Evening star., 1946-05-08
ext of Trun1an's Speech

The teTt OF President Tru-
mans address to the Presidents
Highway Safety Conference is
given as tollo1US:
Answering a call of last Decem-
ber, you have come to Washington
from every State, determined to
find ways and means of making our
streets and highways safer Your
response to the call is most gratify-
ing. The large assemblage here to-
day represents the civic, business
and political leadership of the
United States.
The 48 States and the District of
Columbia all are represented by
strong delegations, headed in many
cases by the Governors, and in
Guiding legislators, State and local
officials concerned with highway
safety, and many outstanding civic
leaders active in community and
State affairs.
We are honored also by the
presence as observers of the Ambas-
sadors and other distinguished
representatives of nearly twoscore
nations in all parts of the world
1t is a pleasure to welcome them.
wish to thank the hundreds of
men and women from all parts of
the country who have contributed
to the preliminary work of this
conference. 1 am especially CRATE
full to the volunteers who have
served on the staff set up by your
chairman, Gen. Fleming; to the
chairmen and members of the con-
ference committees; and to all the
men and women who have given so
generously of their support and CO.
operation.
Problem Is Urgent.
The problem before you is urgent.
Since restrictions on highway travel
were lifted at the end of the war,
traffic accidents have been in
creasing steadily. With the 1916
automobile touring season still
ahead, the toll of death and injury
already has reached prewar pro-
portions.
At the present rate, some one in
the United States will die and a
score will be injured during the few
minutes I am speaking here today.
During the three days of this con-
ference, more than 100 will be killed,
and thousands injured.
The Nation cannot afford and
will not tolerate this tragic waste
of human resources.
For the most part, street and
highway accidents are produced by
carelessness and neglect. They can
be sharply curtailed through a con-
certed effort, modified by this con-
ference and carried forward vigor-
ously under your leadership in all
parts of the country.
In the final analysis, such a pro-
gram will depend for success upon
the cooperation of the American
people Safety is fundamentally
private and personal responsibility
which each of us must recognize
and accept. I am confident that
drivers and pedestrians everywhere
will respond wholeheartedly to our
appeal for safe and sensible conduct.
Obligation to Public.
Government, Of course, bears
primary obligation to the public
safety. The provision of safe facili-
ties for public travel, the licensing
Of vehicles and drivers, the regula-
ton of traffic movement, and the
education and training in highway
safety through our schools, all are
responsibilities of local, State and
Federal government.
Many activities of the Federal
Government are directly related
to the problem. One of these is the
Federal-aid highway program. Fed
eral Jurisdiction extends also to the
regulation of interstate commercial
movement over the highways and to
research and fact-hnding services
having to do with the use of streets
and highways.
Some of the Federal establish
ments, such as the Post Office De-
partment, are concerned directly
with the problem as operators of
large numbers of motor vehicles.
Representatives of the Federal
agencies having an interest in high
way safety will participate with you
in this conference. The program
which is formulated will have their
full and active cooperation.
But the main share Of public re-