Show Sketches L t Marion 5 tk ACCIDENTS Yesterday as I was following a truck through slow traffic I noticed a sign on the back that said Courtesy Prevents Accidents I was puzzled by the quotation marks around Courtesy Courtesy Courtesy Cour tesy Sometimes quotation marks direct attention to a word that is used in an unusual or Ironic sense For example an author might write about a man of affairs and use quotation marks as a subtle indication indication indication in in- in- in that he didn't consider the affairs to be very important tant But the quotation marks on the truck were around the wrong word to my way of thinking There is nothing unusual unusual un un- usual or ironical about the word Courtesy Just plain ordinary variety garden-variety courtesy would prevent accidents Many wrecks are caused by people who are pushy or mad at the world in general or in too much of ofa a hurry No it is the word Accidents that ought to be placed In quotes for most accidents are not rot accidental they are caused If brakes dont don't hold or a tire j i blows out you might call cal that an accident but less than 10 percent per percent percent cent of auto accidents can be traced to mechanical defects The rest are caused by the thO nut that holds the steering wheel The sign Student Driver on the back of cars used for driver training warns the public public public pub pub- lic that the driver in question might do something unexpected and unexplainable at any moment moment moment mom mom- ent It wouldn't be a bad idea to imagine you saw that on the back of every cry car cart car cartA carA A good rule to follow when driving Im I'm told is to act asif as asif asif if the other driver Is a fool Stay far enough away from him that is he does something odlo- odlo tic you wont won't be in his way Another good rule that I Imade Imade Imade made up all by myself is this Act as if It the driver of your own car is a tool fool Although most drivers when queried will say they are careful drivers yet a accidents do happen It must be people who cause them to happen people like you and me I can recall several times when I have done fool things which could have turned into nto a wreck If Jf another car had bad happened happened hap hap- to be In Jn my way at the time The fact tact that Ive I've been lucky so tar far is no excuse for tor thinking that an accident couldn't happen to me |