498 THE RULE OF THE ROAD CH. XXII 



chancre his mind after havino- commenced a move- 

 ment, or else those meeting him will not know what 

 he intends. This makes an immense difference in 

 the ease and security with which crowded traffic 

 is conducted. In the London streets, where nearly 

 everyone seems to be a born coachman, and where 

 anyone who does not drive well is unmercifully 

 guyed by those around him, it is easy to know 

 exactly what each person intends to do, and the 

 traffic moves smoothly even at the most crowded 

 hours. In Paris, where cabmen and private coach- 

 men usually drive badly, and without the least at- 

 tention to each other's rights, it is often extremely 

 difficult to foresee from his actions what the man in 

 front is cming- to do, and uncertain movements and 

 collisions are the result. 



This is aggravated by the fashion, almost universal 

 in Paris, of driving with both hands, which makes it 

 difficult for a coachman to diminish his pace or to 

 pull up suddenly, owing to his right hand's being 

 so far from his left that he cannot use it promptly 

 to shorten both reins tooether. The reins should 

 be always held in the left hand, and the right should 

 be used in front of the left, and only when required 

 to make some movement. 



In American cities, although the police insist upon 

 a much slower pace than is permitted in Paris, the 

 state of affairs is but little better, owing to the 

 prevalent idea that anyone can drive, that no par- 

 ticular skill or practice is required, and to the fact 



