The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-06-21
ACCIDENTS
DUE To DISREGARD
Of R. R. WARNINGS

During the first four months of the
calendar year" said r. j.. Clancy, as
ststant to general manager of the
Southern Pacific, our records show
that Of the ISL grade crossing accidents
involving automobiles 20 stalled on the
crossing and were struck by the trains;
bN attempted TO cross almost tmmedi-
ateiy In front Of and were struck by
trains, Sc ran into the side of rains
or cars; is ran into and broke down
crossing gates lowered to protect them
from passing trains, one skidded into
the side Of car or train; one ran down
II injured a crossing flagman, four
ran INTO signal posts; five were in
NolNed in accidents of a miscellaneous
character. Nine deaths and IS injuries
resulted.
Many of these accidents occurred
where there was wide range of vision,
II all of them at crossings protected
either by warning signs, audible and
visual signals, crossing gates, or flag
man.
How and why do these accidents
occur, you ask
When during four months SO auto-
mobiles ran into and hit the train
instead of the train hitting them, when
during the same period Is automobiles
ran into and break down crossing gates
lowered to protect them from passing
trains, when men with their family
drive automobiles into trains or i'm
med'ateiy in front Of a fast approaching
train, ] confess | do not know.
~ know that engineers try to avoid
them, for, apart from the danger Of
derailment and possible loss Of their
own life, they do not wan to injure
anyone if they can avoid 1t. | know
that the management has and is try
ing hard to avoid them for it is spend
| tnU 1yrvrarlr 81 a. nAl q, do. FNr fIa-
lnen, has expended large sums of money
for installation of crossing gates, visual
and audible signals, warning signs, M
removal of trees, structures and other
distractions to vision, Notwithstanding
the attending facts it Is not incou-
sistent to assume that drivers of auto
mobiles too tr' to avoid accidents, FOR
it does not stand to reason that a man
with his wife and children, or with
friends. or alone, would Intentionally
run into a train or attempt to cross
the track Immediately in front of a
fast approaching train.
DRIVERS Of automobiles probably do
not realize that a train running so
miles an hour requires less than q
fourth of a minute to run one-fifth of
d mile, Then, too. the driver may have
his mind occupied with the operation
of his machine or may be conversing
or carrying on a conversation with
l NlAAN 'N'NA IA VI WV N"A eAhN
with his mind thus distracted proceeds
to cross the track without making any
effort to determine whether he may
do so safely. There are few if any
crossings where the driver has not ade-
quate range of vision. but with nearly
o%ne-third of the total accidents occa-
stoned by automobiles running into
trains and running into and breaking
down crossing gates 1t would appear
that visibility Is by no means a para
mount factor. Moreover an analysis of
accidents discloses that they occur pro-
portionally at crossings where vision is
unobstructed as where restricted. OF
course crossings in 6ensely travelled dis
triCts, or crossings where conditions es-
Sentiali2e additional safeguards, are
protected by flagmen, gates, wig-waks,
lights, gongs or bells, in addition to
standard warning signs,
Mistakes made In working levers
due to excitement or confusion, may
account for some Of the accidents. |
believe. however, that the primary
is lack of knowledge or the danger or
lack of attention to essential duties
supplemented by indiscretion or lack
Of experience or the part of the driver,
with trains running at varying
speeds in both directions throughout
the day and night no driver should at
tempt to cross the track of a railroad
at grade without first making sure
hat it may be done safely, stopping,
listening ana looking in both direc-
tons, when necessary. The manage
ment and employees are doing and viii
continue to do their utmost to prevent
accidents but in this respect success in
an appreciate degree Is conditioned on
| earnest public cooperation"