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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1968-08-15, Page 2PAGE TWO Editatual Costmeat Be on Your Guard Years ago, we learned that ideas c c me with people. The tramp printer revealed to us many tricks of the traacie. Mere is something to be gleaned from every single person. The inebriate teaches one not to make a fool of oneself,and, in turn, the prohibitionist makes an ass of himself. In fact, we are rather fond ot using the phrase "a negative vir- tue is a positive vice". It's like waving a red flag in front e f :a bull to say to an editor: "Don't _cte me". During the war there was a par- tie:uiar directive issued to key busi- ness houses all across Canada. This is what was printed: Warning! — The sharp ears of enemy agents are always listen- ing for scraps of information. Don't let your careless talk help the enemy. Do not discuss ship movements, defense plans, muni- tion factories, aircraft produc- tion, supply stores. Be on guard. At various public meetings there are those mortals who, either through a fit of temper, a desire to play to the gallery, or some other design to attract attention, say something they do not want in print. They turn to the scribe: "Don't quote me as saying . .." In smaller communities, where everyone knows—or thinks he knows —the worst side of everyone, a week- ly would not survive that printed all the statements made on the street, ZURICH =IONS NEWS at socials, or meetings of a public nature. Sometimes, we believe it would be preferable for community papers to campaign against careless talk in public. Rather than asic the editor (and even implore him as one man did recently) not to quote you after you said it, guard carefully what you are about to say. Warning !—The sharp ears of all present are always listening. Don't let careless talk hurt you, your so- ciety, or your community. Discuss your society problems at society meetings, your town problems at town meetings; let your teas and bees be aids to an improved outlook, rather than allow them to become dens of gossip. What profits an organization when one is maligned over a piece of cake or a hot dog, and the sponsors receive silver in the exchange? "7Tis pleasant, sure to see one's name in print," wrote Byron. Yet how unpleasant it would be to see your name as a community saboteur! Remember, the fellow next door who is continually running down the preacher, the doctor, the teacher, and the businessmen about him (God help then all) is a mighty poor com- munity man. Is it not then a string- ent necessity for people in society or public life to be careful of what they say. Careless talk helps defeat any organized purpose. Be on your guard!—(One Small Drop of Ink) Time to Crack Down The publicity given to auto safety- in afetyin the past few years has been tre- mendous. New safety features have become mandatory on all models and sti:l others will be corning next year. We hear of automobile firms recall- ing cars, sometimes by the thou- sands, because of some defect which they may possibly have. With all of this we can still pick upp our newspapers and read that more people than ever are being ki?led or mainecl in traffic accidents. If the cars have become safer, the drivers in control of them apparently have not. It is undoubtedly true -that mechanical defects account for a percentage of traffic accidents. But it is a small percentage. The main cause, as it has always been, is the person behind the wheel. For some drivers the only safe car is ;lac ped and in a garage. There is only one way to reduce the tragic toll on the roads and it is an obvious one. The court must begin to crack clown hard on all traffic of- fenders. The time has come to met- ing out minor fines and basing a driver's performance on a system of demerit points which is far too leni- ent. It is time to start removing the menaces -behind the wheels from the road. The only way to reduce the hazards of driving on our crowd- ed roads is to eliminate the people who create them. The courts should suspend the driving privileges of all persons con- victed of traffic offences, with the suspensions varying according to the degree of seriousness of the offence. Even a single week's suspension of a licence is far more likely to make a driver aware of his responsibilities than a fine which can be paid and quickly forgtten. And there should be no room in a traffic court for the sob story which so often gets a sym- pathetic ear: that the offender de- pends on his driver's licence for his living. Such a person has a special responsibility to adhere to the rules and regulations of the road. There will never be safe cars with- out safe drivers. Let's keep improv- ing on the mechanical product by all means, but let's also get down to the real nub of the problem. Drivers who are unable to accept their re- sponsibilities to others when they get behind the wheel should be taken off from the roads. Too many of them are literally getting away with murder.—(E)mira Signet) Drugs and Driving May Not Mix If you're taking any drugs, be sure to ask your doctor or pharma- cist about how they might affect your driving a vehicle or operating machinery. Some drugs may have an adverse effect. They could hinder your vision, your alertness, your judgment, your ability to concentrate on your muscle co-ordination, and they may make you drowsy, says the federal health department publica- tion, "Handle With Care". Some drugs that might cause such reactions are: Alcohol., tranquilizers, narcotics, motion sickness pills, anti- histamines, (these are drugs present in preparations used to combat symp- toms of coughs, colds, allergies, and for other purposes), barbiturates, amphetamines, (often called bennies, pep pills, or thrill pills) . You should not depend on these. While they may increase your alert- ness and efficiency for a short time, when your body's reserve energy has been used up, you may collapse. Collapse may be preceded by head- ache, dizziness, agitation, hallucina- tion, irritability, or decreased ability to concentrate. Without your knowl- edge, all of these may affect your driving ability, says the publication. — (Durham Chronicle) Zur�h'T;