Norwich bulletin., 1922-07-21
cAREFUL cRossrNe cAMPAIGN


 MESSAGE BROADCAsTED BY RADIO
 Radio was utilized in furtherance of the railroads careful crossing campaign when J. B. German, president of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad broadcasted the following message from station KYW, Chicago:
 The Careful Crossing Campaign now being carried on by the railroads of the United States and Canada through their various safety bureaus and other agencies, and sanctioned by the American Railway Association, is heartily endorsed by the United States Automobile Chamber of Commerce, the National Highway Traffic Association, The National Safety Council and numer- ous other organizations and civic bod ies, and has my personal and hearty approval It is worthwhile and need ed movement to conserve the lives and limbs of those persons who use railroad highway grade crossings and represents the most intensive and far reaching eff fort ever attempted by the railroads to conserve life and limb of the general public beyond their employees, passengers and patrons, and especially appeals to the drivers of automobiles and to those entrusted to their care (whether riding for business or pleasure), the drivers of teams and pedestrians. If those per- sons enumerated, and for whom the eff forts of the campaign are especially directed win do their part towards making the efforts as successful as the railroads are trying to make them. we will experience reduction in railroad highway grade crossing accidents even greater than we anticipate.
 About one and one-half million Care ful Crossing Campaign" posters have been displayed all over the country where the greatest number of people may readily see them and upon sucn posters the campaign slogan 'Cross Crossings Cautiously" appears-an ad- monition which. if followed, will solve the problem confronting us.
 Ask yourself the question: Why is such vigorous campaign to. prevent ac- cidents on railroad highway grade cross 1 fngs necessary" and let me give you the answer:
 I e During thirty years ending December I31, 1921 our countrys population in i creased 6s per cent railroad highway ] grade crossing accidents increased S4i I per cent. in fatal accidents and 652 il 1 non-fatai accidents. During 1920, 1901 persons were killed and 4961 persons in jured in highway crossing accidents, ar i awful toll of human life unnecessaril, ! sacrifced-it should not have been. I In 1920 automobiles were involved 1T i 76 per cent of all grade crossing acc! l 6ents-3012 were struck 1273 persons killed and 5s77 persons injured in sucl accidents
 These figures are evidence enough ant convincing that the Careful CrossinE Campaign is absolutely necessary anf that it should receive the hearty and 1 unreserved assistance and cooperation 1 of every citizen in the United States ant l Canada It must be successful--an in 1 dictment for manslaughter will lie if i 1 is not successful and the awful deau l rate continues. when it is within. tn scope of human power and ability t stop railroad grade crossing accident and because it can be so easily accom- plished if proper thought and care ar exercised. Self preservation. nature first jaw. makes such demands upon us live cannot -shfrk responsibility.
 There are two definite ways to reduc highway grade crossing accidents frs
 to separate the crossings, which, as ia
 as possible should be done, but whe
 we analyze the situation, the impossi bility of success coming through sue
 means is apparent. There are approx mately 251,939 highway grade crossing
 on the Class One railroads of the Unite States and at a cost of $50.0o0 to ser | arate a single crossing, a total exper allure of about s12, 50e, 900. 900 would |
 necessary to eliminate such crossings
 impossible and almost beyond ones COT
 ception. During 1919 there were 3s
 grade crossings eliminated, but even g
 this rate ot separation it would talk 629 years to separate all of the grad
 crossings on Class One railroads in tE
 United States.
 The second definite way to material reduce. if not to entirely eli1pinate raj
 road highway grade crossing accident is to impress upon the minds of thos
 who use such crossings, whether in al
 tomobiies, driving teams or on foot, ths
 their lives, limbs and happiness as we
 as the lives, limbs and happiness 7 their loved ones or others are at stalk
 and to act with this thought in min when approaching railroad highwa grade crossings and to take no chance ''Stop-Look and Listen" Know for
 certainty that the way is clear (don , take it for granted). Make sure ths , no trains are approaching and the
 proceed.
 , If one of our largest raiIroads-I nee ! ! not mention the name-can conduct 1 i, : business during the years 1920 and 19: : without having passenger killed [ it's linen during that period, and whe ls1,lFS,19l passengers were carrie