The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-12-14
"You May Be Next!"
Highways More Dangerous Than Battle6elds De- clare Safety Folders - School Children Mobi-
 lze in Effort to Reduce Holiday Accidents.

The Highway Safety Commission will complete distribution Monday and Tuesday of this week of all 275,000 Safety Crusade folders to school children throughout the state, The solgan of the Connecticut Safety Crusade is to give Connecti- cut safety for Christmas. The teach CTS are using the graphically stated accidents facts and figures carried in this folder as text for short in- structions to their pupils, and to properly carry out the crusade spirit the children are urged to sign the Crusaders Safety Pledge.
 Crusaders Enrolled
 The purpose of the newly organ ized Safety Crusaders League is to make Connecticut the safest place in America. All children in both public and parochial schools from the fourth grade up, and including the high schools are requested to become Safety Crusaders. They are also instructed by their teachers to take home the crusade folder, have their parents read it and request that their parents also sign the safety pledge and become members of the Safety Crusaders League.
 The headquarters of the Safety Crusaders League is with the High way Safety Commission in the State Odlce Building in Hartford and leading crusaders whose names ap- pear upon the folder are: Arthur F. Els, chairman of the Highway Safety Commission and Justice of the Supreme Court of Errors, Alonzo G. Grace, Commissioner of Educa- ton, William J. Cox, Commissioner of Highways, Edward J. Hickey Commissioner of State Police, John T. Mccarthy, Commissioner of Mo- tor Vehicles and Joseph P. O'Con- nell, Chairman of the Public Util- ities Commission.
 In the body of the folder 1t Is stated that, Accidents Make High ways More Dangerous Than Battle fields" Comparative figures are given. These show that the losses of Union soldiers in the Civil War and all American casualties in this and the Wars of the past one hundred years total 209,546. In the past six years alone. a number larger than this or a total of 213,244 Americans have met death on the peaceful" of America.
 Await In Suspense
 Under the caption YOU MAY BE NEXT, the folder states, "We await in dreadful suspense the hor- rifying news from world battles in which American Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Sky Fighters may De killed or wounded.
 Yet there is no conceivable death more shocking than the terrible of the bodies of children, or of strong and healthy men and women by speeding motor vehicles on our highways" The parents and their children are urged to help the Safety Commission to stop this slaughter.
 Under the caption "CONNECTI- CUTS SAD RECORD the folder states that, Tn the first nine of 1942 there were 14,397 accidents in Connecti- cut with 7,857 injured and 2l6 per- sons violently killed.
 Of the 210 killed, q were chil- dren; and 56 per cent or Daore thar half of the deaths, were persons walking on our streets and high ways.
 This Carnage Must Stop!" We believe that safety can be restored to our highways, but, to do this we must have your help and the coop eration of our public in this state. wide crusade.
 We urge you to sign the safety pledge. have others in your home sign it also, and then return it as quickly as possible to your teacher.
 Official Pledge
 In joining the Connecticut Safety Crusade the children and their par ents are urged to pledge that they will:
 1. Never cross the street in the middle of the block.
 2. Cross streets at the designated corner and only with the proper signal.
 8. Always walk on the left side, along country roads, and step off the highway when cars approach.
 They are also asked to pledge that when driving they will:
 4. Obey all speed regulations at all times and observe traffic signs and signals.
 5. Approach all intersections and railroad crossings cautiously.
 6. Never fail to give the children and elderly people the right of way
 The children are requested to re- turn the signed pledges to their