The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-10-26
SAFETY WEEK IN COUNTY


What can be done about traffic aceEl
dents? }.57}
There probably is no complete solution,
to situation that is VIGOROUSLY bad and
which manifestly is growing worse, but II
NAV be admitted that education will go a
long way toward reducing the number Ell
fatalities which, in 1884, reached the
amazing total of $4,000 in the United
States. '-nifa" ,A,|
A step in this direction will be taken IN
Henderson county next week when Safe
ty Campaign, sponsored by the Hender-
sonville Kiwanis Club and endorsed by
other civic and administrative agencies,
will get underway. Attention to this cam
paign, details of which are outlined in the
news columns, is directed in this issue OF
The Times-News Request is made that
careful reading be given all material bear
ing on the movement, and that particular
study be made of the article, And Sud-
den Death, which is reprinted for the sec
ond time from the Readers Digest. ,s,,}
The United States News has recently re-
leased figures showing that automobile IA
talities in this country during the last 10
years have exceeded by almost so per cent
the total of all Americans killed in all wars
since the beginning of the nation. Since
1920, we have lost 38S,936 people as, the
result of motor car accidents, while our
war fatalities since 1776 have been only
244,357. Unfortunately the outlook is net
improving, which gives rise to the question,
What can be done about it?" In the opil-
ion of the Chicago Tribune, drivers Ii
censes and education will mitigate the
frightful situation, but will not cure It,
Even the cities and states where safety bu-
reaus have assumed almost tyrannical con-
troll contribute their share to the stagger-
ing toll. Scientific segregation of traffic
through the construction of elevated high
ways is the only real answer and the re-
sponsibility for the continued massacre
must be assumed by those who oppose the
work. And the cost to the country-we ali
know the cost of the wars. Would we not
pay greater amount to prevent them?"
s-- AS The Tribune says, education and agi,
tation will help greatly, and for this reason
the campaign being sponsored by the Hi
wants club is much worthwhile, but it ad
mittedly will fall short of the desired re-
suits. Everything within reason must be
done to make accidents impossible or q
least improbable. Eliminate dangerous
crossings lat least one of which is at the
Seventh avenue crossing of the Southern
railway in Hendersonville) and so cor.
struct traffic lanes as to minimize oppor
tunities for mishap. Modern automobile.
all but do away with the hazard of me
chanical failure, but at the same time thei
capacity for speed has been increased ant
many drivers can not be reached by plead
ing or logic when the opportunity is pre-
to "step on il" These drivers Gauss
much if not most of the trouble, and ma!
reasonably be expected to continue to d.
so. The only permanent protection agains
them apparently is to make the uses of tn,
highways as nearly fooi-proof as possible
Meanwhile, Jail or road sentences is tn
most effective deterrent to some of thos
who disregard the lives and limbs of them
selves and others. Such sentences shout.
be imposed more frequently.