Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-01
DEMAND FOR WIDER AND
SAFER HIGHWAYS CROWS
Officers of American Road
Builders Association Awak-
ems to Realization.
STRONGER BRIDGES NECESSARY
Elimination OF Grade Crossings VIII
He One OF the Phases to He Com
sidered mt National Good Roads
show In Chicago January 1920.
Especial to The Tlmcs-pispatch.l

Especial to The Times Dispatch
CHICAGO, Dec. 3l.-The growing
demand for wider and safer roads
and stronger bridges has awakened
tho officers and directors OF the
American Road Builders Association
TO the need for action, and the pro-
gram committee has provided for an
exhaustive discussion OF the subject
ut the twelfth American good ronds
congress and thirteenth national
good roads show to be he'd In Chi
cago January Is to 90 next.
Would Eliminate Crossings.
The elimination OF grade crossings
will re one OF Tho phases considered.
Out OF $4,000 persons killed on the
highways of the country last year,
1000 were struck down ut grade
crossings Investigation has shown
also that one motorist In every three
is careless at grade crossings, APP
preaching the railroad tracks ut
reckless speed and without taking
due notice OF approaching trains.
The Pennsylvania and Southern
Pacific Railroads especially have
been heavy sufferers from grade
crossing accidents. On the Southern
Pacific liues alone durinE the past
three years 1909 motor cars and
trucks were wrecked at grade cross
ings. In 400 cases. or more than 20
pcr cent, the motorists deliberately
ran into the trains. In 122 instances
autos plunged through the crossing
gates. Nine crossing ragmen We're
struck down.
In $40 cases in which motoistS ran
in front OF the trains 1876 persons
were killed and 405 were injured. III
isO cases motor cars stalled on the
crossings and were demolished. For
ty-three cars actually collided with
the danger signals.
Occur ON Long Stretches.
An investigation conducted recent
ly by the Maryland State Roads Com
mission demonstrated that most
highway accidents occur OH long
stretches of road instead of at the
curves and are due TO speeding or
reckless driving, rather than skid
ding.
a total of s4,5o0.OOo was paid out
in death claims by American insur-
ancc companies for the 1000 per-
sons killed OH the highways last
year. In addition To the fatalities.
there were 100000 nonfatal injuries.
Automobile fatalities in 1918 were
95i2. In 1919 the number increased
10 9.s26. Considering the 10000 ac-
cidunts last year and basing their
calculations on the experiences of st.
~,
go and other cities for the first six
months OF 1921. experts estimate that
this years fatalities on the high
ways will reach $4,000. a total of
Gao persons were killed on New York
State roads and city streets during
the first six months of this year. O.
this number 4o3 met their death in
New York City.
AT a recent drawing OF space for
the good roads show in Chicago 80
per cent of the 10000 square feet OF
space was taken, breaking all
records and necessitating the use OF
additional buildings to house the cx-
'hibits. Approximately Sl.500.000
worth OF iabor-saving road machin-
cry and appliances will be exhibited.
AT the good roads congress to be
held during the exposition, many
subjects OF Importance to highway
users Will be discussed. including the
STRENGTHENING Of bridges to carry the
cver-incrcasinE truck loads and a
more cquita bic classification of tax
alton for the construction and main
tenancc of highways. Last year Fed
eral. State and municipal taxes on
motor vehicles reached the stagGcr-
ing sum OF Observation-Disclosures
TO S34 per car. Governors of States.
county commissioners and Mayors of
cities Throughout, the country are be-
ing asked TO appoint delegates to the