The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1921-02-11
Humps to Save Autos
at Grade Crossings

Inc NaSnVlil0, chattanooga ana 81.
Louis Railway Company is giving
/ serious consideration to means Of pre-
venting collisions between automo-
biles and trains at grade crossings.
On this road, which operates 1850
miles of line, train secluded with IA
automobiles and % other vehicles, kill
ing nine persons and injuring SO seri-
ously during the year ending May
Is, 1920, while from March 1, 1920, to
September / of that year, 20 automo-
biles and other vehicles were struck
in this manner. In an effort to pre-
vent accidents of this character the
general counsel of that road prepared
a law which it is proposed to have
introduced into the coming session of
the Tennessee Legislature, providing
for the installation of humps or other
speed restriction devices, under the di-
rection of the State Highway Commits
sion, on all grade crossings of rail-
roads within the State not already
adequately protected.
Investigation shows that grade
crossing accidents occur under two
conditions. In many instances the
driver of the car is aware of the pres
ence of the train on the track and
deliberately races to beat it across.
In other cases the driver of the car
is paying no attention and does not
slow up at the track nor look and
listen. A law in Tennessee, passed
at the last session of the Legislature
requires that every driver of an auto
mobile or other vehicle shall stop be-
fore crossing railroad track.
An official of this road in report
made to the Legislature, said:
"Watchmen, wigwag signals, alarm
bells and even safety gates are often
ineffective in preventing men from
recklessly sacrificing or jeopardizing
their own lives and those of their
children and friends by what is often
nothing less than criminal careless
ness. We have had instances where
cars have collided with coaches of the
train after the engine and several cars
have already passed over the cross
ing. We recognize that separation of
grades is the only absolute remedy,
but this is slow, tedious and expensive
progress, involving always the ques-
ton of the costs of the work and the
raising of the necessary funds.
Electrical and other mechanical ap-
planes are not to be relied on lbso-
lutely and when out of order are a
menace at the very moment inviting
the driversto cross in fancied security,
although a train may be approaching
Any small boy with a piece of wire
or dragging part of equipment, can
short-circuit the apparatus and give
false clear signal. 1t is almost impos-
sible to keep such apparatus always
in working order, and, even when
working, their warnings are often dis
regarded.
The proposed bill provides for
hump in the roadway, on each side of
the railroad track; to be made suffi-
GENTLY high and abrupt to compel a
reduction of speed by reckless drivers
1t stipulates that within 80 days from
it's passage the State Highway Com
mission and other State and county
officers constructing new roads or
maintaining existing roads, shall con-
struct at each crossing, within 100 it.
and not less than so #. of the center
of the railroad, and on each side,
hump, extending entirely across the
highway. The hump is to be #. 6
in. wide at its base and sloping 10
deg. on each side, meeting in a round
ed apex. The toe of the hump must
be not less than 6 inches thicI, and
it's total thickness must be not less
that it. 4 inches in the center. The
proposed law would not apply to cross
ings in cities or towns.
The bill requires also the erection
of signs from 100 to $50 feet from
the hump bearing the words "Slow-
Hump" The failure of the State Of
ficers to comply with the law shall
be deemed misdemeanor an dsubject
to $25 fine, or Imprisonment from five
to ten days. The railroads would be
required to pay one-half the expense
of the humps.