Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-03
TRY TO
STOP TRESPASS|NC
RULES FOR MOTORISTS ISSUED
BY BURLINGTON TO PREVENT
CROSSING ACCIDENTS.

To reduce the number of accidents
and fatalities that for years have feat.
ured railroad statistics, the various
companies engaged In this business
have been for some time past been
making an effort to inculcate the safe
ty first idea into the minds of the pub
lie.
The employees are given instructions
regarding their own and the patrons
safety as well as that of the general
public when it comes in contact with
the railroad. The rules for handling
trains and the general operations from
time to time undergo notifications to
make more safe these great arteries
OF commerce.
1t is the dear public, however, that
most needs the lesson despite the fact
that history what he or she has read
IN the daily press hundreds of times
within the past year, tells of the thous-
ands killed or manned while trespass-
ing on the railroad property The
sign on bridge or sidewalk calling
attention to the place being unsafe, is
needed by almost everyone. The sign
posts that have for as long as the
average person remembers been erect
ed along the railroads at crossings and
In yards, calling attention to the dan
ger and that the premises are not
thoroughfare but property of the COM
pany for Its own use, goes unheeded
by thousands every year.
The age or sex makes little differ
ence to the trespasser. They may be
young but more often middle aged and
old and they are frequently women.
The saving Of a little distance out.
weighs the grave chances for loss of
life or limb and only when it 10 too
late will some heed the warning. All
OF the roads are striving to educate the
public against the trespassing evil and
in the campaign carried on by The
Burlington the following of interest to
the motorist is being given wide pub
licity:
Do you drive motor car? II 80,
just run over these questions.
Have you noticed that many drivers
cross railroad tracks without looking
or listening for trains? Thousands
risk their lives this way every day.
Yourself-do you look and listen?
Trusting to luck at railroad cross.
ings because of recklessness or ignor-
ance or sheer failure to realize that a
train may be .coming-do you trust to
luck?
When train comes at that moment
as happens not infrequently, the train
men are suddenly confronted with an
auto or team on the track with no
chance to avoid hitting it. Result
deaths. injuries, sorrow, vain regrets
Are you paving the way for this?
The railroads recognize their respon-
sfbilities and are every year improving
as many crossings as possible. What
is your responsibility?
Responsibility lies upon every driver
Of automobile or team to know the
way is safe. Yet 1884 persons were
killed or injured last year because driv.
ers trusted that somehow providence
would look out for them. Many had
passengers in their care. Do you pro-
tect your passengers?
Look and listen at the railroad
crossing and if in doubt about the way
being safe, stop and investigate That
is the safe way to do it. Do you do it
that way?
With the ever increasing number of
automobiles in use, it is necessary to
adopt stringent measures to protect
the lives of the general public.
The railroads over the country are
giving much time and attention to this
problem but are helpless unless the CO.
operation of the motorist is forthcom.
ing.
The driver of an autom obile should
read the above questions over care.
fully; adopt it as his catechism BY
following the suggestions made there
in, he will be doing his full share to
ward saving practically four thousand
lives during the year.