The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1925-05-20

0&1EAN AA1 [~~@N NA~@N
a marked reduction in the number OF
traffic fatalities and accidents in the
last few months, Thomas P. Henry,
president of the American AutOmo-
bile association, is urging all motor
isls W continue undated their eff
forts to make 1925 a banner traffic
year. He deplores the attitude of the
car owner who feels that he car let
down on precauticn because condi-
tions are showing some improvement.
Mr.. Henry's appeal is based on the
discovery that directly after showing
a clean slate for a month or so many
cities Immediately fall back into i
run Of accidents and traffic deaths.
"This condition is the result of a
let down in individual vigilance" Mr..
Henry explains. "The only remedy
is to forget that there has been any
material improvement and to proceed
just as though matters were growing
worse. W. can have no permanent
Improvement until we cease regarding
temporary improvements as final"
Following this statement from the
A. A. A. president, 500 secretaries,
representing as many motor clubs
affiliated with the national ~organiza-
ton, will urge upon members as we'll
as upon local motorists the necessity
of making a thorough job of reducing
the 1925 automobile and traffic NOR
tally record to the lowest possible
figure.
Officials of the national assOcia-
ton have followed the progress in
traffic safety with a view to dis
covering the reason for so pronounced
a veriation in results from month to
month. The trouble has been found
to be the effect of progress upon the
average driver. As Mr.. Henry points
out, the psychology of success is Of
ten a factor in. failure. Commenting
on this phase of the problem, the A.
a. A. president said:
Attitude Is DeplOrable
''The attitude of the mOtOrist who
lets down on precaution just because
conditions are improving is deplOr-
able. Only eternal vigilance makes
safety progress possible, and wheT
the motOrist taxes it for granted that
safety is assured the nation immedi
ately falls back into the old rut.
According to a report by the ma
tiOnal automobile chamber of com
merce, q cities that are cO-Operatin:
in a check of safety development
came through the month of Decembe,
with a clean slate. This is one o
the most significant instances o
progress that has been brought to tn
attention of the public in man,
months, but the public must respOn
to it as though these same q cite
had shown their worst record.
"The moment a city or a communit
succeeds in cutting down its huma
loss, there is a noticeable easing u
of vigilance on the part of driver
and pedestrians with the inevitabl
result that success leads to subsequer
failure. The psychology of it is q
simple as it is dangerous.
"The A. A. A. takes the positio
that safety can be maintained onl
by constant dissatisfaction with pre-
ent conditions, and that the goal mui
l. - L. .-C-7--As-r1~r - -
"a fine safety record may well
a source Of community pride. tt
greater the dissatisfaction the greats
the honor. And if, in addition to j
dissatisfaction, a community is NAL
ing Roadway, the greater will be Il
results.
Applies Generally
"TEis applies to the nation in gel
eral as well as to individual cities al
towns. improvements are becomir
rather general, according to the fl
ures now available, but that is n
saying that they z necessarily b
coming permanent.
"a permanent improvement in Il
form Of 10 per cent reduction
automobile and traffic fatalities +
1926 is to be preferred to a Is p
cent reduction which may be offs
by an increase in the number Of T
talities the year following.
Traffic safety is too big a pro
lem to be solved in any b mont
or in any che year. 1t is a long tin
proposition, and everyone must wo.
for results on that basis. No ci
can afford to assume thst Il has evI
uartiallv solved its problem when