page 56

A “Safety First” Publication

The quarterly journal of the National “Safety First” Association (Inc.), published by the proprietors, The National “Safety First” Association, 119 Victoria Street, London, is a bright, interesting and informative publication. The September issue, which reached us recently, lives up to its reputation in this respect, containing, as it does, many instructive and constructive articles on the various phases of “Safety First.” Dealing with the question of road safety, for instance, Sir Herbert Austin, K.B.E. (to whom much credit is due for the heartening stimulus given to the British Motor Industry by the increasing popularity of British motor cars in the motor markets of the world) contributes a thought - provoking article—“Building Safety into Motor Vehicles”—an article containing many valuable suggestions tending to minimise the increasing toll of road accidents.

The activities of the Association and its branches are many and varied. One of the measures adopted in England to safeguard the younger children leaving school, is by senior scholars acting as school safety patrols. Their duty is to assist the younger scholars safely across the streets. “Teachers supervise the working of the arrangements, but they are not often called on to interfere. The children are proud of their achievements, and would regard an accident as a reflection on their own efficiency, and youth knows no greater blow than that.”

Special articles on industrial accident prevention and safety organisation are also published.

Amongst the useful safety slogans contained in the September issue, the following may be quoted:—

“Accidents do not happen — they are caused.”
“Co-operation cannot be commanded or demanded—it must be won.”
“Always pay attention to any posters or notices displayed. They are put up for your guidance and safety.”
“When caution becomes a habit accidents will be few.”
“Help the new man—for your safety as well as his own.”
“Where Safety is first life is longer.”

The Journal is ably conducted, and is doing a most useful work in awakening the conscience of the individual to the perils of carelessness and to the need for exercise, at all times, of vigilance, to the end of reducing the toll of accidents which bring so much human suffering and economic loss in their train.