The north Mississippi herald. (Water Valley, Yalobusha Co., Miss.) 1888-1929, 1923-08-24
ENGINEER MYERS
FLAGS AUTO DRIVERS

who wishes to make a personal ap-
peal to the public. I am locomo-
tive engineer on the !. c. R. R.
The subject / have in mind is that
of accidents at grade crossings. One
hardly ever picks up a newspaper
nowadays without reading about an
automobile having been struck by a
train at some crossing with result
ing tragedy. Figures complied by
competent authorities inform us
that crossing accidents in which
trains and automobiles participated,
during the last five years have caused
the death of 10,101 persons and in
jury of 24,208 others. Every year
the increase in the number of pleas
ure cars and trucks in use is mount
ing by large numbers. During the
year 1922, there were 2,572,000 new
cars and trucks built, making grand
total of 12,357,372 motor vehicles
registered at the close of last year.
The problem of accidents at grade
crossings is becoming of grave and
terrible significance. 1t is generally
conceded that something must be
done to reduce the hazards Of ac-
cidents at places where highways and
streets cross railway tracks. A
great many measures have been TAX
en-. The railroads have installed
different kinds of warning signals,
audible and visible; they have station
ed watchmen and erected gates and
barriers; engineers and firemen are
instructed to keep a vigilant lookout
when approaching crossings and
sound whistles and bells. Neverthe-
less accidents continue to happen al
most daily. Drivers of cars ignore
warning signs and signals, crash
through gates, run down watchmen,
frequently, reckless persons race with
fast trains for crossings and some
times lose the race and their lives.
Incidentally, l wish to say that a
train travelling at a speed of sixty
miles an hour may be quarter OF a
mile away when mortorist first sees
it, but it will reach the crossing in ex-
actly fifteen seconds. And fifteen
seconds is a mighty brief interval.
The remedy for crossing accidents
lies largely with the motorist himself.
A train moving at speed of from
twenty-five to forty miles an hour
cannot be stopped in less than 1900
feet An automobile moving twenty
miles an hour can be stopped, with
effective brakes, in 35 feet. There
is, or should be, no question about
who has the right of way. The train
is engaged in an important and nec-
essary service which benefits the
whole country. It should be ac-
corded the right to proceed.
With the question as to which has
the right of way determined, it must
be made compulsory upon the other
party to recognize such prior rights.
Strict adherence to such rule would
practically eradicate highway cross
ing accidents.
It is estimated that about 81 per
cent of those who drive automobiles
are reasonably careful and do not
take hazardous chances. Nearly all
deaths and injuries therefore are due
to the negligence or recklessness OF
a bare per cent of the motoring
public. | would like to have -every
person who reads this ask himself or
herself the question in all seriousness,
am one of the 81 per cent or one OF
IT, G per cent? If Of the dangerous
minority, / would earnestly suggest
that, that person think about the pos
sible results of such folly.
When mortorist takes chances, ne
not only endangers his own life, but
the lives of others. When a train
strikes an automobile at crossing, it
is in iminent danger of derailment
and if a passenger train, great loss OF
life may result from wreck SO caus-
ed. In recent years there have been
many cases of derailment of trains on
different railroads due to automobiles
hit at crossings. That great loss Of
life did not result therefrom in al
these cases was merely fortunate
chance. AS an example which may
be cited an accident occurred July 10,
ON a crossing near Layfield, ILL.,,
when a southbound Illinois Centra
train struck the car in which Mr.. and
Mrs. Gillie Franklin were riding.
Mrs. Franklin was killed and N
Franklin seriously injured. The
wrecked car went under the locomo-
tive and derailed the front truck but
i. the train was stopped before a bad