Stop To Look

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31564, 29 December 1967, Page 5

Stop To Look

tTOW often do you see a A motorist gazing on all sides as he enjoys the views. He usually is travelling slowly, but the practice is still dangerous. The driving seat of a moving vehicle is not the place to admire the scenery through side windows.

Driving is a full-time job and should not be shared with sight-seeing. If a driver wants to admire the view, he should pull right off the road and stop.

There are far too many accidents caused by inattentive driving and this includes

sight-seeing, absent mindedness, fatigue, sleepiness, distractions, fixed stare, conversing or arguing with passengers, lack of road sense, failing to read signs and failing to anticipate.

These are all signs of a careless driver and there is no room on the roads today for the driver whose mind is not on the job. The man behind the wheel must realise that he is in charge and that lives other than his depend on the decisions he makes.

Drivers can endanger others: pedestrians often endanger themselves. One foolish or thoughtless person can cause serious injuries to many.

Our scenery deserves our full attention. You can not see much from the window of the car as you drive past, since your concentration is half on the view and half on the road.

But, by the same token, you can not see much of the road either, and the traffic is moving faster than the scenery.

It does not take much time off the journey to stop, have a look, and then climb back into the car. and, of course, the change will help prevent fatigue.