The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1915-11-26
SALTY FIRST" FOR AUTOSTS
Few Suggestions From the Stand
point Of q Railroad Man.
BY Howard Elliott

AAktCOs 0d4 CQAOp A/Oo AA6OAOo
& Salt Lake Railroad.
II auto drivers were as careful as
street car drivers, collisions between
automobiles and trains would be as
rare as those between trains and
street cars. Before a trolley car
crosses a steam road at grade, where
there is no human flagman, one mem
Der Of the crew goes forward, looks
both ways and listens. II the road
be clear he gives the come ahead"
signal. IT, not, the car must not
move until danger is past. Suggest
this procedure to the auto driver and
he smiles.
Unnecessary" "A waste Of time"
md "Too much bother" are some of
his excuses. Yet this one simple pre-
caution would, il followed, practically
| eliminate the grade crossing horror.
There are more and stronger reasons
why the auto driver should be more
careful than the motorman. The mo-
torman is prohibited from talking to
| passengers. There is no such prohibi-
tion for auto drivers The motorman
must pass rigid examination as to
eyesight, hearing, steadness of nerve
and sobriety. The auto driver is sub
jected to no such test.
Therefore. even II the conductor
did not go ahead and flag across, the
motorman would still Re more apt tt
effect safe passage than the auto
driver, who oftentimes is talking and
| does not have his mind concentrated
on the business Of driving.
Another thing To the street car
| employee the passengers are so MANY
persons" Perhaps he could cal
none of them by name. If one should
sicken and die, he would not shed a
tear Yet he protects his charges
| with extraordinary care. The law
demands it, the rules of his company
| require it, and his best judgment die
tates It,
The auto drivers passengers are
usually his kith and kin. Their lives
are as precious to him as his own
II one should die, his heart would
bleed Yet he races across a railway
track looking neither to right nor to
left las careful observation show a
vast majority do) and then calls UNI
| reasonable and unnecessary for his
adoption those precautions which
street railway complies take to safe
guard the lives Of those in whom they
have only passing interest
"NOt Question of Cost"
It is not a matter OF damages. If
you think 1t is how much, Mr. Auto
mobile Driver, will you take for your
daughter or your son?
1t is rule Of law in nearly every
state in the Union that the highway
traveller at railroad crossing must
nj ic+o Of ho
must look and listen both ways,
seen a train and avoided collision
with it, collision occurs, the pre-
sumption arises that he either failed
to look and listen or was needless of
| what he saw and heard, in either of
which. events he would be guilty of
negligence barring recovery
In the following states, the courts
hold that in addition to looking and
| listening the traveller on the highway
must stop: Oregon, Maryland, Massa-
chusetts, Alabama, Indiana, Iowa
Missouri, New Jersey, Maine, Wiscon-
| sin, Michigan, West Virginia, apd
| California.
What the railway companies want
and what all students of the problem
believe desirable, is that drivers OF
vehicles on reaching railway cross
ings shall be even more careful than
appears necessary, not because any
rule or law compels it, but because
the love of life for themselves and
others should impel them to habits
of extreme care.
The railway companies are taking
the lead in an endeavor 10 eliminate
accidents. In most parts Of the coun-
try they represent the only organized
effort to combat the evil. The Auto
Club of Southern California has done
a most wonderful work in placing
sign posts at points of danger It
is pity that like work cannot be
done by the automobile organizations
everywhere
The Long Island railroad is en-
ploying vigorous tactics to bring home
to the public the dangers OF reckless
automobile driving on Long Island
Instead of the hackneyed phrases
i stop, Look and Listen. or rail
road Crossing, Look Out for the Cars
or Danger" or Safety First" they
have posted In conspicuous places all
over the system large streamer signs
bearing the following inscription:
This Sign May Save Your Life To-
day." All the precautions in the
world will not save the lives OF those
who drive automobiles recklessly
over railroad crossings. When ap.
preaching crossing, please Stop
Look and Listen. We are doing oul
part. Won't you do yours?
Long Island Railroad"
This campaign Is resulting In .
great reduction In accidents.
In Southern California the railways
have installed at great many cross
ings, wigwag or moving signals, light
ed at night. They have proved yer,
effective.
Ignore the Signals.
But It is noted that many autolsti
ignore the signals, and ct place,
where the railways have lowered ths
yates In tho face Of approaching traini
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