The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1917-01-09
DO THEY COURT pEArHq
Reckless Driving Of Automobiles Is
Cause Of Many Accidents.

In order 90 obtain a definite idea OF
the amount of care which the drivers
OF automobiles exercise against being
run into and killed by moving trains
when crossing railroad track a eer-
tain Oklahoma railroad some time ago
concluded to place a watchman at two
prominent crossings with instructions
to watch the driver of each car min
utely. The tests were made in two
leading cities of Oklahoma dnd the
dates were from Oct. 26 to 80 inclu-
siye. Taking the totals for the 8 days,
6755 automobiles passed over the two
crossings in question. OF this number
A per cent looked neither to the right
nor the left; 20 per cent looked only
one way, while S per cent came under
the head Of the utterly reckless; u
out of 6755 drivers. only 1915 looked
both ways-and in these facts the pub
lie may read its answer to the quarry
as to why nearly $4,000 people are kill
ed or crippled annually by the rail
roads of the United States.
And who is really responsible for
these appalling tragedies? The rail
roads? No-because for a number Of
years they have been trying to burn
the Safety First slogan into the
mind of every man, woman and child
in the land The railroads don't want
to run over and kill or cripple anybody |
If the railroads had their way about
it, not a single human being would be |
hurt by them. That some of these
drivers above referred to who looked |
neither to the right nor the left were |
not killed is due to a kindly Provi |
dence-not to themselves Further
more, statistics show that for every
100 people killed or crippled during
the average year in this way, 80 Of
them live in the rural districts-so it
is not merely a town and city problem
but one which vitality concerns the far
mer
The real responsible party is the
great state of Oklahoma which, in
common with many other states, has
provided no penalty for those who per
sist in ieopardizing the lives of them
selves their loved ones and their
friends in this foolhardy manner-and
who if they refuse on their own Volt
ton to use ordinary common sense in
these premises should be compelled to
do so through the mandate of the state. {
In the forthcoming legislature of Okla.
homa bill will be introduced enti-
tied: AN act to prevent accidents at
regulating the handling Of
vehicles, and providing
penalties for violation thereof" This
bill makes il the duty of every auto 9
mobile driver to come to full stop
At every railroad crossing, and to look
and listen before proceeding The .
penalty for violating this law is fine
If not less than So nor more than $25.
And now should not these bills re-
,eive favorable vote from every
member of the legislature? Will they
lot save scores of lives in Oklahoma
Turing the next two years? viii they
lot burn the danger of the deadly rail
'oad crossing into the minds of our
people from one end of the state to
he other and will it ever be possible |,
o do this until we provide some kind !,
If penalty against the criminal care
essness which now prevails upon ev-
Try hand and which is responsible for
10 many pitiful and unnecessary
leaths?
Surely there isn't high-minded cit !
zen in Oklahoma who will not gladly !
give his support to this humanitarian
the most effective way
o do it is to drop line to your rep
'esentatiye and state senator asking
hem to vote for this bill During 1917
approximately 1900 people win be
Jilled or crippled through carelessness
If their own on American railroads. !,
Who knows when fate may mark you /,
II loved one? 1t