Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1918-11-30

dents involving automobiles continue
to occur with distressing frequency.
Confronted with warning signals,
with the knowledge OF the
many fatal accidents that have
occurred and OF the imminent danger.
of attempting to cross in front OF an
approaching train or without making
sure that railroad tracks may be
crossed safely, it is difficult to account
| for the indifference to danger mani
| tested by some automobile drivers.
On the Southern Pacific in the year
| 1915 more than 500 crossing gates,
| lowered to protect vehicles and pedes-
TRANS from passing trains, were run
into and broken down by automobiles.
"In 1914 observation tests were
made at thirty-four different crossings
on the Southern Pacific. where the
number OF trains varied between one
and fifteen and the number OF train
movements per hour between one and
one hundred, and of the 89,O72 auto
mobiles. other vehicles and pedestri-
ans deserved, only fifteen hundredths
OF one per cent stopped and looked in
both directions
1T is significant that few accidents
occur to automobiles with a single oc-
cupant. Whether the disproportion
be due to disproportiOn OF automo-
hiles containing but one occupant, or
whether due to the absence OF dis
traction and in this sense different
than when two or more people are
together in an automobile or in
room, is a question Certain it is that
distraction is responsible for count.
less mistakes 1t is when the mind IS
distracted that negligence results.
mistakes are made and accidents oc-
cur. 1t is for this very reason that
many OF the large cities have enacted
ordinances requiring street car com
panies to paint a sign in the yestibule
of all cars Don't talk to the Motor
man.
With top up, curtains down and
engine working, it is perhaps difficult
for automobile occupants TO hear the
whistle o fan approaching train or the
sound OF the locomotive or crossing
bell, or gong. but, realizing this and
realizing that they are about to cross
a railroad track over which through
out the day and nigt trains are oper-
ated in both directions at varying
speed, it would seem that, confronted
by conditions so imminently involv-
ing their personal safety, drivers and
occupants Of automobiles or other We
hicles would exercise an essential de-
gree of caution.
In addition to ringing the locomo-
tive bell there is whistling post 1920
feet from each public grade crossing
and innumerable tests have failed 10
disclose an instance where an cngi-
neer on reaching a whistling post fail
ed to sound the standard whistie sig
nal.
Large sums have been expended in
removing distractions 10 vision but in
proportion to the number OF vehicles.
strange as 1t may seem, approximately
as many accidents occur at crossing
with wide range Of vision as where
they are more obstructed from view
indicating quite clearly that the pri
!, mary cause OF these accidents is care
less superinduced by mental distrac
ton resulting either from the driver,
mind being engrossed with the oper
ton OF his machine or being engage,
in carrying on a conversation will
other occupants. How else may ",
account Tor so many instances wher
trains are struck by automobiles rath
er than automobiles by trains9
If drivers OF automobiles or rathe
vehicles will make ii an unvaryin,
rule never to race with train for
crossing, never attempt to cross i
front OF a colsely approaching trair
never attempt to cross without frs
making sure that it ma be done safel,
obey warning signals given by bell,
gongs or crossing hagmen. and sto
when crossing gates are lowered 10
passing trains, the curtain will fall a.
this cause OF accidents"