The people's voice., 1957-01-11
NEW DEPARTMENT TO
COORDINATE TRAFFIC CONTROL

NEW DEPARTMENT TO
COORDINATE TRAFFIC CONTROL
The Fact Finding Committee be-
lieves a coordinated Motor Vehicle
Department would regulate the moving
vehicle in all ways, tighten revenue
control be convenience to the public,
and contribute to highway safety. Such
a plan requires your careful considera-
ton.
One obvious fear expressed immedi-
ately by Deer Lodge residents is that
this would cause the separation of
the Motor Vehicle Department from
the Prison and moving to Helena of
the department.
This should not enter into your con-
sideration in my opinion. This function
OF Motor Vehicle Registration can be
carried on in Deer Lodge, as always,
without jeopardizing efficiency to any
appreciable extent. recommend that
this function be left in Deer Lodge, if
the plan is carried out
The separation of the Motor Vehicle
Department from the Prison would not
affect the Prison work and rehabili-
tatiOn program to any great extent.
Instead, it would occasion some addi-
tiOnal appropriations to adequately
equip the Prison administration due
to cOOrdinated use Of some materials.
| have devoted considerable dis
cusSiOn to the highway problem. This
is partly because of the vast new pro-
gram we are in and also because of
the tremendous amount of factual ma
terials made available by the Fact
Finding Committee and the Research
Council Their reports are worthy of
thorough study.
STATE ADVERTISING:
The advertising program of the
Highway Commission has been getting
good results, but costs are rising in
this highly competitive field. An in
creased advertising budget is required
to keep pace in the tourist business.
Experience has shown that an in
creased budget will pay for itself in
gasoline taxes from tourists alone. In
addition, we must recognize the in
creased benefits to our businesses and
services based on tourist trade, our
third largest industry.
AS you know, the cost of this ad-
vertising program is paid from high
way funds. Any increase will require
an amendment to the 1855 Act limiting
the amount of highway funds which
may be used for advertising purposes.
STATE PARKS:
With the limited funds at it's dis
posal, the Highway Commission has
made an outstanding performance.
However it is falling far short of
meeting current demands in the recre-
alton and tourist fields. The phenOmen-
al increase in demand for picnic areas,
roadside parks, recreational areas, |
preservation of historical, scientific |
and archeologic sites is apparent to all.
Montanas recreational resources
must be conserved now and wisely de-
veloped. Therefore, l recommend that
the Highway Commissions Park Di-
vision be provided with an adequate
budget to carry out the required tasks.
SAFETY:
The traffic hazard is an increasing
menace to our society. In 1856 an all
time record number of 266 were killed
on MOntana'S streets and highways.
The tragic loss of life is grim. The
loss, computed on the basis
OF 120 thousand dollars per fatal accl-
dent, is over thirty million dollars.
The Highway Patrol stepped up it's
activities by making over
26,000 arrests in 1856. This is 5000
more than in any previous year and
to S,S73 arrests in 1852. Yet,
with such fine record of enforce
ment, it is evident that enforcement
activities alone will not guarantee safe
Equally important is public aware
ness and support. A newly-organized
citizens committee, t Montana !
Council for Traffic Safety, will need
the support of every citizen in the
State before any measure of success
in accident prevention can be realized.
Recent surveys show that the High ]
way Patrol is undermanned. A mini {
mum OF thirty additional traffic men t
in the next fiscal year and an addi- t
,ional thirty the following year must {
be provided In addition, l urge that t
ne emergency speed limit of 65 miles +
Der hour be made the statutory speed I
init. {
l also solicit your consideration of an
amendment to include standards for
the intoxication of per- c