Henderson daily dispatch., 1939-06-17
Underwriters
Aid In Truck
Safety Drive
Daily Dispatch Bureau,
In the Sir walter Hotel.

Raleigh, June li.-NOI III Ndlollli .
vigilant highway patrolmen aren't
alone in keeping a Watchtul eye on
the hundreds of commercial vehicles
which move over Tar Heel roads at
speeds of from six to sixty miles an
hour.
It isn't only the ''patter-rollers will
git we, if we don't look OUT in their
case. The boys in those truck cabs
must keep just as wary an eye peel
ed for insurance company CRUISERS
as for the aluminium cars of the pa
troll or the ordinary uniformed and
ununiformed claw" of State, county
and what not
These cruisers for companies which
carry the financial risk attending OPP
erations of the commercial carriers
are every bit as hardboiled as the
officers, too; although, OF course,
they don't hand out tickets or chuck
drivers off-hand into the hOoSegoW
if they talk back. In fact, they don't
talk to the drivers at all; but when
they see one doing the things he
ought not to do, out comes note
book: down in the black and white
goes a full report of the Incident
the "who, what, where, when and
how" of it all.
This report goes to the company,
and from its office to the drivers
employer, with appropriate recon-
mendations. And many a driver has
had his faults and failings pointed
out in no uncertain language; some
have been locked in pay; others have
even lost their jobs for reckless,
stupid or dangerous driving which
they were confident had been I'M
observed
But "cruisers" are only a single
item in program OF systematic, I'M
ceaSing safety education which insur-
ance companies have adopted, ac-
cording to E. R. Reader, Eastern
North Carolina representative of
Marked Service, Inc, concern
which insures thousands of trucks
and buses and a limited number of
taxicabs in North Carolina.
The cruisers, Mr.. Reader said,
are insurance company employees sent
into North Carolina usually from an
other state to patrol the roads and
keep constantly on the alert for driv-
ers whose vehicles are covered by
the insurance company. Whenever
any violation of the rules and re-
gulations Of the road-Or even dis
courtesy not amounting to violation
is noticed, it is noted, with full
details and report is then made to
the home office.
But, as said, this is only one phase
OF safety campaign which begins
the minute a truck or bus operating
concern places its insurance with the
Insurance company.
AS soon as the risk has been as
sumed company representative is
sent to instruct all drivers of the in
sured. If it is possible to get them
all together at one time, so much the
better; if not, they are seen as and
when the representative can catch
them.
Our aim is to make the drivers
safety conscious" said Mr.. Reader,
1--WE want them to form driving
habits which make for preservation
OF life and property on the highways.
It's matter Of dollars and cents to
our company-the fewer accidents.
the less we have to pay out on &C
count of the risks we have assumed.
I'VE also try to make the drivers
see that it not only means their own
safety, but is to the financial interest
OF their employers and, ultimately,
their own financial interest"
1t has been his experience that the
drivers soon become really and vital
Nv Interested in tho pro0roy,o rTbox,
react favorably to the educational
campaign almost without exception.
Mr.. Reader stays on the roads most
OF the time and makes it a habit to
frequent restaurants and other places
patronized by drivers.
i have an informal safety discus
sion almost every night, he said "I
make it point to get where the
drivers are and to turn the CONVEX
sation to safety"