Evening star., 1947-11-04
AAA Told Of Drive
To Instruct Young
Drivers in Safety

The greatest opportunity for cut
ting the Nations toll on the streets
and highways lies in training the
Nations youth in safe driving, the
American Automobile Association
was told today at its 45th annual
meeting at tho Mayflower Hotel.
Lou E. Holland Of Kansas CITY,
chairman of the Traffic Safety Com
mittee of the association, said more
than 1000 high schools throughout
the Nation already are training
pupilsS to drive automobiles.
The 500 members attending the
associations meeting were told OF
plans to cooperate with educators
with the aim of establishing driving
training courses in every high school
in the country.
Others Praise Program.
The value of such training also
was touched upon in speeches by
Hubert Wheeler, commissioner OF
education in Missouri, and James
]. Griffin, co-ordinator of safety OF
the Chicago Board of Education.
Mr.. Holland reported that more
than $50 dual-control training cars
had been assigned high schools
throughout the Nation through the
A A by automobile manufacturers
and dealers.
He said the driving records OF
1880 trained pupils and 1872 un-
trained pupils in Cleveland had been
studied. This study showed, he
said, that those who had had
behind-the wheel instruction had
only half the number of accidents
that befell the unframed pupils.
If the traffic record of the early
part of this year is maintained, Mr..
Holland said, the 1947 toll of dead
in traffic accidents will be as low or
lower than the 1946. This, he said,
would be in the face of greatly in
creased traffic volume.
Traffic accidents killed 33,700 in
1916.
Mr.. Wheeler said driver training
in high school affords the best OPP
portunity for reaching the greatest
number of prospective drivers. The
high school age Is just prior to the
attainment of the legal driving age
and is therefore in agreement with
the readiness" theory of education.
Less Travel Foreseen.
Tho volume of travel will con-
tinue to remain at high level, but
the days of extravagant travel ex-
penditures are numbered as the
travelling public becomes price con-
scious. William G. Bryant OF Detroit,
chairman of the association's> Ma
tional Touring Board, declared.
Rising prices have not only kept
pace with increases in income but, in
some instances, have exceeded in
creased income and are creating
consumer resistance" he told the
delegates. 1.-The number of vaca-
tionists may not appreciably dimin-
ish, but their expenditures will"
At the session today the associa-
ton also was to act on several reso-
lutions, including one asking the
cooperation of automobile manu-
facturers, dealers and the public to
end chaotic conditions" in new and
used car markets.
Removal Of Curbs Hit.
The removal Of price controls,
coupled with inability of the in
dustry to catch up with demands.
E. Ray Cory OF Austin, Mimi, said,
''has resulted in a number of prac-
tices which, while not usually
illegal, are inimical to the public
interest and have aroused wide
spread complaints and resent
ments." Mr.. Cory is chairman OF
the Consumer Relations Committee.
Other resolutions to be acted on
included one to ask prohibition
of liquor sales at gasoline filling
stations and another calling atten-
ton to the serious menace" Gre
ated by the operation OF heavy
vehicles on obsolete roads"
Defense Secretary Fprrestal,
speaking at . session yesterday. told
the 500 delegates that I'VE must
tell the world that we have no ar
rogant plans to impose our way
of life on other peoples.