Evening star., 1935-09-17
LOOK AND Think"
A|DSSAFE DRIVING
Assistant Traffic Director
LaudS Star Drive With
Pledges.
BY M. 0. ELDRIDGE,


1t would be difficult to write a set
of rules Of the road which would be
more complete and comprehensive
than those prepared by the Safety
Council of The Evening Star. These
IL rules appear to cover every impor-
tant phase OF driving a motor vehicle
in such a manner as to avoid acci-
dents.
No doubt 80 per cent OF the drivers
Of Washington can be induced to sign
this pledge and abide by it. If this
can be accomplished, conditions will
be greatly improved in the Nations
Capital.
What IS to be done with the
10 per cent who are probably re-
sponsible for 90 per cent of our traffic
troubles? They will sign no pledge
and even If they did they would fail
to keep their promise. In my opinion
the only thing left to be done with
that class is swift, certain and vigor-
GUS punishment through the courts
and suspension or revocation OF their
permits.
MOmentary Sleep Blamed.
There is one phase Of this problem
which in my opinion deserves special
mention and special attention on the
part of all drivers. There Is no doubt
IN my mind that a large number OF
the most serious accidents is caused
by drivers who momentarily go to
sleep at the wheel or whose attention
for second or a split second is dis
tracted. During this second or split
second, going at high rate Of speed,
the car sWerves from right or left
causing a collision with another car
or with a fixed object which results
in serious property damage or per-
sonal injury or death.
II I were asked to put into few
words a rule for safe driving. would
say that every driver should look
and think when he is driving a car
He should keep his eyes on the road
and on traffic at all times and should
think about what he is doing and
not about something else. This rule
should also apply 20 the pedestrian
who is crossing the street or who Is
walking on the road. Most OF our
serious accidents are caused by pedes-
trians walking into the street without
looking in either direction, and some
of them have been killed who have
actually walked into the sides OF
moving cars.
Distractions Fatal.
Many accidents are caused by
drivers who turn their head to COM
panion who engages them in conver-
sation. During the split second in
which the head is turned. a condi-
ton develops on the road in front OF
them and they are suddenly con-
fronted with a situation which calls
for immediate action. They are un-
able to meet the emergency when 1t
comes. a crash occurs, lives are
snuffed out, bodies are crushed and
property destroyed.
The drivers seat Of an automobile
is no place for "wool-gathering." The
usual alibi for the man who permits
himself to be distracted by a CONVEX
sation. by a beautiful scene or by
a cigarette or pipe when driv-
ing a car, is that 1T was raining and
ne couldn't see" "the car approach
ing had bad headlights and I was
blinded" or that my steering appa-
ratus suddenly went bad" As mat
% In, roaorlHy oil NJ
these serious accidents is Chargeable
to the driver behind the wheel and
to both drivers behind
both wheels.
Thoughtlessness Blamed.
It is a fact that no one will dis
pute that accidents do not happen
they are caused. Nearly every auto
mobile accident is the result Of
thoughtlessness in one form or an
other. To prevent these unfortunate
tragedies every one who drives a car
should always be prepared for the
The careful, thinking driver is al
ways on the alert. The careful. think
ing driver always adapts his speed to
the traffic and weather conditions
him at the time. The
careful, thinking driver is always
courteous and considerate of the
safety of others. especially children
and older people, who are not respon-
sible for their acts. The careful,
thinking driver never cuts in or out
OF traffic unless the road ahead is
and he will never pass
another car on the brow of a hill or
on a sharp curv. The careful. think