Evening star., 1947-06-18
ssTHE EVENING STAR Washington, D. G.

because it Is less spectacular. We
are dealing here with what amounts
Ito q national disaster. The fact
that most of the death and destruc-
ton could have been prevented only
intensifies the tragic character Of
the problem.
The action program" developed
at the Highway Safety Conference
of 1916 is q sound and workable
program. 1t can and does get re-
suits. Now the task is to get more
of that program applied by more
of the States and more of the COM
munities. I hope that your deliber-
ations this week will direct prin-
cipal attention to finding ways and
means of achieving that goal.
Progress in Safety Education.
The reports from the States indi-
cate unusually good progress in the
field of safety education, especially
| In the development of driver train
ing courses by our high schools.
More than 2,000,o00 young people
reach the legal driving age each
year in the United States. We GER
tainly have an obligation to see
that they receive the most adequate
preparation for useful citizenship
in a motor age.
Unfortunately, the driver license
part of the program is not keeping
pace. Since the 1915 Safety Con-
ference, two additional States have
enacted driver license laws, which
leaves now only one State in the
Union without such legislation. But
uniformity is still lacking among
the States. And in too many juris-
dictions, as 7 have pointed out be-
fore, the licensing laws are nothing
more than revenue measures and
their administration a travesty on
public safety.
| Moreover, the States report little
or no progress during the last year
| in raising standards of motor vehicle
administration.
This situation obviously cannot be
permitted to continue indefinitely
A licensing law is basic weapon In
the war on accidents. Properly ad-
ministered, it eliminates the dan
gerously unfit and the dangerously
irresponsible from our streets and
highways. 1t is vital to the protec-
ton of the vast majority of law
abiding motorists and pedestrians.
Highway Program Helps.
Last year I said there was no de-
sire on the part of the Federal Gov
eminent to encroach upon State
jurisdictions in this field, but that
Congress would not stand idly by in
the face of a grievous national ac-
cident toll. I
In the regulation Of interstate
commerce, in research and investi-
cation, and in many other activities,
the Federal Government has direct
concern with the problem of high
way safety.
The Federal-Aid Highway Act of
1914, for example, provides for the
development jointly with the States
of modern traffic arteries, both rural
and urban, which will incorporate
maximum safety into their design
and construction. Improvements of
this kind in the highway plant will
make permanent and substantial
contribution to accident prevention.
Since the action program" was
formulated last year, vigorous steps
have been taken by nearly all the
Federal agencies involved to carry
it out in their own operations. Es-
pecially encouraging are the pro-
grams which have been undertaken
for the intensive training of drivers.
Activities to Be Intensified.
Many shortcomings, of course, still
exist. but I am happy to report that
progress Is highly satisfactory. and
that plans have been made to in
tensify these activities in the
months ahead. They are fully CO.
ordinated through = Federal Com
mittee on Highway Safety in which
13 Federal agencies are now par
ticipating.
Three national committees were
established in accordance with rec
concentrations made by the 1916
conference. These committees sug-
gested to me the desirability of call
ing this follow-up meeting, and
was most happy to act on their sug-
gestion. The purpose of the meet
ing is to weigh the strength and
the weakness of the current pro-
gram, and to outline further steps
which can be taken to speed the