Salt Lake Telegram | 1939-04-26 | Page 1 | Blood Moves to Create Utah Traffic Safety Board

Blood Moves to Create Utah Traffic Safety Board CAMPAIGN TO REDUCE DEATHS ON HIGHWAYS GAINS WIDE SUPPORT i State 4 Road Commission Asked to Contact, All Groups Interested in Forming Coordinating Coordi-nating Agency to Cut Toll A new era in UUh'i attack upon the problem of highway accidents and death waa in prospect Wednesday, when Cover nor Henry H. Blood moved to create a permanent state-wide traffic safety organization. Governor Blood asked the state road commission to contact all other groups interested in traffic safety and begin work on a program to be submitted for his guidance. With such a program in his hands, Governor Blood then win call a state traffic safety conference to set the new under- ''taking in motion. "UUh'i traffic accident record for put yean Is unsatisfactory and taas fotmd tha state nsarrrS'bottoffi of the list" the f overnor wrote the commhuion. "It It gratifying to see that improvement in the IMS record rec-ord may be attributed to an awak- mmI nnhlie finnaplnuanms. "Important contributing factors are the activities of the various safety organisations in Utah, which have succeeded in definite. and laudable laud-able accomplishments." He pointed out that under a state law the road commission is empowered empow-ered to set up a traffic safety department de-partment to work with other groups. Groo Acts as Head R. Whitney Groo, chief of the highway patrol, now acts as head of safety work under the road commission. com-mission. "I have had under consideration the calling of a conference to discuss dis-cuss establishment of an organisation organisa-tion to coordinate activities of all safety organisations In the state," Governor Blood wrote the commission. commis-sion. "The legislature apparently intended in-tended for the road commission to assist in creation of such a coordinating coordi-nating agency and it should have the permission to expend highway funds as might be necessary for office and secretarial expenses incurred in-curred in promotion of such worthwhile worth-while activity. Report Wanted ""I will appreciate it If you will make careful study of this problem and, as soon as possible, submit a report, outlining a proposed ststs-wide ststs-wide safety ergauiixatioa and program." pro-gram." , The road commission Is expected to contact the Salt Lake City traffic commission and other groups in the state, as well ss the National Safety council and other national organizations.