Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-11-30
ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD
WOULD COMPEL EVERY DRIVER
TO STOP AT CROSSINGS.
ONLY REMEDY KNOWN
TO PREVENT COLLISIONS
Company's Magazine Devotes Entire
Issue to Grade Crossing Periis-Sus-
sested Law Now in Effect in Two
States-Points to Deaths and In
juries.

Fort Dodge, Nov. 30-Twenty one
automobile grade railroad crossing ac-
cidents are the figures for four months
on the Illinois Central, according to the
current issue of the Illinois Central
Mas azine. The grade crossing danger
has become so serious that the maya
zine devotes most of its pages to this
peril. Editorials from leading news
papers of the country are quoted anG
the opinions of prominent business ana
professional men are included in ar
ticles dealing with the speed mania
and neglect manifested by automobile
drivers at railroad crossings.
During the same period not single
case of serious injury to an occupant
of a horse drawn vehicle on crossings
of the same road has convinced the Of
ficlals of t'Ffe Illinois central special
brand of protection for tautonIobilis IS
necessary. In order to assist IN the
campaign against the grade crossing
peril, the road has recently completed
a traffic survey on 100 grade crossings
located on all parts Of the system ana
made between the hours of a. m ana
D. m. for the purpose of determining
the extent to which the auto drivers
exercise precaution at these crossings
also for the purpose OF determining
the relative difference between precau-
ton exercised by Automobiles ana
the occupants of horse drawn vehicles.
Compilation of the information OBTAIN
ed discloses the startling result that -
per cent of the automobiles did not
look in either direction but ran over
the crossings at a reckless rate OF
speed and in total disregard of the
danger, while but q per cent OF the &C.
cupants of the horse drawn vehicles
disregarded the dangers. Seventy
three per cent of the occupants Of the
horse. drawn vehicles either stopped.
slowed down. looked either in one or
both directions or took some precau-
ton for their own safety.
Education the Solution.
The only solution Of the problem de-
clares the writer Of the article in the
magazine is to educate Automobiles
to come to full stop at railway grade
crossings. IF they do this they can
both look and listen and will be safe
But how can automobilists be edu-
Gated to stop? BY the passage OF or
dinances by every town, city and mu-
nicipality requiring them to stop and
penalizing them for failure to do so.
Also by the passage and enforcement
of state laws Of the same nature. We
give you, the people, the situation and
the remedy. 1t is a notable fact that
in the states Of Indiana and Louisiana,
where Automobiles are required by
law to stop before passing over rail-
road crossing at grade. and in which
states the Illinois Central operates
considerable mileage there have been
no serious automobile grade crossing
accidents on this ompany's lines, and
not one Of the accidents in which the
twenty-five were killed and the fifty
one were injured in four months oc-
CURED In either one of those states.
The Liability Question.
The narrow minded and disgruntled
will say the railroad seeks to save it
self from liability in automobile grade
crossing cases. That is far from the
truth. The courts and the iuries are
taking care Of these cases and we have
no complaints to offer There IS no
class Of claims against a railroad so
easy to defend as automobile cases,
nor is there any class of damage suits
where the percentage Of victories is so
largely in favor Of the railroad. In
most of the states the higher courts
have held that it is the duty of auto
mobiliss to stop and know that the
way Is clear before driving upon the
railway tracks. and where they fail to
DO this ana dart upon the tracks in dis
regard OF danger, the courts have held
that there can be no recovery against
the railroad. Law is being rapidly
made in the various states applying to
automobiles and placing this class of
cases upon an entirely different basis
from pedestrians and the occupants Of
horse drawn vehicles"