Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1930-02-06
State Highway Patrol And
The Newspaper
BY William Cole, Chief of the Wash.
ington State Highway Patrol.

Retrospecting the year 1929, we find
many things that are gratifying. Re-
suits have not been quite all we hoped
for, but there is sufficient to cause the
members of the Patrol to thank God
and take courage" AS we swing out
upon the duties of the New Year, it
seems fitting that we pause long
enough to give honor to whom so much
honor is due in making 1929 really
worth while to our organization.
In one short article it would not be
possible to compass much of the work
of the past year, so the writer 1astens
to one Of the net results as shown by
our office statistics.
Motor vehicles owned and operated
within the state increased Q per cent
in 1928, over those of 1928. For the
same period there was an increase Of
about 10 per cent in the out-of-state
tourist travel. Interstate commercial
motor traffic increased in number and
capacity. There was a marked increase,
also In the number of our own citi4
zens who used our highways during
the glorious summer vacation months
and the unusually beautiful autumn.
On the whole, the motor vehicle traf-
fic upon the states highways increas-
co approximately Is per cent over the
1923 figures. Yet, accidents, especial
~ fatal Onac have docraocar
With more pleasure cars owned and
operated under state licenses, more
tourist travel than ever before, more
and larger stages, more trucks with
larger carrying capacity, and all Of
them travelling at a higher average
speed, the highway death rate was 6
per cent lower in 1929 than in 1928.
How was this accomplished? We
answer, by hard work and intelligent
cooperation. And just here is where
the writer wishes to dispense a little
Of that honor to whom honor is DUE"
doctrine. The newspapers and maya
zines of the state have consistently
supported every effort of the Highway
Patrol to create sentiment and they
have themselves instituted and car
ried forward worthy campaigns for the
prevention of highway accidents. These
newspapers and magazines have &C
cepted at face value the results of
Patrol experience and have helped to
spread the golden rule Of good be-
havior among those who constantly or
occasionally sit behind the steering
wheel. They have carried to every
fireside in the state our appeals to
mothers in behalf of their children,
and to the children in behalf OF their
playmates. Our messages to teachers
in behalf of pupils and to pupils in be-
half OF the very young and the very
old have found their destinations often
only through the columns Of the press.
Dangers lurking at crossroads,
street intersections and blind alleys
have been made the themes OF editorial
comment, cartoon and news writing.
Campaigns against bad brakes, glazing
headlights, and every one of q thous-
and highway menaces have inevitably
been carried to the reading people
without amendment or delay. The
drunken driver, the speed maniac, the
road hog and the neck-chewing youth
behind the wheel have each been la
beled as undesirable by our newspaper
writer's. spineless courts have been
mercilessly flayed. while the names of
judges who could pass sentence upon
gross violators of traffic laws without
suffering are by the press written
among the Who's Who in the State.
The Patrol, therefore, credits much
of the success in accident reduction
to the manner In which the newspapers
of the state have cooperated IN the
interests of highway safety.
And what of 1892 The Highway
Patrol Is committed to q relentless war
against recklessness, carelessness, in
sanity and drunkenness behind the
steering wheels; but every member Of
the force is equally committed to the
proposition that education is more Of
fective than brute force. The Patrol
is out for results by whatever means
ohtainable, and we believe that It Is
possible to obtain as much Of results
in 1880 as in 1929, and perhaps more.
But, to realize this we must have CO.
operation.
To conserve life and property and
add to human happiness Is among
the highest Of earthly ambitions, and
to this we are committed-together
with our friends Of the great news
paper fraternity.