A New Year Resolution
Page 40
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TT is frequently said that New Year resolutions 1 are made only to be broken. It is to be hoped, however, that all users of the highway, whether they be drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists or pedestrians, will have made one important resolution with the full intention of ,keeping it. This is to do all in their power to reduce the number of accidents on the road.
It is only by a concerted effort by every class of person on the highway that this most desirable improvement can be achieved. Better roads, the reduction of the many danger spots which exist, more drastic Warnings and certain legal restrictions may help, but in the end it is the individual who counts more than anything else.
A foolhardy pedestrian may escape personal injury but be the direct cause of a "pile up" resulting in much damage and possibly injury or loss of life. The owner of a dog who does not keep it under proper control may be primarily responsible for a serious accident. The driver who intends to "get through" at any price and overtakes a queue of vehicles on the chance of squeezing between them when danger faces him, may cause amongst many other drivers irritation and anger which are in themselves not conducive to safety.
Often one sees streams of vehicles on a main road, the drivers of which will not give an inch to allow another from a side road or garage drive to emerge with safety. A little courtesy in this and many other directions would not only he appreciated but would improve the general tenor of driving conditions.
Everyone should consider the feelings of others by imagining that he. is in their place, as he is frequently bound to be at times, for every driver is often a pedestrian. He may even sometimes be a cyclist.
The essence of the resolution should be a determination to be courteous and thoughtful in respect of other road users. Courtesy costs nothing, but it is usually highly appreciated and sets an excellent example which is quite likely to exercise a widening influence.