Breezing Along on Lake Mead

Community Service of the Arizona Automobile Association

IN THIS day and age of service clubs, groups of men and women working with the purpose of the betterment of their community, it is apropos to point out just what the Arizona Automobile Association contributes to our community life. In the first place, our own AAA motor club is an affiliate of the American Automobile Association, with headquarters in Washington, D. C., and is one of the 738 clubs throughout the United States, Canada, and Alaska. This alone indicates the many courtesies received and services obtainable wherever you may happen to be.

When we think of a service club in terms of actual accomplishment, however, we must say to ourselves, “What would this community be like without this particular club?” The answer is beyond comprehension, in terms of children's lives saved. Thirty years ago, the matter of safety on the road was not a question of public interest. True, there was always the danger of runaway horses, but the average mother felt reasonably sure of her child's life when he started for school. Today, circumstances are very different. As Johnny leaves home in the morning, books tucked underarm, he unconsciously demonstrates that first maxim of geometry “A straight line is the shortest distance between two points,” by walking crosslots to school. Often, however, he must cross, or travel part way, on a main highway, and then comes the present day problem.

arm, he unconsciously demonstrates that first maxim of geometry “A straight line is the shortest distance between two points,” by walking crosslots to school. Often, however, he must cross, or travel part way, on a main highway, and then comes the present day problem.

As a result of the rapid development of the automobile, and the rapid development of new and improved roads, it was soon realized by all thinking people that “Safety” was going to be a problem worthy of some very real study. The American Automobile Association made an earnest and careful examination of this subject, the result of which was the inauguration of the School Boy Patrol. The first unit to be installed in Arizona was at the Roskruge School in Tucson. The boys were instructed in courtesy, rules of the road, and the proper procedure in taking their young charges from curb to curb. These boys are selected for their qualities of leadership and reliability, from the most advanced grades in the schools. In some cases girls serve on the patrols, and make most efficient officers. Patrols usually consist of ten pupils, including the captain and his two lieutenants. As a rule, these children take their responsibilities seriously, faithfully arriving at their schools fifteen to twenty minutes early to go on “duty.” The patrolmen never post themselves in the street, as it is sometimes erroneously thought, but take their stand on the curb, holding the children back until it is safe for them to cross. The patrols are usually operated in close co-operation with the local police department, and at some of the larger schools the regular police officer stands in the highway at given times, taking his small charges from the care of the junior patrolman at the curb, across to the other side of the street. In the eight years that these patrols have been in operation in Arizona, not one fatality has occurred in the vicinity of the schools where these patrols are operated. There have been instances of noted heroism.Such was the case of Officer Helen Bugen, of Bisbee, Arizona. Three little children were crossing the street in Bisbee. All unheeding, the children crossed, just as a car rounded the curve. There was no time for a shouted warning. Helen dashed for the youngsters, brakes squealed, three little children were safe, but Helen was prone on the pavement, battered and bruised. Happily, no serious injuries resulted. Later, Mr. Sam Bailie of the Arizona Automobile Association, was speaking on “Safety” at the Bisbee High School, which Helen then attended. On completing his talk, he inquired if The Hebets brothers of Glendale served and are serving their school with distinction as members of the school patrol. First Jimmy, then Billy, then Melvin have served the patrol and now little Bobbie will serve when he gets old enough.Helen was in the audience, and would she please come forward. Surprised, she did so, and, holding her hand, Mr. Bailie told her school mates of her brave act. Later he sent her a lifetime Captain's badge, a special service pin, "to wear always," and ten new one dollar bills. In Glendale, there are four fine upstanding boys who have attended the Glendale Grammar School. Edward J. (Jimmy) Hebets is the oldest, and when he was in the eighth grade of the grammar school, he was selected for captain of his patrol. The young brothers looked on with twinges of envy. Two years later, William came along, and, as Billy was a natural leader like big brother Jimmy, he too, was selected to wear the coveted belt and pin. By the time Melvin, the third brother, had matriculated, being a Captain of the School Boy Patrol had practically become a tradition in the Hebets family, and once more a Hebets boy was wearing a Captain's pin. Little Bobbie, tagging along several years behind the others, is simply and positively sure that when he is old enough, he'll be a Captain, too, for can't he do just about everything the big boys do? Well, if he can't, he'll burst trying. These fine lads are the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Hebets who live on a ranch in Glendale.Another branch of Safety work, sponsored by the A.A.A. is the issuance of hundreds of monthly posters and lessons, gratis to any school requesting them. The lessons are graded for the first, second and third grades, the fourth, fifth and sixth, and the seventh, eighth and ninth. With the teachers co-operating 100 per cent, the children are taught to stop, look and listen, to cross on only cross walks, and innumerable life saving habits. So, from the first grade on, the children form the habit of caution, on the highway.

There are 125 schools in Arizona pro-

OCTOBER, 1939

Provided with safety material each month, and the Arizona Automobile Association is a busy place the first of every month, sending out their material to all four corners of the state, in order that Arizona children may encounter as few hazards as possible. The Safe Driving course at the Phoenix Union High School was assisted in its inception two years ago, by the loan of a Dual Control Pontiac car from the Arizona Automobile Association. This course takes a full semester. It is elective, and only sixteen year olds, or those who will attain their sixteenth birthday during the semester, are allowed to take the course. Even then, they must have the complete approval of both parents. The course consists of a full period a day for five days a week, with one driving lesson each week, and more than that if the pupil requires it. The prospective drivers are first tested in all sorts of ways, to learn exactly what they may be expected to do under given circumstances. There is the mental test, the test for eyesight, including visual acuity and depth perception, (how much you can see out of the corner of your eyes,) and color perception. Then comes the hearing test, and the test for reaction time, using the DeSilva reaction apparatus which is an interesting device for measuring how fast a driver can move or react. It determines how fast the driver can lift his foot off the accelerator and press it down on the brake pedal, when he sees a red light flash on.

When the pupil has a complete summation of himself, his potentialities and his deficiencies, then he is ready to proceed with his course. A great deal is done in the class-room with a set-up of model car dash board, and theories of driving thoroughly studied, but the real experience in driving comes when the pupil is partially prepared. Mr. William G. Payne, of the P.U.H.S. has worked out a most thorough course, and when the pupils are ready, they are taken out to Papago Park, and there given their first practical lesson in driving, with the instructor right beside them at the dual controls. The dual control car provided by the A.A.A. is one of thirty such cars used throughout the nation in Safe Driving courses.

Later the pupil is taken into light traffic, and lastly, when they are really heady to "graduate," they drive right down Central Avenue and through the business section of Phoenix.

Captain Titel of the Police Department has been of immeasurable assistance to the course, as indeed has every officer on the force. By the captain's mandate, all of Denis Street behind the High