ahead with it ourselves. Undoubtedly we could have waited for industry to get around to it, but I do not like to think of the lives that might have been lost in the interim. A further consideration was the testing of our little mailsters. Since these are manufactured by small business concerns around the country, it is unreasonable to expect General Motors-or any other automotive firm-to test them for safety factors at their own expense. And it is significant to note that one of the seat belt flaws uncovered by GM was in the mailster. REDUCTION OF URBAN MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS These, then, are a few of the steps that we have undertaken in our overall safety program. As a result, we have been able to reduce our urban motor vehicle accident rate from 130 accidents per million miles driven in 1953 to 30 in 1964. This represents a solid accomplishment and we are proud of it. However, we know full well that there is still room for improvement. I think, on the national level, we should improve physical and mental driver licensing standards, intensify our safety research programs increase our support of driver education programs, encourage wider exchange of driver records among law enforcement agencies, and provide for better exchange of highway safety research data. I might say that we have under study right now a psychological testing program such as I remember when I was an Air Force Čadet in the early 1940's in connection with prospective aircraft pilots. We would use this test to weed out the relatively small proportion of drivers who tend to have a very high proneness for accidents before they ever get behind the wheel. We have not completed this study yet. There is some concern about using these kinds of psychological tests. I think they are well worth developing, particularly in an agency such as ours with 133,000 employees actually driving vehicles. We have not come to any conclusion on it yet, but we are working on it at this time. NATION'S FIRST TRAFFIC SAFETY STAMP I might also add that in terms of the national highway safety picture we have been very impressed by various organizations around the country interested in traffic safety who have asked us to help focus national attention on the Nation's traffic safety effort. On September 3, in Baltimore, just before the Labor Day weekend, we will have the first day of issue ceremony for the issuance of the Nation's first traffic. safety stamp. Because of the many who are interested in traffic safety this appears to be a fruitful use of our commemorative stamp program. PROPOSAL TO LEASE CARS TO PROVIDE TO RURAL CARRIERS One other thing that we are doing will depend upon some legislation this year. We have 31,000 rural carrier routes where the rural carrier supplies his own car. In such cases we have no direct control over the safety features of the cars themselves. And so, we are proposing this year, to introduce bills in the Congress, to convert this driver-owned car program to a lease program, where the Government leases the cars and provides them to the rural carriers. Now, this has implications beyond safety-especially financial implications. But froin the point of safety, let me point out that something like 5 percent of these 31,000 cars are over 10 years old. In addition, that about 1,500 to 2,000 of them are in the very small car category, and one of the safety problems is that rural carriers go off and on the highway frequently but many lack the power to move back down the highway as fast as the rest of the traffic. Senator RIBICOFF. How do these contracts work with rural independent mail carriers? Are they paid on a per mile basis in addition to salaries? Postmaster General GRONOUSKI. Yes, by statute, the rural carrier gets 12 cents a mile, or $4.20 a day, whichever is higher, for providing the automobile and for full maintenance, gas, oil, et cetera. Under the proposal that we are about to introduce to the Congress, we would contract out for this fleet, either through the GSA or through private industry, depending on which comes up with the best offer. We would provide, among other things, a fleet of cars that has an average of 2 years, none of which will be over 3 years old. These cars will be equipped with all of the safety features that the GSA is planning to put into effect 2 years hence. These are the safety features referred to by Senator Nelson in his testimony. As I say, there are many implications to this besides safety. But I think it is worth mentioning in terms of the correlation that has ! been developed between the age and size of the car and the safety factors involved. ahead with it ourselves. Undoubtedly we could have waited for indus try to get around to it, but I do not like to think of the lives that might have been lost in the interim. A further consideration was the testing of our little mailsters. Since these are manufactured by small business concerns around the country, it is unreasonable to expect General Motors-or any other automotive firm-to test them for safety factors at their own expense. And it is significant to note that one of the seat belt flaws uncovered by GM was in the mailster. REDUCTION OF URBAN MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS These, then, are a few of the steps that we have undertaken in our overall safety program. As a result, we have been