Thursday, December 17, 1953 THfcj BATTALION Page 8
Statistics Scare
Holiday Driver
By HARKI BAKER
Battalion Staff Writer
I’m seared.
I’m going to drive more than
2,000 miles during the Christmas
holidays, and I’m good and scared.
I could laugh it off and say, “Oh,
I’m a good driver. I have to be.”
But it won’t work any more. I’m
not so sure now.
Maybe I am a good driver. But
what about the “other fellow,” that
far from mythical man so many
accidents are pinned bn?
Or maybe I’m not such a good
driver. Do I obey all the rules, all
Drive
Carefully
—and see us for
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® General Service
® Road Service
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Please
Drive
Take chances on your
way home, and you may
see her from a
COFFIN! I l
Leonard's Auto Parts
Highways 6 & 21
Bryan
, Prevent
I
T!i if
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Drive With Caution
During the holidays, and all times, use utmost
caution when driving your automobile. Drivers—
not automobiles 1 —cause accidents. However, care
ful driving on your part is not a substitute for in
surance. We represent only old line Capital Stock
Companies with records of fair dealing throughout
many, many years. You can’t insure a loss after
the accident. Call us today.
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Iiiguranee Service
Will You Be on His List?
the time ? Can I ? I must, to stay
alive.
I’ve been reading the statistics.
Texas has 5,509 accidental deaths
last year . . . more young people
ai’e killed in automobile accidents
than any other way . . . A&M’s
Chief Fred Hickman says the odds
are that at least one Aggie will
be killed over the holidays.
Somebody listens to the statis
ticians. The insurance company
says my station wagon and I have
to pay a higher rate, because I’m in
the “accident-prone age group.”
Underneath their figures, the
statisticians hide a lot of blood,
pain and suffering. Running into
bicycles is not particularly danger
ous for my age group—it’s next to
‘the last in the causes of automobile
deaths for the 15 to 24 group.
But dollisions between bicycles
and autmnobiles is the leading
cause of deaths for the 5 to 14 age
group.
In other words, if I hit a kid on
a bike, I’ll probably live through it.
But that kid has only a slim chance
to live.
Statistics are cold. They’re cold
because they hide many things. A
scream, the contortion of horror
just before the crash, the irrepar
ably maimed bodies —~ they don’t
show in “Texas had 5,509 accidental
deaths in 1953.”
I’ve read the book of statistics.
And I’m scared. I wisli I could get
everyone scared.
(Sec I’M SCARED . ., Page 4)
■ f-i f
5K
Learn By Doing
Safely Ffitrol
One of the ways children learn
safety is by helping others to be
safe.
This is one reason why students
at A&M Consolidated school are
helping make College Station a
safety-conscious city.
The junior safety patrol, now in
its first year of operation, is an
attempt to show children of the
school the value of safety.
Founder of the patrol is Curtis
Bullock, College Station patrolman.
Bullock lias tried for three years
to get such a plan into actual op
eration here.
Bullock supervises the patrol
each day in front of the school.
The boys do not direct automobile
traffic, but help with pedestrians,
and bicycles coming to and from
the school grounds.
Each group of patrols working
at the intersections has a flag to
warn mVlorists.
* Slow Dovm
“These flags warn drivers to
slow dow n,” Bullock said. “If they
don’t slow down, the boys take
their license numbers and report
them to me.”
Charges will be filed against mo
torists who repeatedly disregard
the signals, he said.
While school busses are loading,
the boys keep children in line. One
patrol gets on the bus and sees that
everyone sits down.
s School
The patrols are selected by W. T.
Reidel, junior high school princi
pal. To be eligible, boys must have
an average of SO in their school
work and a note of approval from
their parents.
Before the safety patrols were
formed, Bullock policed the streets
by the school each day.
Recently the Consolidated. Moth
ers and Duds club presented Bul
lock with a certificate of apprecia
tion for the safety work he had
done with children.
In addition to his police work
with the students, Bullock lectures
classes on safety practices.
Bullock has been a College Sta
tion patrolman for four years.
The Right Policy
W. C. Holmes
Insurance
Variseo Bldg. — Bryan
Q (Q;
i
0
-JOURS
Interest Always At Heart
The customer’s best interest is always our first concern
. every item serviced thoroughly and double-
checked for safety. We take pride in our auto service; ’
you’ll take pride in your car’s dependable performance.
Drive Safely This Christmas
Wick Massey
223 So, Main
Bryan
Home Sweet Home
Causes Bloodshed
Over 600,000 people annually are
using hammers on their thumbs,
falling off ladders and actually
shedding blood for dear old home
sweet home.
How to keep your fingers on
your hands seems to be a big prob
lem in this, “do it yourself” era.
Each year 180,000 people are in
jured making their own furniture.
The Christmas , season, with all
its joys, Christmas cheer—and in
creased accidents, is coming.
You can enjoy your Christmas
to the fullest if you will just ob
serve a few safety precautions.
When hanging tree ornaments
stand on a sturdy stool or ladder.
Wear low heeled shoes.
Buy safe toys for the children.
See that playthings have no jagged
edges. Check eyes, buttons and
beads on dolls arid stuffed toys,
since youngsters have a love of
swallowing these small objects.
'When buying your decorating
materials make sure they are flame
proof. Avoid using candles near 1
decorations. String inflammable
decorations near the ceiling well
away from guests’ cigarettes.
Btyan, Z<
Avoid Engine Hazards
Meclianieal failures on the busy, holiday highways can
sometimes be fatal. Let us service your car regularly
to keep it in top running condition. Regular brake
inspections can reduce automobile accidents.
DONAHO BUICK CO.
1215 Highway 6 £ — Bry^n,
Make A Note For
. . Holiday Safety
And For Convenience, Xry Drive-In Banking
Filter the drive from 24th street, follow the arrow to the
drive-in window, and cash your checks or make deposits
from your ear. (If you have business in the bank, use the
parking lot and coine in’the’Fast entrance.)'
CITY NATIONAL -RANK
iCI CW MAIN'
t.d.i.c.
BitYAN: