Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29
GRADE CROSSING.
DEATHS GROWING
LESS EACH Year
CareIessness Of Auto Owners
Is Yielding to Persistent
Campaign Of Rail-
roads.

"Carelessness in crossing railroad
tracks by occupants OF automobiles
is slowly but surely yielding to the
campaign Of education conducted
against grade crossing accidents by
the press, schools, churches and
railroads." said w. H. Guild, assist
ant to the general manager of the
Union Pacific.
"For the year ending September
80, 1919" said Mr.. Guild, there were
~ grade fatalities and los injuries,
compared with 81 fatalities and EOS
injuries for the year ending Septem-
Der so, 1918, decrease in 1919 of
nearly Is per cent in the number
killed and 24.2 per cent in the num-
Der injured.
This is an encouraging showing,
particularly considering the in
creased number of automobiles in
use.
Nevertheless, during the year
1919. 452 automobiles were dam
aged or destroyed. Of these. 222
attempted to cross almost imme-
diately in front Of an approaching
train, ll6 ran into trains, e. stalled
on the track and were hit by trains.
six skidded into trains or cars, n
ran into and broke down crossing
gates, lowered to protect them from
passing trains, four ran down and
injured crossing faginen trying to
warn and protect them from APP
preaching trains, Is ran into cross
ing signals, cattle guards, or were
not sufficiently in the clear.
Had View of Track.
an practically, every instance oc-
cupants of automobiles had unob-
structed view of track in both direc-
tons sufficient to enable them to OBJ
serve approach of train before reach
ing crossing.
"As in the past, most of these ac-
cidents involved passenger trains
disproportionately I'd the number OF
trains OF. this class which continues
to. emphasize the belief that mis-
Judgment of speed of passenger
trains by occupants of automobiles
is a primary contributing cause to
such accidents.
IAN analysis by months discloses
no Distinguishing relationship between
climatic conditions and crossing ac-
cidents, as accidents occurred in like
proportion during the summer and
winter months, so that whether cur
Tins are up or down does not appear
to matter much.
Bad Judgment IL Cause.
an other words, the causes of
these accidents appear to narrow
down to misjudgment of speed of
trains the minds of occupants dis
tracted by conversation, shifting
gears and Sailing on tracks, noise
Of machine interfering with hearing
locomotive whistle bell and noise
Of train; inexperience of driver, not
looking until about on track and in
ability to stop on account of speed,
and in practically all instances. at
tempting to cross without first max
ing sure that it could be done
safely.
I'm view Of the number OF acct
dents still occurring and progress
sive increase in the number of au-
tomobiles in use, there is every rea-
son for maintaining an active cam
paign Of education, and it is to be
hoped that the press, pulpit and
schools, which have rendered waltz
ao.e service in this respect, viii con-
tinuc and be spurred on to more
intensive effort by the exigencies of
the situation. The one essential IS
the occupants of automobiles beforel
crossing railroad tracks to make
sure that it may done safely"