The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-08-16

unteer Motor Patrol. was insti- gated today by Colonel Michael A. Connor. commissioner of Motor Vehicles.
 It was announced that persons who have not been involved in an accident for which they were re- sponsible, or who have not been convicted for violation of the motor vehicle code will be eligible for membership. together with persons whom the commissioner feels are competent to make fair and ac- curate reports. These will receive from the department of motor ve- hicles a card identifying them as members of the motor patrol. It is planned. according to Commis- sioner Connor. also to provide each person eligible for membership with a sticker or. other device to be conspicuously placed on their re- spective motor vehicles.
 The card of membership states. ''This card identifies .. a member. of the Citizens Volunteer Motor Patrol of Connecticut, who agrees to operate motor vehicles at all times in a courteous manner with SDeCldI TtSuIu Iof tllC OA h'' fellow citizens, and who will report to the motor vehicle department careless operators and those who violate the motor vehicle laws of the state." These cards will also bear the signature of the commis- sioner.
 May Correct Accidents
 Announcing his program, Com missioner Connor stated that year ago the idea of Citizens Volun- teer Motor Patrol was conceived. It is his contention that the tre- mendous number of accidents and fatalities can only he corrected by continuous educational campaign carried on by all eligible operators in the state in order to reach ana instruct individuals who either through carelssness or neglect have unwittingly acquired reprehensible driving habits. Commissioner Connor stated that frequently oper- ators who have been driving for long period of years. without be,nS aware of 1t themselves. have de- veloped habits of driving which are not in conformity with the best practices of motor vehicle opera tion. A letter from the depart ment will often bring these bad practices to the attention of the ,n- dividual and thereby correction should ensue. The department does not, in any sense, mean 10 censure unjustly or severely those persons who may drive in man. ner which they themselves feel to be correct but which. so far as thelr
 Sc does contribute to the safety of others
 In lieu of an organized motor patrol in the state. the Commits sionor said that one year ago the Citizens Volunteer Motor Patrol was organized as substitute for it. The experience of the past year has proven it's efficacy. Traffic, he said. 'is so great,> there are so many thousands of cars on the road, that confusion and congestion has inevitably resulted. All our motor vehicles laws, all our en- forcing agencies are occupied with the problem of bringing order anu system out of what otherwise might be chaos.' Minor infractions of the law. careless habits of driving. over confidence. the urge for speed and the discourteous disregard or the rights of other drivers. con-, tribute to this confusion and add to the loss of life and property on our highways. It is the purpose of the Citizens Volunteer Motor Patrol 10 keep vigilant watch of these in. fra ctions and to call to the atten- tion of the violators the fact th3t their own driving. in which they themselves have so great a confl- dence. may be frightening and men, acing others on the road.
 Less Fatalities
 CT might draw attention" he said, "to the fact that to date 29 fewer persons have been killed in this state than during the same period one year ago. From Janu- arv 1. 1898. to August 13, 1883. 264 persons were killed. as compared with 235 for the same period this year. There is no question in my mind that the cooperation of the public at large has saved these lives. feel that 1t is 8 particular ly noteworthy record in view of the fact that the record of fatalities through the country as whole has substantially increased while our own record shows decrease. "Since tho announcement of the Citizens Volunteer Motor Patrol one year ago. $500 complaints have been received in the depart ment, as compared with 3.700 for corresponding period the year previous In other words,4 6,6O0 individuals. and in many cases other members of his family. were made to realize that reprehensible driving on the highways of Connec- ticut will not go unnoticed. Certain ly thev were made to feel forcibly that their actions. irrespective of | where they were or at what time. were constantly being policed by their fellow citizens If the magnitude and scope Of the Volunteer Motor Patrol Is in- creased and a great body of consci- entious citizens are willing to take their individual responsibility m this matter, there can be no ques- tion but what our highways will be made safer. The situation has im- proved. yet the record is still suf- ficiently appalling to take drastic and unrelenting action. Frankly, we have asked every driver to DO" lice the other fellow and report any instances of infractions.
 For this" the commissioner continued. i've have been criticized fishing thereby a system of espi- not prove effective because certain in the role of snoopers or. if you