Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-07-23
Reckless Drivers
To Be Tagged

ber." This is the new order on all
the Oregon lines OF the Southern Pa
cific in connection with the COM
pany's safety movement Whenever
an automobilist whizzes over a grade
crossing dangerously near an ap-
preaching train the engineer leans
out of his cab and gets a glimpse of
the license tag.
Then he reports to his superinten-
dent that automobile No. so-and-so
narrowly escaped accident lat such
and-such a crossing The superin-
tendent looks in his book, finds that
automobile No. so-and-so is owned
by Mr.. Whatshisname, and dictates
pleasant letter. The letter runs
something like this: ..
Dear Sir: On July fourth your
automobile narrowly escaped coll
ision with train twenty-three at the
grade crossing near Spudville. Our
engineer reports that you did not
look to see whether the track was
clear before you started to cross. We
congratulate you upon your escape
from serious accident, butywould call
your attention to the following facts
Then the letter recltes paragraphs
from the rules of safety, tells of the
necessity for grade crossings and
urges cooperation between automo-
bile owner and railroad to cut down
the number of avoidable accidents.
You would be surprised to see
what effect these letters have had
within the last few weeks, since we
have put the system in force" said
Southern Pacific official yesterday.
But 1t has done another thing, too,
and that is to check up our engineers.
One automobile owner to whom we
sent such a letter replied very cour-
teously, admitted he had been at
fault in not looking to see if the track
was clear, but suggested that il the
engineer had blown his whistle or
sounded his bell he would have been
apprised of the trains approach and
been put on his guard, regardless of
his own dereliction in notrhaving
looked voluntarily. It's check on
our engineers and a check 5on the
reckless driver"
At several points in the state,
where grade crossings cross tracks
which divide the town approximately
in half, and it is necessary to cross
in getting back and forth to business,
the company has conducted informal
traffic surveys. Counters we're sta
toned at the principal crossing in
Grants Pass and Medford. For two
days careful check of travel was
kept. The results are somewhat en-
tightening.
The first day 299S pedestrians
crossed the track at Grants Pass.
Only fifty-three Of these paid the
slightest attention. On the second
day 2773 pedestrians crossed and 1873
looked or listened.
For the two days 1929 automobiles
crossed the track, and only one sim
gle driver stopped to look. The
watcher credited only eighty-nine
with having paid the slightest heed
to traffic on the rails. OF the 918
horse drawn vehicles, only ISL halted
long enough for the driver to glimpse
the track.
The Southern Pacific has estimated
that in 119 places in Portland its
tracks and public roads cross at
grade. Over these some 10000 trains
pass annually. The possibility of &C
cident at these crossings, based on
the constantly increasing number Of
automobiles, officials say, Ia multi
plying in an enormously increasing G
ratio.
That is way the safety movement 10
being broadened to cover every point
at which railroad and public have
physical connection. Automobile
clubs have been enlisted In the move
ment and cooperation with street
railway companies who conduct simi-
lar safety campaigns IL expected to
have a noticeable effect In smaller
number Of accidents.