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Show Our Mounting Moving Massacre By LINDSAY R." CURTIS, Letter To Hie Editor of Medical another editor, Jacqueline Dauer (Newsletter, American Association for Automotive Medicine) says: "It is a foregone conclusion that the Human Vehicle is the greatest feat of engineering known to mankind. The Human Vehicle comes with a warranty, or 25,550 days. There are only two models, male and female, and it comes in two designs, Standard (adults) and Compacts (children). These designs vary slightly in size and weight In spite of the size and weight of the over all vehicle, the engine which controls the performance of the vehicle weiglis only 3 pounds and it is actively engaged 16 hours out of every 24. The engine of the Human Vehicle is never turned off. It is in park position for eight hours. It takes only 5 quarts of fuel to operate the Human Vehicle. The fuel is distrit uted to the entire vehicle by a pump no bigger than a flst. Unlike the automobile, the Human Vehicle can maintain a high grade of performance even after some of the original equipment has been removed. The frame of this vehicle consists of 206 bones, and the Joints are all Then there are 325 working modes of which many act as1 shock absorbers as well as performing a specific function. Over this are eight layers of undercoating and seven layers of finish. Although all the components of this masterpiece of craftsmanship of complex systems and intricacies are known to mankind, no scientist or engineer has been able to manufacture a Human Vehicle or a reasonable facsimile thereof. In fact, the Human Vehicle can be reproduced by entirely unskilled labor. Therefore it seems a shame that in a vehide matter of seconds a man-mad- e (the auto) can mangle or obliterate the Human Vehicle from society as we know M.D. Dr. Curtis driving and the other for driving, that. can test a driver under almost any conditions. So accurately do these simulators create the illusion of actually driving a car that driving behavior responses faithfully test and record a given driver's ability and weaknesses. Uort-diStan- a InTribune. r it .. r It seems even more of a shame to realize that the 52,500 people killed in motor-vehicaccidents in the United States in e or 1966 were victims of le man-mad- situations. In other words, traffic accidents are strictly an offspring of our modern culture. In addition to those killed, there were over 3,500,000 people injured, of which about 2,000,000 were disabled to varying degrees.' And each year we can look for man-creste- . d As drivers of aQ ages and both sexes are tested, it is hoped that a more accurate method may be found to determine who should be allowed to drive. Perhaps in the future, the drivers license wiU become less automatic. It will depend less upon a knowledge of the violations of, and more upon compliance with, the laws of safe driving. is further tested under As driver-abilitconditions of alcoholism, drugs, fatigue, physical and mental handicaps, it is hoped that better standards of evaluation can be evolved. Possibly the age-olquarrel and level vercontroversy about sus intoxication can be resolved. A person's actual driving ability will be accurately determined under a given situation. However, while these tests are being conducted and standards set up, there is now and will continue to be a sizable amount of individual responsibility in this matter of driving. Each of us drives to a great extent on our automatic pilot. While our conditioned reflexes steer our car, our mind is thinking of other things, listening to the radio, or talking to other passengers. It would be both interesting and embarrassing to us to monitor a playback of our driving during any given day. Do we make a complete stop at stop signs? Do we observe common courtesy at intersections Including the concession of to other drivers? Do we rush lights, exceed limits just a little, fail to signal, or otherwise the hazard of accidents? Perhaps the aforementioned simulators could provide us with some of these answers. y ward to a phenomenal increase in this catastrophic carnage. Yet mans vanity for in new cars combined with and industrys resistance to change has delayed implementation of safety standards that were recommended over a decade ago. For instance, there is no question but what many, injuries could be avoided by cushioning all structures within the vehicle so that our bodies could be protected in accidents. Yet this is one of many suggested changes that has not been made. However, while we are criticizing Industry, design, and delay, we must individually accept responsibility for our share of the facts of death. Many of us who sport a clean slate as far as traffic citations are concerned are either Just plain lucky, or else we keep a sharp lookout in the rearview mirror. If our record contained the violations we probably would require a large wallet to contain the o eye-appe- list Who is most likely to have an accident? Various studies have shown the rural area residents are more likely to be killed in traffic accidents than urban area rest- dents and that pedestrians account for 20 per cent of all traffic fatalities. Naturally most of the pedestrian accidents occur in urban areas. Although most people think the teenag ers form the bulk of traffic fatalities, this is not entirely true. If we divide drivers into three groups, as follows: Thirty and under Thirty