be better to leave the determination of such j.o responsible re-sponsible bodies such as public service commissions.' While the complete proposed bill tentatively agreed upon by the participants partici-pants in the three-cornered conference was not adopted by the National Association Asso-ciation of Railway Commissioners, in their subsequent general gathering, approval was given to the seven propositions prop-ositions put forward in resolutions adopted at Chicago in June last by the special grade crossings committee of the American Railway association, and a similar committee from the railway commissioners. These proposals set forth the need of uniformity and also describe the kind of sign and its location. In approving ap-proving the report of its committee on grade crossings and trespassing on Railroads, the railway commissioners recommended to the several states commissions the submission to legis-altures legis-altures of whatever bills may be necessary neces-sary "to put said committee's recommendations recom-mendations into effect, to the end that, pending the separation of grades, which we regard as the final objective, objec-tive, uniform and effective protection may be provided at grade crossings in the several states.' Speaking for the motorists' organization, organi-zation, Chairman Yellott infers that the full-stop proposition will be com-batted, com-batted, except under the plan which he sets forth. oo j |
