Norwich bulletin., 1916-06-17
ELIMINATING ACCIDENTS
 AT GRADE CROSSINGS
New Haven Railroad Urging Safety First Campaign to Secure co-opera- ton of Auto Owners.


 With the object Of securing the CO., operation of motorists and drivers of horse drawn vehicles. the New Haven railroad is waging a safety first cam paign to minimize accidents at grade crossings. as
 This campaign has been discussed. and worked ont at stan meetings of the operating department Investiga- tions have already been made at sev- eral important grade crossings, and many individual drivers have been written to requesting their co-opera- ton.
 The principal cause of the ma jority of accidents at grade crossings is the taking of chances. Experts on the subject of accident prevention long ago reached the conviction that no matter how many laws might be passed or how many safety devices installed there could never be a successful re- duction in accidents until there had been enlisted the cooperation of those persons in whose interest the precau- tions were being taken. This applies to grade crossing accidents as well as to the large class of industrial aeci- denes.
 AS a result of the investigations so far made by the New Haven road, numerous letters have been written to
 
 ton to the carelessness of drivers when crossing the railway tracks at certain crossings. The majority of these let ters disclose that the drivers did not ing, and t11ae they drove over tEe crossing at a high rate of speed. Many of the letters, however, dis close extreme degrees of carelessneSs One driver approached the grade crosC ing at North Abingdon, Mass, and ! leses -4&<o or the gates, which were down It was suggested to the owner of this car l that this was hardly sufficient clear 1 ance. as slight failure of the brakes on the machine might result in col : lis1on with the gates if not a mere serious collision with the train. Another driver approached the cross- Ing at Whitman, Mass. at a rapid rate or speed and upon perceiving that tie gates were being lowered put on more speed in an endeavor to cross over before the approaching train. Finding that he would be unable to do this, l he was forced to swing his machine into the freight yard in order fo ayoio a collision. A driver of motor truck was unable to stop at Inc crossing gates at Quincy Adams and his truck collided with the gates Many cases were reported of machines passlna over crossings in disregard to the s1g- nal displayed by the 6agman and de- spite the warning from the engine .is the train was leaving station.
 A driver Of c machine passed the I grade crossing at Scituate with harciy Q foot clearance between the machine and the train that mad just stoprctl Had the engineer Of the train released his brakes and the train siacaxed back the machine would certainly have been | hit. Tn the letter to the owner or tlaie machine 1t whB suggested that such d close margin is also dangerous fr slighttns passengers at the rear of a I train.
 stlll another driver Of machine came to dead stop on highway cross ing at Altsrton, three minutes beEurc train wae due to arrive. Tue driver stopped in order to mako several in- qlffrfes.
 "A large nutnbsr of cases have been reported Of drivers passing crossings without making any olbeeFva.icnf Il whatever as 0 whether . tratn was coming or not. Some Of these driverl were eugaged in conveEsing with pas gengelM In the machines other wHvlsif e paeeersby, while enc driver wal putting on hiB gloves and consequent Iy did not have his hands on tht wheel or Brakes Of the machine
 Tn the letters that have benu nenI out DO owners 0g caf9sat iB pointed ot' i a3 fheApAed ox the machine 1e reducet ana eb8srVa Hons made In both direc. tons Co make sure the way ls clear ! grade ezpsstng accidents will be min. llnlnad. The company requests that al vaslple and audfbfe warnings De heed a.