SIGNALS

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LIX, Issue 59, 26 July 1938, Page 7

SIGNALS

IMPORTANCE OF GIVING THEM CORRECTLY

AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION'S

MESSAGE

'Every driver or cyclist should make a practice of 4 giving r the correct signal at all times before carrying out any manoeuvre involving a change of direction," says the latest safety message of the Automobile Association, Canterbury, Incorporated. . "There are still many motorists and cyclists who neglect to give signals and by so doing they wrongly give other road users the credit for possessing thought-read-ing powers. Failure to signal is always unsafe. Even the experienced driver, lapses into the habit of failing to signal his intention to turn.right if he is following the beaten track of the main highway. He should remember that the man behind may- be a local driver who, planning to take the continuation of the road straight ahead, figures that those ahead of him are going the same way. Everybody is not travelling the main highway all the time. "But, while signals are important at all times they are just as necessary on the open highway as in the congestion of city traffic. It is safety and courtesy to convey to other road users one's clearly-de-fined intentions whether they involve straight ahead at an intersection, a change of direction, or slowing down or halting. And once a signal has been given it should be acted upon as smartly as traffic conditions permit. "Signals are also imperative when one is halted by the kerbing, and intends to move out into the line of traffic. Far too many drivers rely solely on creeping out and taking the risk of passing traffic being sufficiently aware of what is happening. Passing traffic is entitled to the courtesy and consideration of being warned by signal of any threat to its line of progress. Actually, of course, good, safe drivers would never think of attempting to enter the traffic stream from a parked or halted j position until the way is perfectly clear to carry out the manoeuvre without obstruction to passing traffic. "Some drivers make a habit of not giving signals of intention to halt or slow down in busy thoroughfares, the notion being, apparently, that following drivers should be sufficiently alert to the needs of the traffic not to require warning. "But the need is there all the same because of the many additional risk factors which enter into busy traffic driving. Another important consideration is this:—The continual giving of signals by a driver not only makes that driver do so as an ingrained habit, but it acts as a valuable educational factor for the benefit of other road users.

"Drivers have been noted going to the commendable extreme of giving a hand or automatic-device signal on a roadway free of other traffic either approaching or following. Wherever they are and no matter what the circumstances they do not break the signalling habit.

"One of the important ways in which motorists and cyclists can assist materially in the greater safety and courtesy on the streets and roads is by eliminating the doubt whicvh is created by the absence of properly-given signals. Make signalling a habit."