Laurel outlook., 1950-11-22
HIGHWAY PATROL
ISSUES WARNING
December DeadlieSt Month Of
Year Extra Care Can
Change Gloomy Fact
death knows no h3liday!"

~ $4,000
1t is this grim thought, Super
visor England said today, that has
reeulted in Montana highway pa
trolls intensive program of traffic
safety education this month.
"It's against human nature"
Supervisor England said. "to think
Of the December holiday season in
any other terms than of gaiety, joy
and devotion. 1t is easy to forget
that December is also the deadliest
month of the year. A little extra
care can change this gloomy fact"
Supervisor England pointed out
that National Safety Council fig
ures show that last DEFENDERS
traffic accident death toll, on a
nationwide basis, was $50 deaths
greater than October's-the second
most deadly month-and 430
deaths greater than July's-the
month of heaviest highway traffic
in terms of miles driven.
"a lot of factors enter into a
traffic accident" he said, "but
DEFENDERS unnatural death rec
ord is significant in that it coin
cides with the reduced visibility
of December weather, slick and icy
roads, and the disbursements of the
drivers vision because of ice, sleet
or snow!"
1t is the belief of the Montana
highway patrol, whose December
public education program has hOli-
day hazards as it's theme, that the
physical factors found in winter
driving tend to make it doubly
dangerous for the driver who re-
fuses to acknowledge the need for
greater caution, less speed, and
more defensive driving.
Excuses for traffic accidents
this time of year." Supervisor Eng
land said, "have a familiar, repe-
titious sound: 81 skiddedp Il didn't
see him coming; and The snow
blinded me-" are examples of the
excuses the average traffic officer
hears time and time again.
boil them all down, though"
Supervisor England said. at is ap-
parent that the real culprit in
nine out of 10 of these winter
accidents is the driver, and that
weather conditions are simply ac-
.cessories before the fact! So, while
a very lucky driver may get away
with all sorts of reckless and I'M
thinking driving during the rest of
the year, the physical factors in
herent in winter driving are fire.
quently the stumbling blocks that
spell his downfall!"
The Montana highway patrol
listed the following rules for safe
winter driving:
/. Double your caution. Drive
as though the unexpected were
about to happen at any time, for
this may very well be the case.
2. Lower your speed. This al
most goes without saying in view
Of the dangers present in the form
Of icy or snowy roads and the in
creased stopping distance arising
such conditions.
3. Use good tire chains. They
an reduce your stopping distance
)y as much as 40 to so per cent
N slick road surfaces.
A. Never drive after drinking.
About one out of every six drivers
involved in a fatal accident in 1919,
.ccording to the National Safety
had been drinking. In the
season this figure is very
pit to be even higher.
5. Always maintain your brakes.
windshield wiper blades, and de-
rosters in the best possible condi-
ion. About mi out of five fatal
ccidents in 1949 was attributed
some form of vision obscure
1ent. Many of these we're due to
:e, snow or sleet on the wind
hields.
"Don't Let Death Take Your
Holiday" Supervisor England said,
can be more than just a slogan
can be grim reality for the
rinking, careless, or speeding
~.-o-ty