How to stop road deaths

Hertfordshire Mercury – 16/02/1951

How to stop roads deaths

Working from an office in the Hertfordshire Police Headquarters at Hatfield , is a man who believes the major problem of death and injury on the road could be almost solved by the simple practice of courtesy by all road users .

He is Sergeant R. H. Gaylor , the first road safety officer appointed by the police . His task is the co-ordination of the county drive to reduce road accidents by education and example .

” The theme for this year is ‘ Courtesy ‘. ” says Sergeant Gaylor . ” If everyone obeyed the Highway Code accidents would reduce by 85 percent . Most accidents are caused by thoughtlessness or carelessness . “

Working in conjunction with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents , the police plan widespread propaganda to stress the need for safety on the road .Exhibitions , film shows , talks , and posters are part of the scheme to bring home the problem to all sections of the community and all classes of road users .

Children are one of the main targets for Sergeant Gaylor’s lessons . ” Teach them young ” is his belief . Schools are visited . An example of the modern approach is a marionette show planned for children at Hatfield next week .

” But all road safety lessons are wasted if parents do not wait for their children to practice kerb drill when out with them . ” he says .

Cycles are an important feature of road safety . Fifty per cent of all children’s cycles examined by police in Hertfordshire last year were found to be defective .

” A defective cycle can easily cause an accident. ” he says . More inspections are planned to reduce the number .

Sergeant Gaylor considers his job well worth while . ” If only one life is saved , the effort would have been rewarded . ” he says .

Accidents on Hertfordshire roads last year were the highest for eight years – See story in Page 2 .