New Britain herald., 1929-01-08
GRADE CROSSINGS
 NOT 50 DANGEROUS
Percentage of Killed and Hurt
 Low, Tyler Says

Ouly Uuo-1Ou1IA IA VI o3S PS' S of people injured in automobile ac- cidents were hurt at grade crossings. according to Leslie H. Taylor, special representative of the public relations department of the New York. New Haven and Hartford railroad. who told members of the Lions club at the noon luncheon today that the grade crossings have been over emphasized as a danger spot.
 In Connecticut. Rhode Island and Massachusetts, in 1927 there were 1.172 deaths in automobile acci- grade crossings. he pointed out. He added that in the same period and in the same territory there were 4s,e3s persons injured of which only 1ls received their injuries at grade crossings.
 The number killed at crossings Is only two and eight-tenths per cent. the railroad man averred.
 Speaking of the elimination Of grade crossings, Mir. Tyler called at- tention to the fact that the New York. New Haven and Hartford railroad has 1700 grade crossings elimination of which would cost 500 million dollars. Of this almost 200 million would come from the rail- roads. This woud mean, he com puted. that freight rates would in- crease 30 per cent or freight and passenger rates in New England would increase 15 per cent to pay the costs.
 Automobile accidents are due 10 five causes. according to the speak, CT, thoughtlessress. inattention carelessness. drunkenness and in competence.
 Even by eliminating the grade crossing; 1t would not alter the sit- nation any, Mir. Tyler commented. saying that people who are careless enough. or reckless or drunk enough to be involved in grade crossing ac- oidents are the same type who would be likely to go out on the highway and kill some one. He told his hearers that the fellow who shoots past street intersections at so miles an hour without slowing up is the same fellow who is apt to kill some child or get mxed up in a grade crossing accident.
 The careless motorist will get into an accident whether there are grade crossings or not" he added.
 Fayors Strictcr Laws
 By spending a small fraction Of the money it would take to elimi- nate grade crossings, much more could be accomplished by more stringent laws regulating people who operate on highways, the ra!l- road man stated. He spoke of the regulation on railroads. examination of equipment operators and strict supervision and inspection of equip ment, even while 1t is in motion. He said the $50 car never should be ;l- lowed on the highway without Nn- dergoing thorough overhauing and the operator being required to carry q certificate showing that it was ir proper condition to be operated.
 He spoke Of the complaint from New Britain and other plaoes Of time lost by people who say they arc held up on grade crossings. by trains which stand on the crossings He said this is not done when there is any way to avoid it, but that when 1t is done the delay is no more than that which people accept good naturedly at any street intersection where there is a traffic light.
 New Haven Road Statistics
 Quoting some statistics he said 16 per cent of the New Haven cross- ings are protected by gates, while in the United States as a whole only three per cent are protected. The New Haven road has watchmen on 10 per cent of its crossings, while