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Show HOW QUICK CAN YOU STOP? Some time ago a questionnaire was submitted to motorists by the c'ty of Memphis concerning the distance nccfssary for stopping cars going at given jfipeeds. The survey demonstrated demon-strated that the average driver has an exceedingly poor conception of stopping distances and that he believes be-lieves he can bring his car to a halt in a much shorter space than is actually ac-tually required. For example, drivers were asked how many feet would be needed to stop a car with four-wheel brakes moving at a speed of 40 miles per hour on an ordinary highway. Two per cent of the drivers answered ten it-el or less; 15 9 per cent answered 11 to 20 feet; the heaviest majority, 23.2 per cent, answered 21 to 30 feet, and 14.1 per cent answered 51 to 60 foot. The true answer is 80 feet and it was given by less than 6 per cent of the drivers. Only a minority of motorists mo-torists realize that, no matter how good a car's brakes, it is impossible to stop within fifty feet that a car go'ng 40 miles an hour will skid farther far-ther than that with locked wheels. Memphis has provided a good example showing that we vitally need continuous and intensified "schooling" "school-ing" for drivers and that tho driver who has operated a car for twenty years should be given attention, as well as the beg'nner. Adequate knowledge of the limitations limita-tions and capabilities of the motor car is a fundamental of accident prevention. |