The Sidney herald., 1956-07-19

in the Southwest, 1913 person
died. 1t was the greatest disaste
In all the history of commerce.
aviation. But at this writing. tn
same number of persons, 12s
have lost their lives in Montan
this year in highway traffic &C
cidents. That was 80 more thai
the toll during the correspondent,
period In 1855, an increase O
more than one-third.
This slaughter on the highway
is causing such deep concern
that the Montana highway pa
troll board has declared a day
time maximum speed limit of s.
miles an hour for cars. This be
came effective July is. AS a fur.
Their measure, the patrol has pu
five unmarked cars on the road
to cope with drivers who seen
disinclined to curb reckless ten.
denotes unless he suspects tn,
law is watching.
The Montana highway patro
does not have, and never viii
have, enough personnel to dc
what would approximate a COM
plete job. Enforcement has beer
stepped up considerably. Blu
there are just too many miles OF
road, too many vehicles and toe
few patrolmen to make possible
anything like full enforcement.
Excessive speed appears to be
the cause of a high percentage
of serious accidents, especially
those resulting in death. What
constitutes excessive speed is, of
course, a relative matter. The
safe driver is one who holds his
speed within the safety margin
under all driving conditions. BY
a safe driver / do not mean one
who on a heavy traffic high
way pokes along at such a slow,
fluctuating and erratic pace that
he encourages accidents.
Thinking back some 20 years,
we can probably recall hearing
it said that when automobiles be-
came better mechanically and
better roads were built there
would be fewer deaths on the
highways. Today's automobile Is
much better mechanically than
that of a few decades ago, but
with greatly stepped up horse
power which all too often Is mis-
used. the automobile can be more
deadly than it ever was before.
A powerful automobile engine
gives some drivers an insane
sense of personal power which
they seem as unable to resist as
the moth lured by the flame. AS
to these drivers, the only practi-
cal answer is to prevent them
from driving.
Surely our highways are much
and safer than they were
a few years ago. And yet
In all too many instances the
bad accidents are under condi-
tons where there Is no excuse
for an accident. We have faster
cars, faster roads and, for the
reckless driver, a faster trip to
eternity. For the reckless driver
and his victims.
Statistics may show that with
the greater number of vehicles
and the increased mileage being
driven the traffic accident ratio is
declining. In the face of today's
appalling realities, there is little
consolation in that. From Janu-
ary / through July 8 this year
Montana averaged one highway
:raffic fatality every $3.50 hours.
For the corresponding period in
1855 the average was one death In
every 45.8 hours.
My personal feeling Is that IL a
iriver has no moral scruples
about killing himself, that may
De his own business, but when
lie makes himself a menace to
he lives of others, that is a diff
ierent matter.
How are we going to keep
lrivers from killing themselves
md others. That question is Of
en- asked. I think that basical-
Y the answer is education and
enforcement. Driver training in
chool is of primary Importance,
md / wonder why some school
authorities frown on this instruc-
ion. How to drive safely is only
art of the lesson. The other
art, and perhaps it should come
irst, is to instill a resolute de-
ire to drive safely.
As to enforcement, l have
out that Montana has
.ot and never will have high
,ay patrol personnel to do a
omplete job. Routine patrolling,
0 far as it is possible to extend
!, is effective. 1t is getting new
mphasis in the accelerated pro-
ram to balk death on the high
rays, but only a veritable army
{ officers could come anywhere !;
ear achieving this goal, for de-
oite everything there will con-
nue. to be bad highway acci-
ents. &,
AS yet / have heard none, but !,
here may be some grumbling :
bout using unmarked patrol ,
ars, even a few, in what might !
e called spot enforcement. Pa ,
in these cars r uni !
and so long as that is :
one / see no reasonable OBJ !!
,ction to the procedure. Other !
.ates are doing it. There may .
e squawks about alleged en- :
'apment, but when the Grim !
eaper is the adversary who !
Iust be commended against, a
1T attitude is not indicated. !
People, and with reason, are l.
.sturbed about what night hap .