Such statistics are studied mainly with the object of learning the lessons which they may afford as to preventive measures for the future; and from this point of view the most important element is the single item of passengers killed in train accidents (a 1).
The number of servants killed in train accidents is the next in importance.
Item I shows no passengers killed in train accidents during the year.
In any comparison between British and American records the first point to be borne in mind is the difference in mileage and traffic. The American railways aggregate approximately ten times the length of the British lines; but in train miles the difference is far less.
In 1907 one passenger in 2,318,051 was killed, and one in 107,004 was injured, in train accidents.