Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-03-24
Highway Police
Will Show No Mercy
To Careless Drivers

4V OAx NxS00 LII xV NJ -
IF the motoring public must race
with death, it must be done in some
state other than Maine as our de-
partment intends to show no mercy
to operators who disregard signals al
railroad crossings or who race trains
to the crossing, declares Capt. Har-
old A. Miller, chief of the state high
way police, in a letter forwarded to
the public utilities commission Satur-
day.
Capt. Miller's letter was written to
the public utilities commission in re-
ply to one sent him by the commits
sion in regard to the prevention, II
possible. of grade crossing deaths
through the carelessness and negli-
gence of automobiles.
Public Utilities Letter
The letter of the public utilities
commission to Capt. Miller in rela-
ton to this matter is as follows:
"We are writing you, with the pur-
pose of preventing. if possible, dur
ing the approaching season, some of
the gruesome deaths occurring at
grade crossings in this state. There
are some automobilists who deliber-
ately try to beat trains at grade
crossings. These men take human
lives wantonly. In 1923 approximate
ly $500 people We're killed at grade
crossings throughout the United
States, and over 5000 were injured.
During this same period there was an
increase Of 100000 motor vehicles
in the United States.
"In Maine during the 10 months
ending June 80, 1923, Is people We're
killed and 10 injured, an average of
one a month; and the commission in
it's Investigations found in almost
every case, two seconds either way
would have prevented the fatality.
Had the automobile been two seconds
earlier or two seconds later the ac-
cident would not have occurred.
1.-THE adjustment of grade cross
ings is an ideality probably not at
tainable during the time of the
present generation. It's cost would
run into billions of dollars. Probably
the entire assets of two Maine rail-
roads would not be sufficient to ELI
inmate all the grade crossings in
Maine, if devoted to that purpose
alone. The law of Maine prescribes
a maximum rate of 10 miles per hour
t. drivers approaching grade cross
ings. If this law is observed, the year
1924 may pass without a single death
or accident in the State of Maine. A
flagman protecting railroad cross
ing was run down and killed by a
reckless driver.
1--WE are writing to urge that you
cause the arrest of persons driving
automobiles across railroad crossings
which are protected by flagmen. or
crossing railroad tracks at an illegal
and dangerous rate of speed. A few
such arrests would be prevention of
death and suffering.
Capt. MiIIer's Reply
Capt. Miller's reply to the letter of
the public utilities commission is as
follows:
'Your letter Of recent date in which
you call my attention to the fatalities
which occurred at railroad crossings
in the United States and in Maine
during the season of 1923 is before
ne.
''You state that there We're Is kill
ed and 10 injured in Maine last year
and that your commission hopes that
the season of 1924 passes without a
single death or accident in the State
of Maine.
"Since assuming the office Of chief
of the state highway police, T have
locked over the reports of accidents
which occurred at railroad crossings
and find that most of them were
caused by careless and reckless driv-
erS. 1t is my intention this season
tn have these crossings patrolled by
state highway police and to see that
all operators of motor vehicles who
dc not exercise proper care in ap-
preaching these crossings are brought
to- account for careless and reckless
driving. There operators are men
ace to the travelling public as they
not only endanger their own lives but
the lives of others.
"If the motoring public must race
with death it must be done in some
other state than Maine, as our de-
partment intends to show no mercy
to operators who disregard signals
at railroad crossings or who race
trains to the crossing. These opera
tors will be brought into court and if
convicted the state highway commits
sion will then be in a position to re-
woke the operators license on the
charge of reckless and careless driv-
ing.
1--WE wish to cooperate with YOU
in every way in curbing al forms of
careless and reckless driving to the
end that this season of 1924 the State
of Maine will have the lowest per-
ctntage Of railroad crossing fatalities
in the Unitetd States.
II thank you for your courteous let
ter and your cooperation with us in
our efforts to rid the highways of
the menace of careless and reckless
drivers