Motorway Care
Page 9
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MAKE one motorway. Add a dash of ice (or wet), stir generously 1 with fog. It is infinitely sad to have to reflect that this recipe so often brings about multi-vehicle crashes to such an extent that the numbers involved have to hit double figures before the public takes notice.
An even sadder reflection is that somewhere in such motorized charnel houses invariably are to be found a number of lorries. There is little point debating who is right or wrong; still less point in attempting to apportion blame between car drivers and lorry men. The inescapable fact is that, in such conditions, a few lorries do seem to be driven with scant regard for either the weather conditions or the safety of other motorway users.
In recent weeks several lorry drivers have lost their lives in such pile-ups; more have been injured. Perhaps this alone. might shock drivers into not taking unnecessary risks.
Not all lorries involved in these frighteningly spectacular crashes are to blame. Some are stationary when hit in the rear. But some, frankly, plough into the backs of other, vehicles with the consequent terrible results. There can be no excuse for any vehicle--car or lorry-being driven too fast in adverse conditions. Particularly with something as potentially uncontrollable in emergency as a laden commercial vehicle, it amounts to criminal negligence.
Can we make a special Christmas appeal to drivers? Please take care--all year round—on motorways when the weather closes in. It's not just your life you're gambling with.
In any case, why gamble with your life? It's the only one you've gotl