ROAD SAFETY

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LX, Issue 15, 24 February 1939, Page 7

ROAD SAFETY

DANGER OF TALKING TO

DRIVER

AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION'S

MESSAGE

"If more passengers in motor vehicles realised the responsibility of the drivers there would be less talking to the drivers particularly in thoroughfares where there is busy traffic," says the latest road safety message of the Automobile Association, Canterbury, Inc. "At an inquest in Australia it was shown that two passengers were talking to the driver when the car skidded, and the driver was killed. The coroner said that it was a wrong thing for people to talk to the driver of a car. Accidents were caused in that manner. The driver needed the whole of his attention focussed on the roadway. "All drivers and those who rkie in motor-vehicles as passengers should take notice of such advice. "It is absolutely essential that a driver should concentrate on the serious business of watching, with alert eye the roadway ahead, anticipating danger, and ready for any emergency. If passengers talk to him, and he engages in talk or argument with them, he risks developing a condition of inattention. He may, just for the fraction of a second, be caught off his guard, but it may be sufficient to cause a mark on a hitherto clean driving slate. Not only should passengers 'refrain from talking to the driver, but they should also use discretion in talking among themselves if their talking would tend to distract the driver's attention at some critical moment in traffic. Passengers should learn to appreciate the difficulties of driving, and try to assist the driver in the manner indicated. It is an easy matter to be talked into an accident; it is not so easy to talk one's way out of an accident. "If you are a safe driver see that your passengers do nothing to distract your attention from your fulltime job. . "If you are a safe passenger play the part by assisting the driver as suggested."

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