496 THE RULE OF THE ROAD CH. XXII 



a collision, and making it necessary to continue 

 crossing obliquely to the right, to get on the proper 

 side of the road, — a slovenly way of turning a 

 corner. 



The traffic of crowded streets is much facilitated 

 by a custom, common in London and Paris, but not, 

 as yet, generally adopted in American cities, of the 

 coachman signalling his intentions to those about 

 him. If he intends to diminish his pace, or to 

 stop, he raises his whip, usually twirling the thong 

 in a circle, to attract attention ; if he is to turn 

 to the right or to go over to the right side of the 

 road, he raises his right hand, having passed his 

 whip into his left, as an intimation to those behind 

 him not to come up on his right side ; if he wishes 

 to turn to the left, he does the same with his left 

 hand. If there is a footman on the box, he may 

 make the motion to the left, as soon as he knows 

 the intention of the coachman. On a coach, it 

 should be made by the groom who is on the inside 

 of the turn, if he knows that the turn is to be 

 made ; as, for instance, in going round a corner 

 toward home. When about to turn or to incline 

 to the left, the coachman intimates his intention to 

 those who are meeting him by pushing his hand and 

 the butt of his whip horizontally to the right ; he 

 can make the same movement to the left, but it is 

 not so distinctly visible. 



In turning completely round, these notices should 

 be given with more care than in turning a corner, 