to sixty Those over sixty, we find that the safest drivers are those from 30 to 60 years of age. Their rate is roughly one half that of the other two groups, who by the way, share honors as the most accident-pron- e drivers. In the younger group of drivers one finds that lack of experience and a tendency to take greater risks account for the increase in accident rate. In the older age group, the infirmities of age along with other diseases seem to take their toll. By and large the greatest factor in aQ groups, however, is that of combining drinking and driving. Over 60 per cent of the drivers in fatal accidents have blood alcohol concentrations in excess of 0.05 per cent and more than half of these have levels in excess of 0.15 per cent A composite of studies throughout the country substantiates these figures and some areas, such as California may run as high as 75 per cent of drivers in fatal accidents with levels over 0.05 per cent In Providence, R.I., k research laboratory is being established to test the HUMAN ASPECTS of automobile accident causation. Two electronic driving simulators have been devised, one for highway blood-alcoh- ol d blood-alcoh- right-of-wa- y fin-crea- To use a trite cliche, accidents do not happen, they are caused. Lets make a habit of safe, type of driving. Train your subconsious to be alert and to observe the law. Love thy neighbors life as thine own! law-abidi- aHUiimwwmMmiumiMiHimuinniiiMiiHnuiiwiiiniiiiiiiniiiniinimiiidmniimnTiiiiiHniHimHmiHiwiiiniinHiiiimHiHmmi(iiwiiiMWianiiinuiuiMiHiHMiiMiiii8iiiiiiiuiMiiiHiuuiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiimiiintiHiiiuuiiuiiiimiiiiiMiiiiiuiilliiM.illiulHiMiHl.i,u.().nminmminn Help Children Develop Responsibility One of the purposes of the home evening program is to help children develop a sense of responsibility and obligation to of the family. contribute to the Frequently the necessity of obeying well-bein- g family rules and getting work assignments done creates friction and some rebelliousness among the children. We aQ recognize that work must be done, that some semblence of order must be followed for effective family living. How can we help family members to participate more willingly? After the home evening lesson this week, consider discussing some of the following suggestions: Most parents know that firmness, consistency and persistence are a necessary part of child training. But the wise parent knows also that usually a twinkle in the eye is more effective than a hairbrush in the hand. Take the matter of bedtime. One family we know finds that enforcing a reason - By MONROE and able bedtime isnt too difficult if occasionreward such as ally there is a a pajama ride. Now and then on a beautiful moonlight night when the unsuspecting children are ready for bed promptly, the entire family bundles into the car and takes a leisurely drive to admire the twinkling lights of the city viewed from a hilltop, the reflection of the moon on the lake, or the silver shadows in a quiet countryside. Refreshments at a drive-iclimax this enchanting journey. You might try this some lovely evening following the home evening lesson. Another resourceful family has discovered that music indeed hath charms. When bedtime rolls around Mom plays a rousing Goodnight Sweetheart on the piano in march time. The children fall stay-up-la- n SHIRLEY PAXMAN into the spirit with enthusiasm and sturdily march off to bed with military Still another family treats the children to a California Sleigh Ride to lure them into bed. Clustered together on an old blanket, the tots are pulled thither and yon on a floor tour of the home, ending up in the bedroom. The more erratic the ride the more ecstatic the squeals. You might like to try changing the every day routine with a This works weU on an occasional Saturday when the routine of schoolwork, piano lessons, and housekeeping become a bit burdensome. On this infrequent day rules are suspended, everyone sleeps late, breakfast is cafeteria style, clothes may be left on the floor, beds unmade, and for one glorious day ev y. eryone does what he pleases within the bounds of propriety and the welfare of the family. Be tween-meg snacks and In bed are allowed. After such a day everyone finds it much easier to conform to the necessary routine once again. One couple we know, realizing that children get used to the same voices giving the same old commands, gets immediate attention from her offspring by donning an old hat, or grabbing a hand-puppor a silly mask Using these as props they ham up their requests in a delightful manner. This new twist to the old listen-to-m- e routine gets spontaneous response and cooperation. Perhaps your family can adopt or adapt some of these suggestions, or better yet, invent some ingenious methods of your own to break the monotony of daily family living and substitute gaiety for ordinary grievances. iii(niiiimniniiuiiiitiitiiii(iiniiiiiniiiiiiiiiiuiiintiii!iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiii(iiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiHiiHrhiiiii!i!iiiiniiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiimiHuutiiuiiiitiiiitiiiiiiiiittttiiiuii(tuntnmniinnmuiuiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHuttiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiittitHi!tMiiiimnimtimniiiiinin(uiiifiuiiminiiimifi WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 6. 1967 late-readin- play-actin- g |