-:-! A MESSRS PW'Wl ,
Last fall, a fine young man in the Supply Department, completed his tour on Adak
and prior to reporting for duty at his new assignment? Went home for a short visit
with his parents. Somewhete aiohg the line, tragedy.struck in the fotm of art auto
mobile accident, and a precious young life, was snuffed out....his life.
Last week, another member of the Naval'Forces; this time a young man who recently
completed his tour at Mt. Moffett, lost his life in a similar accident. Where or
under what circumstances is not important. This would not restore life to their
precious bodies? nor would it lessen the anguish or grief that must have consumed
their loved ones. What is important, is why these terrible tragedies continue to
happen* Why...in a civilized world such as ours? do motor vehicle accidents con
tinue to be Americas Number 1 killer. "If you would divine the future," said Con
fucius, "Study the past." I can’t, in this small space., do more that summarize
what has been done to eliminate traffic accidents, across the nation, and within
the Armed Services. Federal, State, and local agencies have gone all out in their
respective campaigns in an attempt.to curtail automobile accidents. It should suff
ice to say that every media available? especially those of education and indoctrin
ation, has been used and re-used. Some think, that Congressional action and Federa^l
control may be the answer. Certainly those opinions have some merit. But must we^
forfeit one of our basic freedoms to federal control before we realize that the 1st
responsibility for safety on the highways is ours? yours and mine? and not that of
law enforcement agencies. I should like to bring to your attention an article
written by Gilbert R. Carrel, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. Convincing evid
ence as to why law enforcement officials.have been forced to shoulder our respons
ibilities.
"IfM MAD, . TOO
"And each new needless death on the highways makes me madder,”
It could just be that you are the person who wrote, me, that letter the other day*
You really told me off. You said one of my dumb highway patrolmen had given you a
ticket for speeding when you had a legitimate reason for being in a hurry*
According to your letter, which you didn’t sign, you think the highway patrol
could make better use of its time by chasing down the real menaces to safety onthe
highway instead of bothering upstanding citizens like yourself*
Oh, you were quite indignant* You went .-on to say that you were on urgent busin
ess, that you had never been in an accident of your own making; that you are a fast^
driver but a safe driver and, moreover,, that'you are a more important man to the
community than the dumb stupid cop who gave you the ticket.
Well, now, let me tell you something* I'm mad,too* I’m mad all the time altho
my anger is not directed at you alone* So far as you’re concerned, I’m happy that
we were able to catch you in time. I hope we taught you a lesson, although I’m
afraid we didn’t* I hope we taught you something before you have to learn the hard
way in a hospital, or you wind up on a morgue, slab*
It makes me feel good that we were able to. slow you down before you killed your
self***or maimed somebody else who was driving carefully to protect himself and you,
too *.•
What makes me mad? A lot of things. I’m burned up because people as intelligent
as you sometimes behave as idiots* I’ve seen a lot in my service with the highway
patrol* I’ve had to loc:k at things that would turn your stomach* They made me
hiok -too, because I’m not different from you except that It’s my business to keep
you alive while you’re driving, even if I have to stop you and haul you off to
jail.
I wouldn’t have to be so harsh, perhaps, if you could see at first hand the
murder and savage mutilation on our highways*••.your highways*
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