Evening journal., 1922-09-30
rail CROSSING
ACCIDENTS GROW
Pennsy Trains Hit IS Au-
tos, Kill SO Persons and
lnjure l07 in 3 Months
COMPANY TRIES
EVERY PRECAUTION

In spite OF the most extensive edu-
cational campaign against railroad
highway crossing accidents ever
carried on, figures just compiled by
the Insurance Department OF the
Pennsylvania Railroad System show
that in June, July and August, OF
this year. such casualties increased
30 per cent, rs compared with last
season.
The period covered embraces the
first three months of the National
Careful Crossing Campaign" in
which railroads OF the United States
have Joined in efforts to make plain
the deplorable results or carelessness.
During the three months. on the
Pennsylvania System alone. there
were 107 crossing accidents. in
which II persons were killed and
IFS injured.
That this years large increase in
these casualties is chargeable almost
entirely 10 growth in the reckless
and Inexperienced driving of auto
mobiles. is shown by the fact that
casualties at highway crossings from
all other causes combined decreased.
There were s5 automobile acci-
dents at Pennsylvania Railroad
crossings in the three months in
question. They caused the death of
Sc persons and injury to 107 others.
or an average OF two personal cas-
ualties for each accident. Twelve
OF the accidents resulted in 80
deaths; four caused the death OF 20
persons. or an average of five for
each car involved.
In two OF the accidents, entire
families were wiped out. That these
lives we're sacrificed TO pure reclv- |
lessness IS particularly emphasized /
by the fact that in both instances |
the drivers OF the cars lived close /
to the scenes of the accidents and |
we're entirely familiar with the lay |
out OF the railroad tracks and roads |
over which they were driving.
The responsibility OF automobile
drivers for the safety OF riders In |
their cars IS no less than that OF /
locomotive enginemen for the safety I
of their train passengers. 1t is,
impressive 10 note that,
as against the lives lost in only /
three months by careless driving OF I
motor cars over tracks. there were
no passengers killed in train acct
dents anywhere on the Pennsylvn-
MIA Railroad System during the en-
tire year ended May s1st. last. In
that period no less than 1.400, 200
passenger trains we're operated and
152,000,000 passengers carried
safely.
The chief reason for this striking
contrast is that locomotive engine
men are thoroughly trained in every
ietail of their work. and are re-
luired to demonstrate knowledge
md ability to operate trains safely
before being entrusted with their
handling.
on the other hand. analysis OF
he causes OF crossing accidents
hows that the vast majority OF
motor car casualties at railroad
Highway crossings are attributable
o comparatively small percentage
4 Inexperienced and irresponsible
drivers who have neither !
he knowledge. training or judgment
equired for the safe operation OF (
uch machines. The result is often
allure 10 exercise even the most
rdinary precautions necessary for !
he protection of life when approach
ng or driving over railroad tracks.
Moreover, reckless driving OF au-
omobiles is not confined to highway {
rossings. This is shown by the s
ally reports in the newspapers OF c
ccidents caused by driving automo- {
lies into telegraph poles, OF stone a
Talls. and by skidding. sideswipipg,
nrning oyer and colliding. From B
his running chronicle Of death and '
lJury, the conclusion would seem o
'arranted that what is needed at y
ne present time is not merely a
areful Crossing Campaign to con-
sntrate attention on crossing acci-
ents alone, but a national cam :
aign. carefully planned and direct :.
! against all forms of careless auto :,
obile driving.
on may be made on the automobile q
,cident record, which shows 1880 .
srsons killed and 100000 injured, Y
the United States for the year G
,21. "