able to reduce our urban motor vehicle accident rate from 130 accidents per million miles driven in 1953 to 30 in 1964. This represents a solid accomplishment and we are proud of it. However, we know full well that there is still room for improvement. I think, on the national level, we should improve physical and mental driver licensing standards, intensify our safety research programs increase our support of driver education programs, encourage wider exchange of driver records among law enforcement agencies, and provide for better exchange of highway safety research data. I might say that we have under study right now a psychological testing program such as I remember when I was an Air Force Čadet in the early 1940's in connection with prospective aircraft pilots. We would use this test to weed out the relatively small proportion of drivers who tend to have a very high proneness for accidents before they ever get behind the wheel. We have not completed this study yet. There is some concern about using these kinds of psychological tests. I think they are well worth developing, particularly in an agency such as ours with 133,000 employees actually driving vehicles. We have not come to any conclusion on it yet, but we are working on it at this time. NATION'S FIRST TRAFFIC SAFETY STAMP I might also add that in terms of the national highway safety picture we have been very impressed by various organizations around the country interested in traffic safety who have asked us to help focus national attention on the Nation's traffic safety effort. On September 3, in Baltimore, just before the Labor Day weekend, we will have the first day of issue ceremony for the issuance of the Nation's first traffic safety stamp. Because of the many who are interested in traffic safety this appears to be a fruitful use of our commemorative stamp program. PROPOSAL TO LEASE CARS TO PROVIDE TO RURAL CARRIERS One other thing that we are doing will depend upon some legislation this year. We have 31,000 rural carrier routes where the rural carrier supplies his own car. In such cases we have no direct control over the safety features of the cars themselves. And so, we are proposing this year, to introduce bills in the Congress, to convert this driver-owned car program to a lease program, where the Government leases the cars and provides them to the rural carriers. Now, this has implications beyond safety-especially financial implications. But from the point of safety, let me point out that something like 5 percent of these 31,000 cars are over 10 years old. In addition, that about 1,500 to 2,000 of them are in the very small car category, and one of the safety problems is that rural carriers go off and on the highway frequently but many lack the power to move back down the highway as fast as the rest of the traffic. Senator RIBICOFF. How do these contracts work with rural independent mail carriers? Are they paid on a per mile basis in addition to salaries? Postmaster General GRONOUSKI. Yes, by statute, the rural carrier gets 12 cents a mile, or $4.20 a day, whichever is higher, for providing the automobile and for full maintenance, gas, oil, et cetera. Under the proposal that we are about to introduce to the Congress, we would : contract out for this fleet, either through the GSA or through private industry, depending on which comes up with the best offer. We would provide, among other things, a fleet of cars that has an average of 2 years, none of which will be over 3 years old. These cars will be equipped with all of the safety features that the GSA is planning to put into effect 2 years hence. These are the safety features referred to by Senator Nelson in his testimony. As I say, there are many implications to this besides safety. But I think it is worth mentioning in terms of the correlation that has been developed between the age and size of the car and the safety factors involved. EXHIBIT 3 POST OFFICE Department RURAL CARRIERS: PLAN OF PROPOSED CAR EQUIPMENT Proposed Car To meet the service, safety, and comfort requirements of our rural carriers a standard size car with this equipment is planned: Automatic Transmission Windshield Washers Outside left rear view mirror Positive crank case vent Snow tires (winter periods) Seat belts Positive traction differential Heavy duty brakes Heavy duty rear axle Emergency flasher heavy duty front seat All vinyl trim Heavy duty shock absorbers Fold flat rear seat This car and its equipment meets or exceeds the safety requirement planned by the General Services Administration insofar as cars with such equipment are currently in production. The G.S.A. requirements pertain to the 1967 model year and the only items not now included are design changes such as standard bumper height. - Of special importance is the provision of heavy duty equipment. Heavy duty brakes mean longer brake wear, greater safety, and less servicing. Heavy duty axles and transmissions mean less "down-tinė" the time in which a vehicle is out of service for repairs. Positive traction differentials will enable the driver of an ordinary sedan to drive the car out of a mud or ice situation which otherwise would cause it to become immobile. The purpose behind this special equipment is to reduce down-time and to keep the cars operating at their maximum capability. Chart #4 highlights the particular items to be included. |