The copper era and Morenci leader., 1922-06-16
MOTORISTS HERE JOIN THE CAREFUL CROSSING CAMPAIGN

Interest of automobile owners here has been enlisted in the four months nationwide Careful Crossing Cam paign" through which the American Railway Association is now seeking to prevent highway accidents at grade crossings. involving railroad trains. vehicles and pedestrians. The cam paign began June l
 Colored posters graphically show ing motorists the dangers of care lessness in crossing railroad tracks are being distributed by the South ern Pacific Company and other west ern railroads.
 This campaign is similar tO tha NO Accident campaign conducted ed by the railroads last year and which showed remarkable decrease in grade crossing accidents.
 Railroads officials who have given the subject of grade crossing ac- ciden-s intensive study are clear in the opinion that the prevention of such accidents is largely a matter or educating drivers of automobiles. both as to the hazards and as 70 the necessity for exercising caution
 Commenting on this. R. J. Clancy. Assistant to General Manager of the Southern Pacific said-~AccidentS a. Grade crossings are largely due -o carelessness on the part of drivers At grade crossings on the Southern Pacific during the last years ending Dec. 31st 1921. 2T55 automobiles were damaged or destroyed, POS people were killed and 921 injured.
 'Is is interesting and helpful tc a solution of this problem to know the manner in which these accidents OS cured, 1890 ran on track in front Of train. indicating that many. Of them tried to beat train to the croSsins
 resulting in 1855 fatalities and 56S in 1 juries; 676 ran into the side of train ! instead of the train into them, result ing in 13 deaths and 253 injuries. 327 stalled or died on track. mainly i as result of waiting until on or near track before shifting gears. re sulting in deaths and 41 injuries,
 S9 approached the track at . speed above the braISing power of their machine, were unable to sop and
 skidded\ into train, resulting in 1T injuries; 207 ran through and broke down crossing gates lowered to pro tect them from approaching train. the result of approaching crossing at | speed above the braking power of their machine or recklessly driving i through gate lowered to protect them. i, resulting in IS injuries; 20 ran down
 and injured crossing fiagmen. stand ] ing at their post of duty to the last
 minute warning them of an approach
 ing train, resulting in deaths and l l5 injuries; 46 ran into cattleguaris.
 warning signs, and other pru.ective devices, resulting in one des h and <
 injuries.
 ''The cause of these accidents is made clear by the manner in which 1 they occurred. If POS people were i killed and 921 injured in railroad ac-
 cident it would be appalling to every i one It is no less appalling when this 1 aggregate is attained by cOmpoundinS i periodical resulys. The analyst clear l ly discerns the cause of these ac- 1 cidents to be carelessness which may i be remedied by the exercise of pro 1 per judgment on the part of drivers 1 of automobiles. In other words, before 1 attempting 'O cross the tracks of a i railroad, drivers of automobiles should l stop, look in both directions and list i en, and while waiting for train 10
 clear crossing where there is more i than one track should make sure i that train is not approaching from 1 the opposite direction on some other
 track Such precaution at the InosE
 would rarely require wait of more
 than 50 seconds
 1 LOS ANGELES, June l5-The first legal action under the Southern
 Pacific Company's new policy of fiji
 ing suits for damages against care
 less motor vehicle drivers who run
 into and damage trains has just been
 taken here.
 The railroad company has asked 1 the Superior Court to award $1S2S.
 damages against Coe and Whitaker,
 co-partners, whose motor truck. op | erated for hire, on April g. 1922 crashed into a Southern Pacific loco
 motive and derailed the tender
 1s CHINESE HELD IN