The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-01-08
U OGAay
AMI
4 OEn1OTrOw
Frank Parker Stockridge

tons for 1871 accomplishments, I
remember there was lot of TODD
about all of the things which
were going to be done to prevent
motor accidents during 1941.
Police leaders, politicians, in
surance companies, traffic engi-
neers, school leaders and news
papers all were making sugges-
tons galore.
Now the results are in-and
1941 proved to be by far the
blacklist year in history for traf-
fic deaths, traffic injuries and ac-
cident costs.
Here are the amazing results,
which even dwarf most figures
on war casualties: 10000 deaths
by traffic accidents; 100000 in
juries; $2,0Oo,o 100000 a ccident
costs.
This year most of us are more
concerned with the protection Of
our homes and families against
bombs than we are with traffic
problems. But it's a safe bet that,
no matter what unexpected at
tacks this country might suffer-
no bombings, no sabotage and no
fifth column activities can pos
sibly approach the damage to life
and property which we are GER
tain to suffer from attacks by
speeding automobiles, drunken
drivers and careless pedestrians.
LAWS VIOLATIONS
Traffic accidents are so COM
mon that most of us have become
hardened to them. We take for
granted that every week or so we
will hear of some friends or &C.
quaintance who has been hurt in
an automobile accident. It's just
part of the weekly news - like
marriages, anniversaries and
death from natural causes.
When we are driving ourselves,
we take for granted we will see
some accidents now and then. We
also take for granted (even
though we may curse them) that
we will meet a lot of careless
drivers on the road, that we will
see constant traffic violations by |
other motorists and the most |
honest of us will admit to almost |
daily violations on our own part,
particularly speed law violations.
In fact a lot of us feel sort of
priggish about obeying speed
laws. Not wanting to be stick-in-
the-muds, we join the speeding |
throng driving merrily along the
roads which are each year
smeared with more blood than a
battlefield
TICKETS Jail
It is estimated that 70 per cent
of the traffic accidents in 1941
happened while a driver was vio-
lating a traffic law.
That fact points the way to
what must be done and what
eventually will be done to cut
down the slaughter on the high
ways. The chief solution will be
real law enforcement with heavy
penalties for violations.
If every driver knew that ga
ticket" would be apt to mean the
loss of his license, if he knew that
reckless driving was subject to
a Jail term and that having
friend who knows the judge
wouldn't help - that realization
alone would be apt to cut down
accidents so per cent.
No column like this, no scare
pictures of accidents, no boring
talks to schools or clubs on traf-
fic accidents are going to help
much unless the law holds a big
club over the head of the motor
ist. We ought to all be pretty we'll
convinced of that. For we have
all heard this accident story over
and over again yet each year the
death toll mounts.
The protection of life and pro-
perry is one of the fundamental
purposes of law and of law en-
forcement agencies. Most all of
us may contribute at one time or
another to the danger of the high
ways-but it seems to be up to
our lawmaking. bodies and our
policemen to make us behave.
BLAME defense
Personally, I don't. remember
ever hearing anyone accept the
blame for an automobile acct
dent.
I've heard dozens of people tell
me about their accidents. They
tell, in detail, about how they
were driving along at a normal
speed when suddenly fool driv-
err did such and such and they
just couldn't avoid hitting him.
The 'fool driver" is always the
other guy.