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Cooperation Asked To
Prevent Traffic Accidents
Alarmed at the high percentage of service men being killed in traffic accidents, CoL C. W. Woodson, Jr., Superintendent of State Police and Executive Chairman oi the Governor’s Highway Safety Committee, issued a plea for more cooperation and asked them not to expect immunity to traffic laws simply because they were servicemen.
Col. Woodson stated that he was fully aware of the sacrifices men in uniform were making or would be called upon to make and the frequent necessity of their returning to their bases at a given time. However he pointed out that in 1949, 81 of the drivers in Virginia’s 706 fatar accidents were servicemen and that 10 more died as pedestrians. No statistics were available as to others killed as passengers but loss of life in this category is known to be heavy. This year, he said, is seeing much the same trend.
Military personnel are often attempting to stretch their liberty or leave as long as possible by speeding, he continued, and thus expose themselves and others to its attendant dangers. When apprehended they almost invariably plead ignorancg of local laws and expect leniency on this ground and because they are members of the armed forces.
An overseas veteran himself Col. Woodson stated emphatically that any member of the Department -stands-ready- to^jehder, s£r« vicemen all assistance possible and practical lbut dangerous driving simply could not be condoned any more than it can when a private citizen is involved.
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