Milford chronicle., 1924-08-15
new PLAN TRIED TO
STOP CROSSING MTSHAP
State Highway Department EreCts
Barriers At COOIspring Station
On Pennsylvania Railroad.


Way down in lower Delaware, at
CoOlspring crossing of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad, on the way to RehO-
both, is a new and unique safety sta
tiOn on the state highway, that is
being given a test this summer to
determine whether it is not the best
style Of modern safety warning that
could be established on highways
anywhere.
The safety station comprises con-
crete posts in the center of the high
way, 25 yards from the railroad
crossing with wooden lattice work
painted white and black between
the posts. On top of the station is Il
signal light that never ceases to
flash out its warning and surround
ing the light post are warning no.
tices Placed in front of the station
on either side are reflex signs that
reflect the glare of the headlights of
automobiles at night and draw the
attention of the motOrist to the eros
sing
Because these stations are placed
in the center of the highway, just be-
fore the crossing, and because mo-
tOrists who exercise common sense
must slow down before crossing the
tracks, it is believed that these safe
ty stations are going to result in
fewer accidents at dangerous grade
crossings. The mOtorist cannot now
drive straight across the tracks at
COOlspring, but must slow up and
turn out around this safety station
in order to approach the tracks.
There is a station on either side
Of the crossing so that motorists
travelling in either direction will
have to slow up before crossing.
The idea was one suggested by the
railroad officials and constructed
this summer by the state highway
department. Up to this time there
have been no accidents at this eros
sing which fact may be placed to the
credit of the safety station.
c. D. Buck, engineer in charge of
state highway construction and also
in charge of the state highway pO-
lice is cheerfully optimistic about
LuG COulluudl GllOlL UClAS5 Wu5Cu OJ
the police force to make the high
ways of Delaware safe for motor
lists. Mr.. Buck believes that the
number of fatal accidents due to
collisions between automobiles on
state roads will be reduced this year
from so to rs per cent. When asked !
about the reason for this splendid !
progress Mr.. Buck said it was due to !
two reasons.
First, because of the increased |
number of state highway police
men. The police force regulating ira
vel has been increased by ten more
men this year, which has enabled the |
state highway department to more !
efficiently place in effect the traffic |
laws enacted by the General Assem-
bly, of Delaware.
The second reason is because these |
highway policemen now patrol their
beats on the highways just like a
city policeman covers so many
blocks in this city. Heretofore be-
cause of the small number of the
state highway police these "beats"
were not possible, but now, each
traffic man is held responsible for any
on the part OF motorists
as far as it is humanity possible
warning and cautions to
prevent. Before a state highway po-
liceman is taken into the service he
must show he is qualified after pas
sing through an intensive training
period and knows how to perform
the duties of a highway policeman.
This efficiency is one of the things
that Mr.. Buck is very proud of and
On it he is basing the hope of re-
lucing the number of fatal accidents.
Last year there were 29 deaths
iue to collision on state highways.
Jp to today, there have been but six
fatalities and the motoring year is
more than half gone. If the same av-
erage is maintained to the end of the
rear, the number of fatalities would :
)e about 10 as compared to 20 last
,ear. Such accidents as a motorisr :
irving into a railroad train at
,rossing are incidents not counted
n the percentage of highway acci-
Ients, and are so reprehensible from
personal standpoint as to be with
nut the pale of the state highway po- .
Star