CONSIDERATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 173, 24 July 1934, Page 14

CONSIDERATION.

FUNDAMENTAL NECESSITY. AVOIDANCE OF ACCIDENTS. Many of the road accidents to-day are caused by someone, motorist or, pedestrian, failing in a quality we all like to think we possess—consideration. If every road user —motorist, cyclist and pedestrian —lived up to his own estimation of himself, the number of accidents would automatically be reduced, for the lack of consideration on someone's part is often the primary cause of a collision. ■ If every accident could be analysed, it would undoubtedly be found that many of them are indirectly due to someone thinking only of himself. The parties involved in the accident may be quite innocent in this respect; in fact, the responsible party may not even be near the scene. People who erect illuminated signs where they may be mistaken for traffic signals are an example; dog owners who allow their pets to stray are another, and motorists who leave their cars in awkward places a third. The driver who overtakes a slower vehicle and cuts in to avoid another approaching from the opposite direction shows lack of consideration towards a fellow motorist. It may be quite safe for the man who cuts in, but, if the occupant of the overtaken car is at all nervous he may brake violently and so bring about an accident of which the inconsiderate driver may know nothing. When we see a pedestrian leisurely crossing the road, it is our duty to presume that he or she cannot walk faster, and act accordingly. There is such a thing as heart disease, and the older a' person the more likelihood there' is that violent movement would be fatal. Further examples Would bp superfluous.■ ■Jyvc».j.v*»o iv.*»oVi»r\vnat is meant' Jby ..consideration ..foz. others; unfortu-j .nately, everyone-does not-jgractisa-itj J