Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-10-03
AUTOMOBILE CASUALTIES.

in June. July and August. of this year.
such casualties increased 80 per cent
as 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 de-
plorable results of carelessness. Dur
ing the three months, on the Pennsyl-
vania System alone, there We're 1o7
crossing accidents, in which II per-
sons were killed annd lis injured.
That this years large increase in
these casualties is chargeable almost
entirely to growth in the reckless and
inexperienced driving OF automobiles,
is shown by the fact that casualties
at highway crossings from all other
causes combined decreased. There
sylvania Railroad crossings in these
three months. They caused the death
of Sc persons, and injury to 107 others,
or an average of two personal casual
ties for each accident. Twelve of the
accidents resulted in 80 deaths; four
caused the death of 90 persons. or an
average Of five for each car involved.
| In two of the accidents, entire families
were wiped out. That these lives
were sacrificed to pure tecklessness 10
particularly emphasized by the fact
that in both instances the drivers of
the cars lived close to the scenes of
the accidents and were entirely ia
miliar with the layout 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 OF their
train passengers. 1t is, therefore,
impressive to note that, as against
the lives lost in only three
months by careless driving of motor
cars over tracks, there were no pas
sengers killed in train accidents any
where on the Pennsylvania Railroad
System during the entire year ended
May S1st, last. In that period no less
than 100000 passenger trains were
operated and I52, 100000 passenger.
carried safely. The chief reason fol
, this striking contrast is that locomo
tive enginemen are thoroughly trained
r in every detail of their work. and ar,
, required to demonstrate knowledg,
: and ability to operate trains safely be
T fore being entrusted with their hand
: ling. On the other hand, analysis of TIL
causes of crossing accidents shows
: that the vast majority of motor ca
g casualties at railroad highway cross
ings are attributable 10 a compare
e lively small percentage of inexperi
e creed and irresponsible automobil
q drivers who have neither the knowl
r edge, training or judgment require
g for the safe operation of such ma
: chimes. The result is often failure {
: exercise even the most ordinary pre-
d cautions necessary for the protectio
I. of life when approaching or drivin
: over railroad tracks.
T. Moreover, reckless driving OF auto
: mobiles is not confined to highwa
e crossings. This is shown by the dali
: reports of accidents caused by drivin
e automobiles into telegraph poles, c
stone walls, and by skidding, side
swiping. turning over and collidin
From this running chronicle Of deaf
and injury, the conclusion woul
seem warranted that what is needle
= at the present time is not merely
=. Careful Crossing Campaign TO col
4. centrate attention on crossing acc
: dents alone, but a national carnpaig
: carefully planned and directed again
all forms of careless automobile dri'
9 ing. In this way possibly some an
nj preston may be made on the autom'
"a bile accident record. which shows II
500 persons killed and 100000 injur'
In the United States for the year 19z
~ This record is startling and cal
r. directly and unmistakably for ste
" preventive measures.