TRAFFIC SAFETY

The steady rise in deaths and injuries occurring on our highways
has been one of the greatest disappointments 1 have experienced as
the Governor of this State. We must continue to find ways to
strengthen our overall effort to promote highway safety. Improvement
of our road system must continue. Law enforcement agencies must
seek more effective ways to carry out their responsibility for highway
traffic supervision. The influence of the traffic courts must be
strengthened. I believe that stiffer penalties should be imposed for
violations. Standards for the registration of vehicles and the licensing
of drivers must be kept high. We must continue to explore the medical
aspects of the problem and establish guidelines for the elimination of
those drivers who are unable to cope with today's traffic. There must
be a continuing effort to improve our driver education programs.
Finally, I think the time has come for action in the establishment
of a self-supporting system of motor vehicle inspection in the State.
I know this issue is controversial and complicated, but it is my hope
that at his session you will give serious consideration to the subject
and that, if at all possible, a satisfactory system of inspection will be
produced.

OTHER LEGISLATION

In an age of change, such as we live in today, the structure of
government requires continuing revision and alteration. Great strides
have been made in this area during the past six years in the reorgani-
zation of many departments and the creation of new ones to give
the people a more efficient and more effective government. But new
conditions have arisen and more change is in order.

The Legislative Council is recommending certain reforms in our
election laws, principally among them a measure to place further
limitations upon the amount of money that may be spent in an elec-
tion campaign. The people of this State — and the people of the
nation for that matter — quite understandably have become alarmed
by the high cost of running for public office. They fear that unless
the trend is stopped only the rich will be able to afford an election
campaign. I believe that legislation, such as is proposed by the Legisla-
tive Council, will do much to restore the faith of the people in the
elective processes and in their democratic government. The highest
court of our country has decreed that the equality of citizens in our
democracy demands that they be given substantially the same voice

38