The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-06-11
MOTOR TRAFFIC SAFETY

The City of Sumter, S. C., has not had
motor traffic fatality in three years. Com
ment on the record of Sumter is made, In
TIE Car Owner, magazine of the, Carolina
Motor Club. In view of the vast .impor-
lance of the problems of traffic safety, this
newspaper gives space to the article re-
ferred to. which was written by j. A. Raj
field, city manager of Sumter, and IS as
follows: $3.50 ..<'s 80
The vital need today is to make our people
safety conscious" when we realize that acct
Jents are worse than war" and that more peo
ple have been killed in motor vehicle accidents
during a similar period than were killed IN the
six major wars in which this country has been
engaged. The most serious situation is the cheap
regard in which human fife is held; we read of
an accident involving death and injury and un-
less some of those involved are known to us, we
hardly complete the article The work of the
National Safety Council and allied interests
which include motor clubs have been invaluable
in saving human life
Realizing the great need and desiring to do
IT'S part Sumter in 1885 entered the safety con-
test sponsored by the National Safety Council
had no traffic fatality on our streets. For this
we are profoundly grateful and we trust the
record will continue.
In this effort we have had the cooperation
of the schools and civic organizations, the high
way department, as well as sutomotive dealers
and many others. We do not have unusually
wide streets in Sumter and this has possibly
contributed to the safety effort. We feel though
that the enforcement of traffic regulations has
been the greatest contributing feature. We en-
deavor to observe and enforce speed limits, we
require vehicles to come to full stop before
entering through or express streets, our men
observe driving in various parts of the city and
We find that the presence of an officer IN such
places is very valuable. Traffic laws are enforced
and violations heard by the city recorder result
m the imposition of a penalty if found guilty
Drivers operating motor vehicles while under
he influence of intoxicants are fined not less
than fifty dollars with the required suspension
of drivers license. ....
AN of these factors contribute and trust
that our record is going to be improved and that
other communities going to become more
safe. IN
We note in the foregoing article the as
sertion by City Manager Raffield of Sum
ter that the primary need in improving
traffic conditions and making travel NOR,
safe. is to make the people safety con
scious," People everywhere, in the larges
possible degree. should be made safet.
conscious. Intelligent, sober people VIII,
drive carefully, with due regard for thei
own safety and the safety of others WIZ
are using the streets and highways, cal
generally avoid accidents, -~, .
The most serious aspect of the situation
however, Mr., Raffield believes, is tn
,cheapness of human life in the estimation
of many people. Possibly that is true
Two decades have witnessed the rapit
growth of this spirit. The horrors of war
the lawlessness of individuals and gangs
as we'll as the terrific number of traffi
accidents and deaths have contributed t
this state of mind of the people of thi
nation. ,......
Now, motor traffic accidents and fatal
ties. are taking,a larger toll in deaths, hu
Haan suffering and destruction of propert
than war ever garnered in this country.
The people of the nation must ,becom
safety conscious in their relations to motto
traffic destructiveness. The application Q
esrs. principle and spirit must be made i
the. case of the millions of individuals VIII
control and operate motor vehicles. !
must also be developed among the thou
.ssshds of law enforcement officers an
other public officials, who are charged wit
the duty of making traffic regulations an
enforcing them. . ~.
The City Manager. says that in Sumte