Show Chief Cause of RR Crossing Deaths Failure of drivers to comply with the law is the principal cause of the tragic death toll at railroad grade crossings a arail arail arail rail executive charged THE FACT that they do not do so is evidenced by the people who were killed in crossing crashes in the first half of 1966 said Joseph H. H Hays general counsel of the Association AssocIation Association tion of Western Railways He pointed out that while the number is only about three per cent of all traffic fatalities it has gained over the past two years EXPOSURE TO CO COLLISION has vastly Increased due to the tremendous growth in the number and use of motor vehicles and the expansion in mileage of speed high-speed highways Mr Hays declared Speaking at a meeting of railroad brotherhood representatives tives in Chicago Mr Hays said that about 40 per cent of crossing accidents occur when motor vehicles run into trains And about half of those happen in broad daylight many of them when the train is standing still he added HERE WHERE IS A CASE WHERE compliance with the law is a crying need whether that compliance be voluntary or in response to increased police effort yet rarely do you hear of a traffic ticket for reckless driving over railroad tracks Mr Hays noted that the growing nationwide tendency to ignore laws of all kinds Is apparent in grade-crossing grade statistics as well as in those pertaining to all traffic and he warned that transgressions are more likely to be serious when one tangles with a train WE VE MAY NEED POLICE assistance to keep people from killing themselves at gr grade d crossings It is amazing to see how many motorists will ignore the flashing lights at railroad tracks or drive around crossing gates after they have been lowered he said Mr Hays recalled a recent gasoline truck-train truck collision in which the train crew and truck driver were cremated Only a few days after the incident a check of the crossing involved revealed that in a hour 24 24 period 44 motor vehicles crossed the tracks when the lights were flashing and a train was closely approaching THIS IS TYPICAL OF WHAT goes on day after day at all too many I places Police action is essential if we are to stop this needless slaughter he d dc lared |