The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-18

once again we have watched a section of our country pass through the appalling conditions of great flood. In this experience there is something to make us pause for ser iolLs reflection and perhaps give US a clearer viewpoint of our other accidents. These weeks of disaster are not easily forgotten. Newspaper headlines have flashed the high spots of the drama of uncontrolled water. Radio has given US most dramatic story of suffering and heroism. As though upon the scene we watched the flood waters rise higher and higher; we pie tured in our imaginations the horror of being marooned while hungry waters lashed about us. We cannot underestimate in any way the grueSome tragedy of the flood. Yet, after all, the flood was within the confines of one state and the latest estimate of the total number of deaths from drowning and exposure is below 800 Now, compare these facts with the new high total of deaths upon our streets and high ways during 1897. Note that in addition about 15O,000 were perma- nently injured; that still another million were temporarily disabled. Consider, too that the whole coun- try, every state. every city, every village contributed it's victims to these disasters"
 Families Affected
 One American family in every 30, on the average, had one of its mem- bers either killed or injured, in a highway accident. The destruction by flood, horrible as it is, pales be- side the far greater catastrophe that is taking place all the time on the streets and highways of our coun- try. Then, why are we not more shocked by this greater tragedy? | Why are we not, as one people, swept | with the horror and personal loss? Why are we not aroused to do the few simple and sensible things that We know will reduce these accidents? Is it because VIC have not yet lost one of our dear ones? That stun ming blow may fall tomorrow. What shall we say, how shall we satisfy the accusing thoughts of our own minds, if we have not done every thing possible to prevent such dis aster?"
 Let us forget the unnecessary in safety organization. Let us take the direct and forceful steps that we know can keep the reckless and the irresponsible motorist off the highways. Let us resolve that we will be more unselfish, more con- siderate when driving our cars, and that VIC will obey the speed regula- tions, the rules of the road, the com- mon rules of courtesy. Let us con- trol our machines that become mighty juggcrnauts when we forget our responsibility to restrain their power"
 Lend Support
 "Let us give our encouragement to those who make the laws, to those who enforce the regulations and to those meting out discipline to make our streets and highways safer. In the final analysis ours is the pri- mary responsibility. Traffic safety will be only as good as we wish 1t to DC. Public servantj cannot be Public servants cannot be blamed for laity if they sec that we are careless and uncertain about our plans, our laws and our programs. Let us realize that the day we will t to be so, we can have the powers ,f state and national government be- lind our determination to stop .raffic accidents. Last February a pill was introduced into the Con- yress of the United States for an ap- to be devoted to air safety measures. This is a com nendable idea. But, again. con- ,ider the few lives lost in air dis isters as compared with the nation vide waste of human lives in motor vehicle accidents. A similar sum or ten times such sum might De soundly and wisely appropriated for the purpose of reducing and these unnecessary traf-