IGNORANCE A FATAL FAULT

Evening Star, Issue 21945, 4 February 1935, Page 6

IGNORANCE A FATAL FAULT

Want of knowledge in some particular direction is responsible for most of the accidents on the roads. The motorist who takes a car too fast round a bend collides with a vehicle proceeding on its lawful occasions, in the opposite direction, is ignorant of the fact that that bend had a limit beyond which it was danger to negotiate it—the man who takes it too fast is ignorant of his own ignorance. It is ignorance that causes the Kernshy driver on good main roads to keep away from the kerb; he does not know where it is in relation to his car. A little experiment would make him a better driver. Ignorance is responsible for many an accident to pedestrians, who do not know how quickly a car approaches even when it is travelling at a low speed, or how long it takes for a pedestria to cross a road. A little obserration would provide the knowledge that might prolong their lives. It is ignorance that is responsible toi so many cyclists using inferior rear reflections and opposing the suggestion for their own saftey that they should carry rear lights. They know nothing of their narrow escapes when motorists, out of courtesy to other roadfarers have dimmed their lights only to find a cyclist, with a poor reflector, in their but in some cases antipathy is responsible. Neither is permissable m modern life. We cannot please ourselves; we owe something to our fellow men, and have responsibilities toward them. We are shirking those responsibilities and the duty of citizenship if we cause an accident through ignorance in any direction.