Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-04
BY MATTHEW WoLL,

Vice President American Federation of
Labor and President Union Labor Life
Insurance Co.
To the working people Of this coun-
try the automobile is not luxury, but
an increasingly essential part of the
equipment that Is being used in the
earning of livelihoods. Efficiency and
safety in its use, therefore, have direct
bearing upon the earning power and
production of wealth of the American
people and also upon the economic
prosperity of most American commune
ties.
No part of the population is more
vitality concerned in traffic conditions
than people of moderate and limited
means, which include the great mass
of wage and salary earners. The bur-
den of traffic losses and the weight Of
traffic casualties and injuries are falling
hardest on them because they are in
the least convenient position to meet
and resist them.
Labor Aid Given.
The National Conference on Street
and Highway Safety at Washington, in
deviSing the uniform vehicle code and
other remedial measures for assistance
to the States and cities in solving their
traffic troubles, has had the active as
sistance and cooperation Of labor in
terests and trade unions. Representa-
tiveS and delegates of these organiza-
tons have participated in the formu-
lation of the conference program and
encouraged its acceptance by the States
and municipalities.
With 25,000,000 automobiles in use
on the streets and roads now, it is
quite evident that the majority of
them are owned by persons of mod
crate means. The interest of the work.
ing population in traffic safety and So
luton of traffic tangles is clearly ap-
parent. These vehicles and the con-
venience they afford have been the
means Of releasing workers and their
families from the cranped confines of
narrow and congested streets in the
cities and opening to them the suburban
residential sections and adjacent coun-
try districts. 1t has been the means
of immense expansion of all of our
cities and larger towns.
The moderate-priced automobile and
good roads have done much to sta
billie the opportunity for employment
and to reduce the loss and waste
incident to unemployed workers. Out
door workers. especially in part-time
occupations, have had their range of
employment opportunity materially
widened from the immediate vicinity
of their homes, or radius of available
mass transportation facilities, to such
distances as they can conveniently
travel each day.
Two Direct Effects.
This development has had two di-
rect effects upon social and economic
conditions. Congested areas and slum
districts in great cities are rapidly be-
coming a thing of the past. The wives
and children of men of moderate
means are gradually moving into out
lying sections, where fresh air and
playground space are not at premium
and where they enjoy the comforts of
substantially established homes. That
in itself is an element of economic
strength for the community.
Their children have the opportunity
to attend school under normal condi-
tons and grow up amid normal and
healthful surroundings. The open
spaces" which they know are no longer
restricted to city parks and municipal
Fairgrounds.
The Importance of eficient trafhc
regulation and safety in this situation
Is only too manifest. 1t is intimately
associated with the earning capacity
and spending power Of each town and
community. And the towns and COM
munities that fail to recognize the ne
cessity for convenient and efficient traf-
f1c facilities and safety on their streets
and roads are simply taking strangle
hold on their own economic well-being
and future and for which they must
sooner or later pay a penalty. Many of
them are already paying it.
A man or woman stricken down in a
traffic accident, due to careless driving
or unsafe streets, is an economic loss to
the community. It is a much greater
loss from an economic standpoint when
the victim Is wage Garner or the
financial mainstay Of a family.
No city or town has the moral right
to invite the homeseeker or the tourist
to come into its midst when its streets
are unsafe, and it is a hazardous place
from traffic standpoint in which to
live.
Basic Propositions.
Traffic conditions in every town and
city come down to two basic PROPOSE
tons: Regulation and supervision must
be eficient and firm, and trafic laws
and ordinances uniform and based on
the best Judgment and experience of
trafdc authorities.
Second, the use of the streets must be
restricted to vehicles and vehicle oper-
ators that are safe from trafic stand
point The responsibility rests upon
each State and community to know that
its roads and streets are not used by
drivers who are Incompetent or I'M
familiar with rules, regulations and safe
practices, and further, that they are not
driving cars that are defective An any
essential part.