AN AMERICAN TRADITION
A "MUST" FOR ALL OF US!
"SAFETY
FOR ALL"
Yes, An American Tradition, but far too few
of us look upon self-preservation as we should. It
is well and good that we become excited and up
set emotionally when a serious accident occurs in
our midst, for such a tragedy tends to open our
eyes and put us on guard, so to speak, against a
recurrence. But . . . and please let this sink
home . . . "If we would exert a little more effort
in trying to prevent injuries day in and day out,
rather than getting so excited and upset following
an accident, each and everyone of us would reap
greater dividends."
The old adage about it being, foolish to shut the
barn door after the horse is out, really does not
apply in a program for the prevention of personal
injuries. We do learn ways and means of prevent
ing future personal injuries of the same type,
through studying the contributing causes of each
accident. However, we readily admit that a stitch
in time will save nine, and that the prevention of
personal injuries will always be better than the
cure.
For the person who looks forward to living
twenty years longer, and most of us have high
hopes of surpassing that mark, the odds against us
when we take unnecessary chances are entirely too
great. To be very frank, the odds are over ten mil
lion to one against us when we attempt to save
a minute, by taking chances that could easily re
sult in loss of life.
We must admit that a great many of us in this
day and time are prone to gamble occasionally,
but none of us would place a bet if we had an
idea that our chance was one in ten million of
being a winner.
You ask why the odds are over ten million to
one.? ... the answer is that in 20 years there are
10,512,000 minutes, and many a life has been
needlessly snuffed out in much less than a min
ute.
If we must gamble, why not place our bets on
a sure thing? . ... we could practice safety at all
times and assure ourselves of less suffering, high
er wages and a much happier and longer life.
We must remember that it is the personal re-
SDonsibility of each individual in every walk of
life today, to try and foresee and eliminate any
existing hazard that could contribute to a bodily
injury.
Trulv, this American Tradition of SAFETY
FOR ALL should not be taken too lightly by any
of us. It is one tradition that we should strive to
make stronger at all times, for on it depends our
chance for a longer and safer existance.
Could there be any reason to say more?
Since highway signs are nothing more than
SIGNS OF LIFE, there is no logical reason why
each of us should not observe and obey them at all
times. The age-old American custom of taking
the stand that caution signs are always for the oth
er person, must be discarded if we are to assist in
eliminating the numerous traffic accidents that
are occurring daily on our County and State high
ways.
If we were to ask our personnel as a group if
they observed all highway signs while operating
a motor vehicle, there is little doubt but that the
majority would answer in the affirmative. How
ever, a thorough check on the automobiles leaving
our parking areas at shift change during recent
weeks, has established the fact that less than 30
percent of the cars come to a complete STOP be
fore entering the highway.
This unsafe practice of gliding into a highway
without coming to a STOP, has resulted in tragedy
for more than one unfortunate person on numer
ous occasions. In fact, a number of our employees
have experienced close calls with the grim reaper,
when entering Vanderbilt Road from our own
parking areas.
Why do we disregard highway signs and take
such foolish chances? . . . why do we not only dis
regard our own personal safety, but also the safety
of our passengers and fellow-workers? . . . why
do we insist on ignoring the one important cau
tion sign that says STOP, and subject ourselves
not only to paying a fine, but to being a hopeless
cripple for the rest of our lives?
We feel that the answers lie in our NOT
THINKING, and in our taking the stand that all
CAUTION SIGNS are for the other person. This
attitude really is one to be deplored, and especially
so when we realize that it is contributing to an
average of 30,000 deaths a year on the highways
and by-ways throughout the 48 States.
What can we do about it? . . . when and where
should we begin? . . . Like all other phases of
safety, it should begin at home. The next time
you start out in your car, whether it be a short
trip or a long one, try this formula.
Operate your car at a speed that is safe, based
on the weather and road conditions—observe all
highway signs, and if it will prevent an accident,
give the other fellow the right-of-way whether he
deserves it or not—use the hand signals when ad
visable, and use them correctly—and above all,
ivatch out for pedestrians in congested areas and
on the shoulders of the highway.
By following the above formula until it becomes
a habit, you can assure yourself of many more
years behind the wheel, as well as a satisfied feel
ing that you have contributed to preventing acci
dents.
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