Laurel outlook., 1947-07-30
DRIVER EXAMS TO Be
GWEN, SAYS SHERIDAN

j. Willard Baldwin, program chair
man of the Laurel Kiwanis club, in
PRODUCED Col. Charles H. Sheridan as
guest speaker at the regular
Wednesday dinner meeting of the
club. Sheridan, supervisor of the
Montana highway patrol, was in
troduced as one of the most useful
citizens in Montana He was a
colonel in the first world war, dec
Grated by the u. S. and allied gov
ernments, was formerly chief Of
police in Helena and Butte and
until his retirement was state GUS
toms inspector.
Sheridan spoke or the traffic stu
alton and classed it as one of the
biggest problems in the postwar
era facing the citizens of the U. S.
He said that the cost in lives and
injuries yearly was more than re-
suited from any disease other than
heart trouble. Traffic accidents have
accounted for more fatalities than
the combined efforts of Germany
and Japan during the last war when
their sole occupation was killing
Americans.
The traffic problem reached such
alarming proportions that the presi-
dent to the U. S. called a confer
to coordinate the efforts of
state and federal organizations and
other interested groups at which it
was revealed that the yearly none
tary cost of accidents amounted to
81, 1000, 100000 and a total cost of
0,000,000,000 for the past
20 years, more than the total cost
Of all highways in the U. S. 1t was
predicted at that time hat within
the next two years every family in
he U. S. would have been affected
~ a traffic accident.
Sheridan said that over 80 per
,ent of all traffic accidents were
he result of driver failure: "The
nut behind the wheel, and the tight
r he is the more dangerous he is"
Very few accidents result from me-
:hanical defects.
Evanston, ILL.,, at one time n of
he holders of the unenviable record
# being among the worst in the
S. insofar as accidents were con
erned, became one of the pioneers
n planned traffic management and
1897 had improved to such an
xtent that the National Safety
named the city as the safest
or its size. Many colleges and
Universities as well as a great num-
er of cities have followed the lead
f Evanston by setting up traffic
Management courses patterned after
Evanston plan.
One of the recent bills enacted by
ne state Legislature has provided a
leans and an appropriation whereby
examinations will be given
} Montana citizens. Those who
DIV hold drivers permits will fill
an application at the county seat
be given a receipt to permit
lem to drive for 80 days until
lch time as the state highway de-
lrtment may check their records
I'd question those applicants who
We records of past arrests or
'tations of traffic violations. New
'plicants will be given a visual
I'd reaction test at the time of ap-
ication or upon appointment with
unity examiners. All commercial
.hicle drivers will eventually take
CROUCH examinations, but temper
lily the department, due to a short
Re of experienced personnel, will
cept certification by the employer
the driver as to his capability.
Sheridan stressed the fact that
and driving do not mix
ID cited figures showing that SO
ople were killed in Montana last
ar as a result of drunkenness.
only does intoxication result in
ath to drivers and passengers, ii
r cent of the pedestrians killed
re under the influence of liquor.
Continued on Page Twelve)