And then the report went to on explain:

"Alcohol was a contributing factor in five of the deaths; speed in
eight; driver error in eleven. In four of these accidents, in which six
persons were killed, we note that the single car involved ran off the road
and struck a fixed object. In all of these four accidents, alcohol and/or
speed were involved. "

We ask ourselves the question: Can't we, as enlightened and civilized
people, find the measure or the means to halt this useless carnage? Why
do men, with all the knowledge and all the resources they possess,
tolerate this self-destruction?

I regret—I deeply regret—that I can provide you with no satisfactory
answer to these questions. It is not flattering to us as a people that no
satisfactory answer has yet been devised. Perhaps the most encouraging
aspect of the situation is that we have not given up hope. Not knowing
exactly how it is to be done, we still hopefully try to find a solution to
our problem.

Gravely concerned by the problem, about a week ago I issued a series
of orders and directives which I hope may be effective in the curtailment
of death-dealing highway accidents. I instructed the Superintendent of
the State Police to use to the fullest extent his arm of law enforcement to
arrest and prosecute every speeding motorist, every drunken driver, every
reckless operator of a motor vehicle.

I was pleased to see that Colonel Jarman, in his report to the people
this week, said: "This is exactly what we intend to do. "

I directed the Chairman-Director of the State Roads Commission to
make a survey of highway signs to make sure that all motorists are
properly alerted to potential hazards and stipulated speed limits. And
may I say, parenthetically, that I think that modern highways such
as we have been constructing so rapidly in Maryland are among the most
effective of traffic safety measures.

I know that a mere passage of laws is no guarantee of the removal of
an evil. But I asked the Legislative Council to review carefully and con-
scientiously all the motor vehicle laws of our State to see if they contain
gaps and deficiencies which if corrected would improve traffic safety and
provide a more effective law enforcement. I asked the State Board of
Education to impress upon local school boards the paramount impor-
tance of the driver-training programs which we have authorized. Un-
doubtedly there is no greater menace than a driver who does not know
how to operate a car, or does not care how he operates it.

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