The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-02-03
TRAFFIC DEATHS MAY SET RECORD
 AT 40,OO0 IN Al
Safety Leader Calls It Blow at War Program
 By Killing Workers

New York Feb. 3 American motorists achieved an unenviable all time high record for trsffic fatal ities with approximately 10000 dead in 1941, if unofficial but usually all- too-close advance reports are sub- stantiated by final statistics.
 The last mark in street and high way killings was hung up in 1887, with 39,643 dead. Since then, how ever, marked improvement has re- suited from better engineering, more stringent law enforcement and in- tensified safety education. In 1889 the figures dropped to 32,60O, with a slight rise to 34,500 in 1940.
 Now, at the very time we need every ounce of human strength we can muster" grimly declares Julien H. Harvey, managing director of hte National Conservation Bureau, acci- dent prevention division of the As- sociation of Casualty and Surety Executives, i've are confronted by a record of preventable automobile killings which probably is unprece- dented.
 Consider the effect of this news on our war program. Of the ap- proxirnateiy 10000 killed by motor vehicles last year, no less than IT, GOO are estimated to have been oc- cupationally employed. But even that isn't the whole of the bad news The total loss of man-days of pro- ductive work caused by traffic acci- dents in 1941 was in excess of 150,- 0,O00-enough to build 5000 heavy bombers or 25 battleships.
 Few Accidents Unavoidable
 "Such waste of human and eco- homie resources would be shameful in a normal year; in time of war it becomes criminal and might prove disastrous. It can be prevented. Few, if any, traffic accidents can accu- rately be termed unavoidable. Those due to mechanical failures can be stopped by a little attention to the, condition of every car at regular periods. Where road or human fac- tors fail, we might well look to the seat of local government, where the responsibility for maintaining safe roads, licensing physically fit driv- CTS and enforcing the laws is vested.
 If every driver and owner of a motor car will pledge now to drive more carefully than ever before, we will change that all time high record to an all time low record. Inciden- tally, be particularly careful during the next several months. They are among the most dangerous of the year"
 Safe Winter Driving Rules
 MT. Harvey offers the following suggestions for safe winter driving:
 l. Drive at moderate speed. Driv- ing too fast kills more people than any other driving fault. Allow plen- ty of time to get to and from work and for trips.
 2. Slow down when the road IS slippery with rain, snow or ice. Re- member that it takes up to ten times the distance to stop a car on glare ice as it does on a dry pavement.
 3. Slow down when rain, snow, sleet or darkness interfere with vis- ibility. Drive slowly enough so that you can always stop within the distance you can see.
 4. Don't be road-hog. Stay in your own lane xcept when passing. Don't pass on hills or curves. Don't jump the traffic signals. Use your horn only in emergency.
 5. Watch out for pedestrians who may not be paying attention to traf- fic. Slow down in populated dis tricts and when approaching inter- sections.