The Washington times., 1929-10-23
WORST DRIVER
SELDOM IN
M|SHAPS
Nv J. LEO SUGRUE
Times Automobile Editor

That the best drivers are the
worst drivers and the worst drivers
the best drivers may sound para
doxical, but accident statistics indi-
cate the emphatic truth OF the
statement.
The explanation as it is given by
safety authorities and traffic Of
ficials Is ia airly simple. A common
definition OF best" driver, they
say. Is one who can manipulate and
operate a car with the greatest of
finnesse. An equally common def
milton Of worst" driver is one who
il slow. crude and ineffective In
manipulating the various driving
controls.
These two definitions applied to
the accident experience OF both
types of driver explain the seeming
paradox as TO how the best can
become the worst and the worst
fhe best. The best, driver han
dies his car subconsciously. He
paws very little attention to con.
ditions around him. He is not
especially alert. SO he figures in
accident after accident, according
to safety statistics. Therefore, he
becomes the worst" driver.
Becomes the Best
The worst" driver. in the COM
monty accepted definition, does not
handle his car subconsciouSly. On
the contrary he is acutely conscious
Of it, He concentrates on his driv-
t. n
tive. He drives slowly. He watches
out for other cars and for pedes-
trians. He figures in relatively
few accidents. BY this criterion,
the worst driver becomes the
best.
Heaven deliver me from a new
driver" an associate once remarked
to prominent motor vehicle COM
missioner.
You don't need to bother heaven
with a petition like that replied
the latter. THE new driver will
livered from him. He will stay
so far away that it metimes is
funny. You had better reviSns your
petition to Heaven deliver me from
the experienced driVer.'
A number of the more common
forms of serious accidents can be
cited as sustaining the point made
by the motor vehicle official Quilted
above.
One OF the worst of such acct
dents is the collision at an intersac-
tion. BY far the ma joritv of par
ticipantS in such accidents are eX-
perienCed drivers. The accident is
due nearly always to the disposition
Of both operators to try to bluff the
other. In the past, they have ap-
preached intersections at good speeds
and discovered taht the Other fel-
low can be frightened out of his
right-of-way. They think, each Of
them. that it can be done again.
Very Often Serious
The logical conclusion OF such
thinking on the part of both drivers
is a collision. Because they are
moving fast, the collision very often
is serious one.
Accidents in which this type Of
driver and a pedestrian are in
Volved are the products Of the same
kind of thinking, safety authorities
declare. The driver has. discovered
that pedestrians can be "bluffed."
LVentudllN, however, he meets one
who refuses to he bnffed or who
is not aware that anyone is trying
to bluff him. Or. the pedestrian
may be the same kind Of chance
taker that the driver is Perhaps.
even, the walker has found that If
he insists upon taking his rights
the driver will give them to him.
The sum total of the thinking of
both figures in the incident is an
accident.
One respect in which the. new
driver has an advantage on the
experienced operator is not gen
orally recognized save by those ex
perienced in traffic admnistra ton.
That is, simply. that the formel
may be more aware Of the traffic
regulations. New drivers. it il
pointed out. nearly always know
the traffic regulations. IneXperience
impels caution and caution impelS
them to look to everything that
will keep them out of trouble.
Therefore, they famiiarze them
selves with the traffic regulations.
In those States which have drivers
license laws. of course. the new
operator must pass a test on the
motor vehicle laws. SO new drivers
know them.
With experienced operators the
situation often is quite different
They either took their operators