of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 117

time, to accomodate the speakers of the Traffic Safety Committee, so that two
or more broadcasts will go out every day during this week.

Movie-goers undoubtedly are conscious of Safety Week, too, for the great
majority of theatres in and around Baltimore are carrying trailers explaining
the purposes of Safety Week. Fifty thousand Safety folders, with impressive
messages to children, will be distributed this week in the County High Schools,
through the splendid cooperation of Dr. Albert S. Cook, State Superintendent,
and the School Superintendents in the various counties. Hundreds of posters,
appealing for greater care in walking and driving, are on display in schools
and public buildings in the counties. Large national advertisers are cooperating
by endorsing the purposes of the Maryland Traffic Safety Committee on their
billboards and in their radio announcements. To put it most conservatively,
the people of Maryland have rallied to the cause of Safety in splendid fashion.
Now the only thing that remains to be done is to translate into action on our
streets and highways the maxims of safety that are being disseminated in so
many ways.

The three useful techniques of Education, Engineering and Enforcement have
been given attention in the makeup of our Committee. We are determined to
call upon every resource of State departments and officials to afford training,
scientific improvement in road conditions and compulsory adherence to law.
But there still remains the great necessity of securing cooperation from the
motoring public through the sane and careful operation of their cars.

Those who have made years of study of Traffic Safety declare that the
elements of the problem are the Car, the Road and the Driver. Regarding
the car we can say after viewing the Automobile Show last week that the
manufacturer has done his part in furnishing a safe and reliable car. Brakes and
tires are safer and every detail has received attention so that response is
instantaneous.

Regarding the Road, State officials realize what their duty is in this
respect. Better roads are our aim. Fortunately, through the present policy
of using all gasoline tax money on the roads instead of diverting it to other
uses, as heretofore, Maryland will have the greatest amount of money ever
available for road construction and maintenance. But as a standing order,
ahead of everything else, is the elimination of any and every traffic hazard
that may be found.

There still remains the third element of the ever-present problem, namely,
the Driver. It is to him and to her that our campaign is directed. We are
asking the driver for something that it won't cost a cent to give, namely, to
exercise decent and reasonable care while he is handling an instrument which
can be converted into a deadly agency if he is reckless or careless. Our appeal
is to the driver for his own benefit and safety.

Tonight, I again add my appeal to that of the Traffic Safety Committee.
I ask each and every driver of a motor vehicle who may be listening tonight
to drive with greater care from now on. "Save a Life—It may be your Own"
is the Safety Committee's slogan, that ought to ride with you whenever you
set out upon our streets and highways. Don't get behind the wheel of a car
or a truck unless you are in condition to drive. Don't get behind the wheel of
any motor vehicle unless the vehicle itself is in shape to be driven.

During November and December, Commissioner of Motor Vehicles W. Lee
Elgin will have the annual inspection of motor vehicles. Have your car or