Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-11
BASIS OF COURTESY
TRACED TO SIGNALS
Answers to A. A. A. Question
naire Reveal General Una
nimity on Cooperation.

Fuller understa nding OF precisely
what is meant by the terms highway
courtesy and cooperation" is essential
to n more widespread recognition of
their Importance and to more general
attainment of the principles for which
they stand, This is the opinion of the
American Automobile Association in
a statement which says that, ''as one
OF the most enthusiastic and persist
ent advocates of these ideals, we f&ve
cndea vored to get an accurate and
up-to-date definition of courtesy and
cooperation between motorists.
This endeavor. it is pointed out, took
definite shape in a QUESTIONABLE sub
mitted to club executives in 92S diff
ferent communities in which A. A. A.
clubs are located.
From the large number of answers
received officials of the national mo-
toring agency have essayed to trans
late the terms in such a way that
they may be applied to street and
highway conditions as they are met
by the average driver.
Cooperation and courtesy appar.
entity begin with the giving of sig
nails" says the statement. VIRTUALLY
all of the replies to the QUESTIONABLE
emphasized this point, and undoubt-
ii
agree with it's primary Importance.
For with millions using the Nations
highways it is obvious that one driver
cannot with safety leave another in
doubt as to his intentions. The care
lessly given signal is almost as bad
rs no signal at all. Yet many thou
sands of motorists do not realize that
they are being discourteous, to say
the least, when they fail to give the
signal that is clear Ii is not sufficient
to extend ones arm furtively outside
the car to indicate a turn or to let
the arm hang Imply along the door
to register ones intention to stop.
The signal should be given precisely
and for a sufficient length of time for
the person behind or coming toward
one to see it,
The giving of signals does not stop
with those involving the extended
arm, the statement points out. Park
ing lights are very important signals
that frequently are overlooked, the A.
A. A. finds
ITO leave a car without lig' to
inform other motorists of its presence
is to invite them to what may be
physical disaster. From this it may
be seen that there is much more to
using the parking light than merely
escaping a visit to the traffic court"
In actu>l operation of the car on
the street or highway there are many
ways to cooperate. These are known
to virtually every driver, but many
fail to make use of their knowledge
in cooperating with other motorists,
the statement says. They are listed
as follows:
Use caution at all times, whether
travelling at a speed of 5 or SO miles
an hour.
Observe strictly the right of way
regulation.
Always drive over to the right curb
or right side of the road.
Never try to pass another car un-
til the way is absolutely clear.
Use the horn with discretion.
"When ssurrendering the right of
way to car from the right. stay
back of the street line, in order to let
machines from the left pass.
Park with an eye to conserving
space to the utmost.
Remember that pedestrians should
be accorded courteous treatment"