Evening star., 1927-11-27

ers more or less are inclined to show
the other fellow" that he lacks
knowledge of the finer points of
motor car operation and that his
Judgment of automobile values, re-
Elected in the kind of car he drives.
is sadly deficient
This spirit manifests itself in
countless forms. In many of these
its effrontcry is amazing,
This is particularly obvious in the
case of many drivers of certain types
of cars. Regardless OF the power.
speed, aoceleration or feasibility of
their machines as Judged by exact
engineering standards. no other au-
tonohle is too speedy, powerful or
flexible TO be taken on" If the
taking on" is marked by ill-luck the
first time, does it deter the unsuc-
ccssful driver? 1t does not. A few
miles farther he may encounter an
other car of the same make and
again will attempt 10 show its opera
tor Just what an error he fell into in
not buying really fast and power
full car.
Certainly the prophet did not have
the motorist in mind, but neverthe-
less he described him with d measure
of accuracy when he declared:
~Vanity, vanity. All is vanity
The psychology of the matter is
interesting. According to those who
have probed the individual motor
lists consciousness, his attitude on
the highway simply is a reflection OF
his desire to defend a pet prejudice.
He buys a certain make OF automo-
bile and thereafter feels compelled
to prove that his judgment in max
ing that particular purchase essen
tally was sound.
How many times has every one
heard the remark. Il would not own
anything else? This position is not
confined to the owner of the large,
expensive car any more than is the
desire TO show the speed or power
of ones car confined to the small
Car owner. In thousands OF cases, |
although by no means in all, this is
intended to convey the impression
that the speaker could own some J
thing else, that his financial position
permitted him to acquire almost any
Gar that he took fancy to.
According to the social psycholo-
Rist, the impulse is natural one |
A mans automobile represents, in |
theory at least, his best Judgment, |
just as his political beliefs and his |
religious convictions represent his |
deep and searching study of political |
and religious principles. He may re-
veal an incapacity to defend his po-
sition in any of these fields, but it is
seldom, indeed, that he shows any
hesitancy in making the attempt.
Consciously or subconsciously
every motorist has this attitude,
though, naturally, in varying meas
'ure. 1t explains great many forms
Of conduct and misconduct that are |
TO be noted in a sweeping glance at |
the motor vehicle stream in the met
ropolitan area. the city suburb, the |
town, the hamlet or out in the wide,
open spaces.
How, otherwise. does one explain,
for instance, the desire of the motor
Est who is in no particular hurry to
pass almost every other vehicle on
the street? The competitive spirit,
the desire to show the alacrity, the
CELEBRITY with which his car will pick
up. In short, defense of his preju-
dice is the probable reason for his
action.
The man ahead may have a car
that cost three times as much, or
Eperhaps three times as little. He
s1nust be shown that it is far from
fbelng as good as it might be, or at
Aeast that it lacks many of the quail |
rfcations of the car that is about to |
pass it.
As pointed out. the driver with the
Phobia for heading the procession
Fnay have no earthly logical reason
'aor his conduct. He even may be |
cunning slightly ahead of schedule. |
lend his driving may put him at his |
destination much earlier than he de- |
Tires 10 be there That fact makes |
no difference. Regardless of all else,
'ho must pass. pass. pass. The sub
conscious desire is more forceful |
than his consciousness OF the ab- |
surdjty of his tactics,
The situation would not be so no
ticeab'e if the driver who lacked this |
particular phobia did not possess an
Eantithetical one that often is just a
conspicuous. Some drivers really |
could achieve close approximation |
OF indifference toward what the |
other fellow did if the latter did not
do everything with a great deal of |
emphasis. Every driver knows from
experience that it is much easier to
he calm when passed by a driver
VINO does not look depreciatingly at
one as he glides by on the highway
One depreciating glance. however,
and the battle begins.
SO there develop two classes of
drivers. One is, relatively speaking,
!ffe victim of mania to show that
he is right. The other desires to
prove, not so much his own right
ness, as the wrongness of the first.
II has developed almost into a
national game. this clash between
the two types OF motor vehicle op-
orators. Where it is played under
certain conditions OF good sports
r1anship. which involves. of course,
consideration for the rights Of other
street users, the game is palatable.
Where ethical principles are cast TO
the winds, as they so often are, it
becomes quite detrimental to safety
and the players often punished.
Tho 0T1 No