Evening star., 1936-02-02

ton destruction that claims more than
and happiness in the use of the public
highways.
TO- We will cooperate with the
police departments and other enforce
ment agencies In vigorous selective
program Of traffic law enforcement,
designed to remove the reckless from
the highways, to curb the careless,
and TO protect the right of the good
citizen to use the highways safely and
free from molestation.
X
From Columbus, Ohio, the Automo-
bile Safety League of America, Inc,
sends in the following comment con-
cerning newspapers:
Before and since about the time of
the general announcement of our Or
ganization, in the Fall. together with
its aims and purposes, we have seen
quite bit of activity on the part of
certain newspapers regarding the prob
lem of safety.
We wish to congratulate all news
papers who have started definite
safety movements in their localities.
While We realize that the value Of
such movements can never be meas
ured or even estimated, We do believe,
however. that newspapers WELD more
influence than any other agency in
moulding the minds of the people.
And we believe the good that some
newspapers are doing along the line
Of safety is of untold value In these
days OF constant war between driver
and driver and between driver and
pedestrian. We realize that publicity
alone will not solve the terrible traffic
problem that confronts lis, but it does
a great deal of good and is necessary
in overcoming this terrible problem.
Recently we noticed that a group
of about 80 newspapers in the Caro-
linas, the seat of Americas automobile
danger zone, have started a united
effort to fight this problem. We be-
lieve this to be good move for the
public as we'll as a goodwill builder
for the publishers.
1T Is our belief that the accident
problem will never be bettered to a
great extent without uniform rules
and regulations throughout the coun-
try; compulsory mechanical inspec-
tions, which will eliminate lot of
unsafe. worn-out wrecks from the
streets and highways: drivers license
and financial responsibility laws.
These. in our opinion, along with
widely published news stories, will play
large part in reducing automobile
accidents. We do not believe that the |
matter of safety can be stressed too
much.
Again We want to thank all news
papers who are working along this line |
and encourage others to take part"
Taking ISSUE with the American In
stitute of Public Opinion on its poll |
advancing remedies for the reduction
OF highway fatalities and injuries, the
American Automobile Association to-
Gay turned thumbs down on compui- |
sorry automobile liability insurance.
the marking Of cars of persons at fault
IN accidents and the installation OF
mechanical governors to limit speeds
to so miles an hour.
There can be no question:" SAYS
Thomas P. Henry, president of the
A. A. A., "of the need for national
and organization to deal
with our crucial safety problem, not
only in the highway field, but in other
fields as we'll. There can be no ques-
ton OF the need for uniform laws
and regulations for the vehicle as well
as the driver There can be no uues-
ton as to the need for stricter en-
forcement and better methods and
Of enforcement. There can
be no question about the need for con-
tinuing education of drivers and
pedestrians, young and old, and there
can be no doubt as to the need for
engineering studies to adapt OUR roads
10 our cars and our cars to our roads
He continues:
But when it comes to proposals as
ar reaching as universal compulsory
automobile liability insurance, the seq
egation of cars into lawful and law
ess vehicles and the installation of
Mechanical governors to control speed. I
We enter a No Mans Land of mere
conjecture and run counter to the
news OF those who have given much
lme and thought to the problem, In :
tead OF promoting safety, such meas
res would, In my opinion, tend to
make confusion worse c0nfounded. 6
liked with the very earnest concern
ver OUR safety problem, there Is un- :
uestlonably today q great deal of ,
lysterla, and we must be careful not 8
o permit this hysteria to rush us into !
nWise legislation and regulation.
Even its most ardent advocates
gree that compulsory automobile in
urance is not safety measure. After
trial period of eight years in Massa-
husetts, this fact has been amply i
At the same time, the n
aw has been the source of racketeer- d
ng and fake claims for damages on q I
1gantic scale. It has been the cause s
t political turmoil and underwriting i
onflsion. 1t does not even guarantee :
Now compensation Is :
Iot a safety issue, but an economic h
ssue. II we are to tackle it, let's do o
o from that standpoint-face it +
rankly and decide who shall pay the q
Ill. But let's not foist it on the r
ountry In the guise of safety meas :
re. especially at time when the
afety responsibility law, drafted in i.
ne interest Of safety and to control '
he reckless driver, is producing re-
ults In the 20 States and the District =
t Columbia, where it is now in effect. =
ITO me the marking of automobiles {
he drivers Of which have been at !
ault verges on the ridiculous. It is @
ot at all unusual to have three men, '
ers Of family drive the same car.
one member should prove himself Z
r herself reckless and Indifferent to b
he rights of others, let's deal with a
hat member: let's invoke our strong
st penalties; let's use the weapon Of O
ispension and revocation of the driv- b
1g permit and of Jail where neces- y
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