Evening star., 1935-09-29
INDUSTRY BACKS
HIGHWAY SAFETY
Continental Baking Co.
Manager Describes Strin-
gent Campaign.

y
With the public throughout the
country alarmed by the rising tide OF
fatalities growing out of automobile
accidents, which last year claimed the
lives of $4,000 people, permanently
disabled 100000 and otherwise injured
100000 in America alone, industry
Is lining up solidly behind the move
ments of city and State to promote
highway safety.
1T has been definitely proved that
industrial and commercial concerns
can play large part in reducing that
tragic roll" says j. B. LlltteS, manager
of Continental Baking Co., describing
the stringent safety campaign which
the Continental Baking Co. has car
ried on with great success. The COM
pany also has Joined The Star safety
drive.
"The utmost care in selecting sales
men who drive trucks, tests and train
ing even more rigid than the law re-
uuires, constant attention to the con-
dition of equipment, and everyday
emphasis on safety are the Leading
features of the companys campaign,
Mr.. Luttes said. LAS result OF these
precautions, not one of the $4,000
automobile deaths of 1884 were
chargeable to the negligence of any
of the company's 3,400 statesmen, who
drove a total of 100000 miles in all
kinds of weather. More than one
third of its drivers have cone for three
wears without a chargeable accident
of any kind, and many have main
tanned such records over periods OF
from 10 to 20 years. II all concerns
operating fleets of trucks would follow
similar procedure, considerable num-
Der of annual automobile accidents
could be avoided"
Personality and Ability.
The would-be bread salesman must
have more than a good personality
and sales ability. Proof of his ability
to drive, not as an average driver, out
as a first-class one. IS the greatest
hurdle he encounters in getting his
Job.
After he has given satisfactory evi-
dence of personality, sales ability ana
good reputation, the applicant might
think that all he then has to do Is
produce a drivers license to get the
lob. In the case of this company,
however, his biggest barrier Is stlll
ahead. He is examined by doctors
from head to feet to assure that no
physical defect may make him an IN
competent or careless driver. He Is
given instruction sheets, starting WITH
the bold notation, IF there issan accl-
dent, it is your fault" and including
all rules of the road, local traffic ordl-
nances and company rules for safety.
After thorough study, he is given a
comprehensive oral examination, COW
ering all phases of the rules he has
studied, each question an important
part of a careful drivers rule book.
No catch questions, but a good,
STRAIGHTFORWARD test. Then comes the
most important hurdle of all, the road
test. He drives truck over course
selected in advance to offer every pos
sible application of both official and
company rules. Again, no tricks, but
a. thorough and practical test cover
ing all the conditions of driving he
may experience If he gets the job.
Thoroughness of Test.
With interview, medical eXamina-
ton, oral test and road test completed,
the prospective salesman has clearly
indicated whether or not he is phySl-
cally and mentally equipped for the
lob, whether his attitude toward driv-
ing is right, whether he has previously
developed driving habits which must
be overcome, and whether he can be
depended on to carry out every COM
pany driving rule. In case he is 9TH
erwise satisfactory but shows a need
for further training, he is given that
training and repeated tests.
If he gets the job. he is responsible
for the condition of his truck, which
must be vigorously inspected daily to
minimize the possibility OF accidents
resulting from defective equipment.
THE safety precautions do not end
there" MI. Luttes said. 1T has def
nitely been established that, although
many accidents are caused by drivers
who have physical or mental defects
or who are not properly trained, a
great proportion of them result from
careIessness on the part of otherwise
well-qualified drivers. After the tests
o Continental salesman must pass to
get his job, we know he is qualified
for it. But, to guard against any
carelessness, we emphasize safety ev-
cry day in the year. Only constant
realization of the tragic possibilities
of careless or slipshod driving can
make sustained safety campaign 100
per cent effective"