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Show July, UTAH FARM BUREAU 1971 Page 5 Focus On Drunk Driving Debatable FOCUS" of some safety and insurance comefforts to cope with their in panies the problem of drinking driving was criticized this summer by William N. Plymat, Chairman of the Board of the Preferred Rick Mutual Insurance Company of Des Moines, Iowa. Speaking at a national alcoholism institute at Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan, Plymat said: The name of the game right now is on the drunk. driver who is usually defined as the alcoholic." He pointed to a recent insurance company ad that said: Dont misunderstand: the enemy is not someone whos just been drinking but the drunk driver." Plymat objected that this trend and focus may lead the vast majority of drivers to believe they can drink and drive safely if they will just limit their drinks to a reasonable number" and that this in turn will increase drinking driving and finally fatal traffic accidents. Plymat admitted that around half of the drinking driving problem was due to drunk drivers who are primarily alcoholics, but said that the other half involves social drinkers, most of whom dont know that small amounts of alcohol create a substantial impairment in driving ability. Plymat claimed that scientific studies indicated that in the usual case two drinks taken in an hour will create an impairment of around 25 percent in driving THE ability. Plymat said: While campaigns against the drunk driver have real merit and should be backed, we should do everything we can to reduce all drinking driving if we are to make real progress in the mounting drinking driving traffic toll . . . earlier closing hours for bars and cocktail lounges would help as would discouraging social drinking when the only way to go home is by car." blame-everythin- . In his talk Plymat admitted that some recent studies showed a large number of heavy drinkers and alcoholics involved in fatal traffic accidents. He pointed out that some recent large increases in liquor consumption were followed quickly by large increases in fatal traffic accidents. He said, It usually takes ten years of heavy drinking to make an alcoholic. But there is no time lag in accidents. When hard liquor consumption goes up, the number of fatal traffic accidents quickly follows. The level of alcoholism does not seem to quickly increase in parallel fashion. Im afraid some traffic experts see only the top of the iceberg in seeing alcoholism while they fail to see the vast number of accidents involving drinking because the alcohol cause is not discovered. The government now tells us that half of our fatal traffic accidents involve drinking." As evidence to support this contention, Plymat cited the record of his home state of Iowa w'hich he reported liberalized its liquor laws in 1963 with introduction of legal liquor by the drink. Plymat reported that Iowa had a 30 percent increase in the average per capita consumption of hard liquor in the six years afterwards in contrast to . the average of the four years before and that at the same time fatal traffic accidents invoking drunk and drinking drivers increased even more. He reported a similar increase in fatal accidents between midnight and 4 a.m. and run off the road accidents both of which he claimed have a high alcohol factor. He claimed the mileage death rate increased 33 percent in the six years after liquor by the drink compared to the three years before while Kansas without liquor by the drink and a much lower per capita increase had a mileage death rate increase of less than 2 percent. Plymat concluded, Once liquor laws are liberalized, they stay liberalized. The liquor industry seeks constantly to further liberalize them in the interest of increased sales. These days efforts are being made to end laws banning Sunday sales which are prohibited in half of our states. If we wish to cut down the drinking driving toll, we may have to forego some liberty to drink whenever and wherever we wish before driving. PICTURE: L to R. LouGene Williamson, Elma Anderson, Cumorah Holdawy, Mary Jane Dixon Other officers not in picture: Fawn Hales, Evelyn Hall Utah County Women Held Annual Ladies Day June 14 The Utah County Farm Bureau Womens Committee held their Annual Ladies Day on June 14, 1971 at the beautiful, new Orem City Center. Registration began at 9:45 a.m. and the Morning Session began at 10 a.m. with the Invocation being given by Edith Clinger. God Bless America was sung by Beth Clegg, accompanied by Eunice Kent and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Elma An- The giving up of some liberty can save many lives." derson. . Special guest of the day was Barbara Whitbeck, Utah State Farm Bureau Womens Committee Chairman, who spoke briefly. Other guests included LeGrande Jarman, Director Field Services; Vesta Boyer, Utah Farm Bureau Womens Committee Director; Mrs. Irene Thomson, Utah State Extension Director in Utah County; Mrs. LouJene Williamson, Utah County American Dairy Association Ladies Chairman ; Mrs. Helen Cowan and other officers of the Payson-Spanis- h Fork Cow Belles Organization; Mrs. Earl F.B. Womens Committee Chairman, and Juab County Jerrett, of members Juab County Farm Bureau; and all Utah Farm Bureau Insurance Agents in Utah County: Rex Behling, Carl Loveless, Thad Jensen, Charles Anderson, Gilbert McDowell. The Program included a discussion on Food & Nuitrition by Vesta Boyer, with the skit Food is a Bragain being presented by Sharlene Money, Georgia Hansen, and Beulah Holt. Marvin Powell of the Utah Safety Council presented an introduction to the Defensive Driving Course and encouraged everyone to participate in the classes now being planned. Mrs. Cathlene Caras of Spanish Fork, Utah, and members of her family presented a discussion and situation. Her program in regards to the Viet Nam Prisoner-of-Wa- r Franklin was Caras husband, Major reported missing in action on He 1967, has never been heard from or about since that April 28, day. Those in attendance were very touched with Mrs. Caras remarks and with the Caras children as they sang several songs and especially as they sang My Dad. Also performing on the program was Major Caras SISTER, Mrs. Evelyn Beagley and her children. Theyre accompanist on the piano was Diane Anderson. Following the luncheon held also at the Orem City Center, Mr. John Young and Mr. Junior Stewart, Vice Presidents of Marketing, Utah Farm Bureau Insurance Co., gave remarks and showed a film in regards to Auto Safety and Insurance. The climax of the day came when Dr. Loren Jex from the B. Y.U. Speech Therapy Department presented information on the study and research being done and the accomplishments seen in working with the patients at the American Fork Training School. The results were demonstrated as he presented three patients, their problems and their accomplishment, during his discussion. The On Time door prize was won by Connie Saunders of Spring Lake. Everyone in attendance was presented a souvenier gift given by the Utah State Farm Insurance Services. Mrs. Cumorah G. Holdaway, Utah County Farm Bureau Womens Committee Chairman, conducted the days activities. v. .. 8dl VQU CSffixsra? Yhaft Vou ObouDd oport Glairao CJIfthla 30 ayo? Advertising contributed for the public good. ''.V 'fe UTAH FARM BUREAU INSURANCE CO. |