The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-06-13
STATEWIDE
SAVE-A-LIFE
CAMPAIGN
Announced by Proclamation
Issued by Gov. Albert
G. Richie


land, statewide "Save-A-Life" cam.
paign will be conducted from June Is
to July Is, 1t was announced today
by e. Austin Baughman, Commission.
er of Motor Vehicles.
The campaign was announced today
for the State by a proclamation is.
sued by Governor Albert c. Richie
at the Capitol this morning. The
proclamation calls upon all municipal
authorities, motor organizations and
civic and commercial bodies to co.
operate in the "Save-A-Life" move.
ment and also calls attention to the
new Motor Vehicle Inspection Law.
Under the provisions of Chapter
257 Of the Acts of the General AS
sembly of Maryland as enacted at the
Session Of 1929, the Commissioner of
Motor Vehicles is authorized to re.
quire an inspection of the safety fac.
tors of all motor vehicles in the State.
The inspection of motor vehicles shall
consist Of brakes, lights, horns, steer
ing mechanism, windshield wipers,
rear view mirrors, obscure license tags
and operators licenses.
Service stations and garages in ev.
cry community in the State will be
appointed to serve as official inspec-
tion stations from June Is to July
Is, inclusive. During this period every
motor vehicle owner is requested to
drive or send his car or truck to one
of these official inspection stations to
be examined regarding it's mechanical
condition. This inspection will be
made entirely without charge at Off
cial garages and service stations and
the motor vehicle owner is free to
choose any official inspection station
he desires.
Official windshield stickers will be
issued in the name of the State Motor
Vehicle authorities and one of these
will be placed on every motor vehicle
that passes inspection as being in
good mechanical condition insofar as
Its safety factors are concerned. Cars
that reveal mechanical defects which
render them unsafe will have to be
put in good order before the official
State sticker will be issued to the
owner.
"The proposed 'Save-A-Life' inspec-
ton Of automobiles will be devoted
chiefly to the brakes, horns, lights,
steering mechanism, windshield wip-I
ers and mirrors" said Commissioner
3aughman in announcing the cam
paign to reduce automobile accidents
and prevent fatalities in the State,
"These are the items most likely to
get out of order on the average auto
mobile and truck and statistics show
that they are the most frequent causes
of accidents.
1--WE want no unsafe automobiles on
the roads in Maryland and co-opera-,,
ton of every citizen and motorist in
getting his car inspected free Of
charge between June Is and July Is
will go long way towards saving
lives and preventing accidents.
sit is perfectly obvious that the
best driver in the world cannot stop
q car that has no brakes or warn
pedestrians and other cars if the horn
is not working. Inspection of drivers
is not sufficient; the vehicle they drive
must also be in safe condition to
prevent injury to themselves and
others.
"Forty per cent of deaths from au-
tomobile accidents in the United
States are caused by defects in the
mechanical condition of the automo-
bile itself. A modern automobile is
good for tens of thousands of miles
of service and it is entirely safe in the
hands of careful driver, but being a
piece of machinery it requires regular
mechanical inspection at least once a
year to keep it in good running order
and to operate it economically and
safely"
Governor Ritchie's proclamation calls
upon the officials of every community
and various civic and industrial Or,
PLANTATIONS to lend their whole-hearted
support to the Statewide movement
for greater motor vehicle safety. The
text of the proclamation follows:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND
SAVE A LIFE CAMPAIGN
june Is to July 10. 1929. inclusive
WHEREAS, Experience has demonstrated
that considerable portion of the acct
dents involving motor vehicles is directly
chargeable to defective mechanism or
equipment; and
WHEREAS, These accidents leave in
their wake untold suffering and loss of
human life and limb, entirely aside from
wanton waste of and damage Of and to
property; and
WuEREAS IL 10 hnliound TINT narnfnl