No railroad company, railroad engineer, railroad conductor, or any other person operating or in control of the movement of any railroad train or locomotive shall cause or permit any locomotive, railroad car, train of railroad cars or any portion thereof to obstruct any intersection between a railroad and public street so as to prevent any person or vehicle from crossing the railroad tracks at such intersection for a period longer than five (5) minutes, except in cases of unavoidable emergencies or impossibility due to the length of such train while moving at a reasonable speed, in which cases notice shall be given at each such crossing by the engineer, conductor or other employee of the railroad company of such delay by means of a handheld sign clearly visible to the waiting motorists or pedestrians that such locomotive, railroad car, train or portion thereof will be delayed for more than five (5) minutes at such crossings. (Prior code title 46, art. 16 § 263)