Courtesy on the Road

Courtesy on the road is important because it’s the only safe way to drive. If you don’t let the driver ahead of you get in line, you may cause a bad collision. If you refuse to give the right of way, you may not have another chance. Regardless of where you are, courtesy is expected and expedient. In a car, it is even more important.

HOW ABOUT BORROWING A CAR?

Sometimes, if the family car is not available, you may be tempted to try to borrow a car. You might consider asking your girls’ parents to lend you their car. If they consent, because they trust you, then you come to a definite understanding with them as to what you will be responsible for. Naturally you will want to drive especially carefully and handle the car cautiously, as you would treat anything that belongs to someone else.

In most cases it’s not a good idea to lend or to borrow cars. If you have use of the family car, you would be taking a chance in lending it to someone else. Even if you know your friend to be a safe driver, it’s better not to let him have your car. If someone ran into the auto, through no fault of your friend, you might still have a tough time explaining it to your folks. And you might lose your car privileges altogether.

Borrowing a friend’s car can be just as bad. If there is an accident, whether or not you are to blame, you may find yourself in a tight spot. You could be the cause of your friend’s losing his car or his right to drive. If the car doesn’t have proper insurance you may be in real trouble. Borrowing a car is just too risky.

CAR ETIQUETTE

When you accept the responsibility of driving a car on dates, you want to do what is expected of you. Helping a girl into and out of the car is the courteous thing to do. Espe-daily if she’s dressed up, she may need your help to prevent soiling her dress.

Honking Is for Geese

Parking before a girl’s house and honking your horn is discourteous. The thing to do is to go to the door to meet your date. If her parents are home, you should go in and speak with them a moment before leaving. Let them know the details of the date, assure them that you will drive carefully, and tell them when you will be home. Your date’s parents may still be uneasy about car dates. If you show some responsibility in calling for their daughter properly, they have more trust in you.

A girl can let her date know that she doesn’t approve of honking. She remains in the house until he calls for her in the accepted manner. Or she can go to the door and say, “Hi, Joe, come on in.” Although a boy may be nervous about meeting a girl’s parents for the first time, inwardly he is flattered by her action. Once he knows what she expects of him, he naturally goes to the door to get her.