How Good A Driver Are You?

Press, Volume C, Issue 29511, 12 May 1961, Page 11

How Good A Driver Are You?

This (s the sixth of a series of articles prepared by the Transport Department to demonstrate that it often takes two drivers to make an accident. The department’s records show that the situations dealt with in these articles frequently result in accidents.

The Situation: Jones was approaching a narrow bridge (18ft wide) on a main road when he noticed a pedestrian walking towards him across the bridge. He saw there was plenty of room for him to cross—the pedestrian was walking on the other side of the road—and proceeded to do so. Smith then appeared from the opposite direction and also attempted to cross the bridge, moving out from his left to avoid colliding with the pedestrian who was not aware that there was a car approaching behind him. Smith misjudged his clearances and scraped the side of Jones’s car. The Questions: (1) Who was at fault? (2) What could the other driver have done to avoid the accident? The Answers: (1) Smith was mainly to blame. He should have slowed down behind the pedestrian while Jones went past. The pedestrian could also have helped to avoid this accident by walking on the side facing oncoming traffic. Then he would have been more aware of the approaching car on his side of the bridge and moved further to the side.

(2) Jones, if he were a

skilful driver, would have seen the possibility of this accident developing before he started to cross the bridge, and could have reduced his speed to avoid being abreast of the pedestrian at the same time as Smith.