|
THE #1 DATING MENACE
- THE AUTOMOBILE
Ladies Home Journal - 1955
The
front seat, to the right of the driver - your seat
when you're out on a date - is the most dangerous
seat in an automobile. In the event of an accident,
your chances of escaping death or injury are the
lowest of anyone's in the car. So you are positively
within your rights to insist on safe driving, and no
boy is within his if he calls you
"chicken" when you do.
Why
does a boy drive recklessly? Certainly he knows
better. Compulsory driver-education courses, high
insurance rates for youthful drivers and the vast
amount of publicity put out by safety councils
couldn't have escaped him. The answer is that he's
doing it to impress you - favorably, he thinks! When
he speeds or ignores stop signs, he's hoping you'll
think he's a dashing, daredevil type, a man of power
and courage.
There's
the problem and here's the answer: You must let your
date know that the only impression he's making on
you by reckless driving is a bad one. You can tell
him off without
antagonizing him....
If
he uses only one hand on the wheel, you can tell him
lightly, but firmly, "Uh-uh, I'm allergic to
one-armed drivers," and slide way over to your
side. If he drives too fast and squeals around the
corner on two wheels, you can ask him please to
drive slower because you're frightened - this should
appeal to his protective instinct. You can also
chide him teasingly: "Next time I'll wear a
crash helmet so I'll feel safer."
You
should also refuse to get into a car driven by
anyone who you know is under the influence of
alcohol, or with anyone who does not have a driver's
license; if you're on a double date and the other
fellow is a dreadful driver, ask your date to do
something about it; if your date thinks he has to
break the sound barrier to get you home on time,
tell him it's not that important - your parents
would rather have you home late than not at all. If,
in spite of all your entreaties, he persists in
driving like a maniac cross him off your dating
list. No date is worth risking your life for.
|
