Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1922-06-21
RAIL WAYS TO PROMOTE
SAFETY CAMP PAIGN
June l to September 80 To Have
Slogan "Cross Crossings
Cautiously"

of the L. & N. is doirg much in
promoting he Careful Crossing
Campaign" and general educa~
ton of the public in the hazards
of travelling. He is sending out
information which is of value TO
everyone who has anything to do
with the railroads at any time:
"Under the auspices of the
American Railway Association,
there was inaugurated on June 1
and continuing till September 80
1922, a Careful Crossing Cam
paign, its slogan being Gross
Crossings Cautiously" having for
its purpose the prevention or re-
duction in the number of high
way crossing accidents involving
railroad trains, vehicles and pc
destrians, throughout the coun-
try.
''Such a campaign is necessary
and timely, as shown by the fol-
lowing facts: In 80 years Our
country's population increased OF
per cent. Crossing accidents in
creased 345 per cent in fatal and
652 per cent in injury cases. In
1920 automobiles were involved
in 70 per cent of all crossing ac-
cidents. During the year, 1,791
persons were killed and 5,077 in
jured; of he latter number 116
died subsequently from injuries
at railroad crossings
within the United States.
There are two ways to reduce
or entirely stop such accidents.
The first in the public mind is.
elimination of the crossings. This
is impossible. There are ISL
939 highway crossings on class
l railroads alone( railroads with
revenue of over $1,O00,OO0, annu-
ally) in the United States. OF
800 were eliminated dur
ing 1919. At the same rate of
elimination it will take 629 years
to dispose of these crossings if no
more are added. All the men
and money available would not
be sufficient to remove the cross
ings in life time.
conservative estimates of the
average cost of elimination fixed
the figure at Approximately $50
600 per crossing. This means $12-
500,000,OO0. :.
1T is evident the immediate
must be met by meth-
cd other than the elimination of
crossings which latter work will
proceed as circum-
stances permit.
apparently the solution of TIE
problem can be found in educa-
fion. This education should be
joint upon the part of the rail
roads and the public. 1t is the
duty of the railroads to keep the
crossings in good condition for
travel; give reasonable notice of
the existence of such crossings
and see to it that the railroad en-
ployes do their full duty in warn
ing of the approach of trains.
"The department of the travel
ing public has a greater influence
on railway safety than is gener-
ally known, and the Safety Sec
ton of the American Railway
Association in an appeal for the
of human life and
limb gives some illuminating
,acts on the subject.
"Of the 20 fatalities occurring
in railway passenger travel dur
ng the year 1920, about two
thirds were cases in which the in
lividual himself was in some way
involved in the chain of circum-
stances. For example, 28 per-
IONS were killed by falling from
:oach steps, Is by falling from
moving trains, "a by being struck
or run over, and 10 met their
leath by deliberately jumping
rom trains while mentally de-
'anged or to escape penal seryi-~.
ude. More startling still is the
act that "a passengers were
lilled and 1,299 injured by get
ing on and off moving and sta-
lonary trains.
"Once seated inside railway
ar, the traveller is in about the
'afest place III the world, and it
S generally his own acts in gain
ng or leaving such position that
.reate any substantial hazard.
Notwithstanding the wonderful
afety of passengers on the raj
ways of the country, it is in the