Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1924-08-09
.976 Accidents At
Crossings On P. R. R.
In Four Months

The American Railway Association
last summer from June to Septem-
Der participated in a Careful Cross
ing Campaign, the object of which
was to bring to the attention of the
American Public the extreme neces-
sity for exercising the greatest pos
sible care to avoid being struck and
killed or injured while travelling over
highway crossings.
There were however, 976 crossing
accidents resulting in 120 fatalities
and 180 injuries on the Pennsylvania
System alone during the four months
Of the campaign. Nine tenths of these
accidents involved automobiles. A
check of more than 100000 cars at
railroad crossings developed that a
large number Of deaths and injuries
IN automobile accidents, particularly
at railroad crossings, were attribut-
able to gross carelessness; in many
instances criminal carelessness. The
nature Of this carelessness is shown
ny the following analysis of the eros
sing accidents during the Careful
.rossing Campaign.
Passenger and Freight Trains
approximately one-half of the acct
dents involved passenger trains and
ahe other half freight trains and shift
ing engines. 80 per cent of the
trains in these accidents were running
less than 20 miles an hour, indicating
hat the failure of the motorist to
Keep constant lookout ahead and
iheir cars in control, is greater fac
or in crossing accidents as it has
,een proven by actual tests that ar
automobile equipped with effective
brakes running 20 miles an hour can
oe stopped within Is feet. IA train
cannot be stopped in a few feet. 1t
therefore obvious that drivers
should at all times have their cars un-
Ter absolute control when approach
,ng railroad crossings.
Pleasure Cars, Buses and Trucks
Pleasure automobiles were in GIL of
-hese accidents resulting in 70 fatali-
;les and 107 injuries. Motor buses
we're in 10 accidents resulting in 2
fatalities and injuries. Motor trucks
were in 1877 accidents resulting in 10
abilities and 81 injuries.
Racing Trains Over Crossings
fatalities and IL injuries were due to
the driver attempting to beat trains
over crossings. The frequent occur
renee of the statement made by driv-
ers who have escaped fatal injuries in
crossing accidents Of this kind is to
the effect that 81 thought I could
make it ahead of the train"
Automobiles Demolished-From the
standpoint of property loss during the
four months period, 156 automobiles
were either badly damaged or demol-
ished, representing a large monetary
waste.
Crossing Bells-The record of acct
dents at highway crossings show 20
fatalities and II injuries at crossings
where warning bells were ringing at
the time the automobiles were driven
in front of the train.
Watchman's Warning Disregarded
Again, as if to show the fullest ex-
tent to which negligence can be CAL
ried, So drivers Of automobiles disre-
garded the warning or signal of
crossing Waterman to stop, resulting
in 9 persons being killed and Is in
jured.
Train Derailments-T were S
train derailments on the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad System from crossing
accidents.
Ineffective Automobile Brakes
The record shows 81 crossing acct
dents attributable to defective auto
mobile brakes, which shows the i'm
portance of having effective brakes on
every automobile that travels on the
highway. The brakes on locomotives,
passenger and freight cars are thor
oughly inspected every time they are
:noved from one terminal to another
but the brakes on many automobiles
and trucks are rarely, if ever, inspect
ed and it is probable that systematic
check to detect defective foot and e.
mergency brakes would disclose a
startling situation.
Intoxication-16 accidents during
the four month period resulting in 2
fatalities and injuries were attribut-
able to intoxicated drivers.
Sailing on Tracks and Inexperienc-
ed Drivers-Only 10 accidents are
classified under lack Of experience Of
automobile drivers. The records show