The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-05-06
Death Still
Rides on
Montono's Highways

(By Montana Highway PatroD


Despite gasoline rationing and re-
dueed speeds. death still rides our
highways and turks at every cor
ner and crossing for the careless
and the thoughtless. Already this
year. q persons have been killed in
traffic accidents and SO have been
more or less seriously injured. True,
this is only about one-half the num-
Der killed and injured before the
war time restrictions were applied,
but it IS still far too great price
to pay for carelessness.
Out of the q persons killed, 6
were pedestrians, and out of the 60
injured 3 were on foot. In other
words, nearly one-third of the total
accidents happen to pedestrians and
the chances are two to one that a
pedestrian will be killed if hit by
car.
In view of these facts. it is felt
that a timely warning should be is
sued to the people of Montana, and
their duties, not only to themselves
but to their families, plainly set
forth.
Parents, it is your duty to set an
example of safety for your children
Spring is here and with it will come
marbles, kite flying, baseball and
many other recreations that all
healthy children enjoy. These sports
require a playground and too often
the streets are used for this pur-
pose and often with disastrous re-
suits. Caution your child against
playing in the street and don't set
the same horrible example that you
may have in the past or certainly
| have seen many other parents do
that is, joining game with the
children in the street yourself, In
the spring, use Fairgrounds where
you are free from traffic dangers.
even though little time is lost in
reaching such spot, your thought
fulness will be amply rewarded.
Mothers and fathers, set an ex-
i ample of safety for your neighbors.
Don't allow small children to run
/ into the streets or across the street
without supervision. Spend some
/ time in teaching your child the
/ proper method of crossing street
and caution him against dashing in
| to the street or running from IN
front of parked vehicles. Select the
safest route to and from school for
your children and see to it that they
i use this route. Never send a young
child on an errand alone. especially
/ if it requires crossing streets. These
simple reminders may seem to be
I over-emphasized but they are SO
often overlooked or ignored and
the grief Of a child killed or seri-
ousiy injured is not tragedy soon
forgotten.
/ Set an example for your friends
and felloW-Workers. Cross streets
at intersections only and If traf-
fic signal is in place, cross on the
proper indication. Wait on the side.
walk until the street is clear ane
then use the cross walks provided
for pedestrians. When waiting fol
a bus or street car, use the safety
zone or remain on the sidewalk al
the curb. When afghting from 9
vehicle, go Immediately to the curb
and then proceed to cross the stree
only when you have determined tht
way is clear,
Give the driver a break realize
his position. A pedestrian has only
to watch for vehicles while the
driver must be on the lookout fol
pedestrians, other vehicles, anc
traffic regulatory devices DON
forget that during the war emer-
gency all of us are now quite OTTER
pedestrians and let's show the con.
sideration for the driver that w
expect from pedestrians when W.
are driving.
Walk safely and talk safety
pays big dividends in life and free
dom from Misunderstanding TRACE
, dies.