The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1960-01-22
CONTINUED From Page One)


the influence of alcohol bring up the
question as to whether the tests can
be administered without the consent
of the accused driver. Not one state
at present has enacted legislation
which requires the suspect to submit
to chemical test.
However. several states now have
implied consent laws which come
close to compulsory submission. This
type of law calls for automatic sus-
pension of the driving privilege pend
ing hearing for drivers who refuse
to submit to a chemical test. Under
implied consent legislation, the mo-
tor vehicle operator who accepts the
privilege of driving is deemed to have
given his consent to a chemical test
if an officer has reasonable grounds
to believe that he is under the influ-
ence. If, as a suspected driver, he
refuses to submit, his operators Ii
cense is automatically suspended or
revoked pending hearing"
Safety Belts: A substantial num-
Der of 1859 highway fatalities found
the victims thrown from the automo-
bile, either through the windshield or
out of a door that flew open at the
time the collision or other form of
accident occurred. 1t is the opinion
of highway patrolmen that were seat
safety belts accepted by the motorist,
most of such fatalities could be avoid
ed.
Safety belts, first used by Nash in
1851, and then adopted by Ford in
1856. have found little favor with
John @. Motorist. Nash tried to pro-
mote sales on the basis of greater
safety. People wanted more horse
power instead. Ford, five years later
picked the idea up-to their sorrow,
'ales-wise. People still wanted more
bought Chevy instead. /
Ford played down safety and soon
lgain was running rieck-n-neck with
Chevy for sales leadership.
Careful analysis of auto accidents
~ crash injury research experts, the
National Safety Council reports,
hows that in traffic accident:
1. ga safety belt helps prevent be-
ng thrown forward-toward the
ashboard, for example. Even if your
cad does hit the dash, with seat
cit the blow is not nearly so hard.
hat can mean minor injury instead
f major injury, living instead of
wing. /
2. "You are much safer inside the
ar. A seat belt will help keep you |
here. In Cornell University study, S
2.8 per cent of car occupants elected
trough open doors were killed, but I
My 2.6 per cent of those who re- {
,ained in the cars were killed. Thus, {
ne risk of death is five times greater '
Or those thrown from the car. Even
lside the car, you are safer if you
re held in place by seat belt !;
O.4 per cent safer.
3. Everyone is safer when the !
river is kept behind the wheel. In :
Use of an unexpected crash or sudden j
verve, a seat belt keeps the driver q
'om being thrown from behind the +
heel. Thus, he stays in control of 1
re car and can prevent an additional |,
ASH" f
UNDERMINED \
Currently, Montana Highway Pa Il
oil has 119 members. Of these, 80
e on the road all Of the time. The !,
lance constitute: Administration u
y, Drivers Examinations (11), and =;
ltrol Captains (5). :,
At few of the larger population f,
nters, there is more than one shift G
patrolmen. Most of the force is o,
ployed as zone station patrolmen. Il
lie officers, under state law, are
pposed to work no more than an
yht-hour day. However, those on III
ne station" duty find they are SUBJ III
It to 24-hour call, and in many in e.
lnces, put in sixty or more hours OF
each month for which they W
,eive no pay. Even so, even though Ct
trolmen get an actual hourly wage
: time worked that is disgrace, ty
, force is undermined by upwards DC
fifty per cent to meet national en-