44 EMPLOYMENT PSYCHOLOGY
brakes. However, he loses his presence of mind and there is a
collision.
4. A type in which the driver has an accident because of a lack
of foresight. He is never conscious of the possible movements of
other vehicles or pedestrians. He can drive all right, does not
take chances, does not get abnormally excited in emergencies, but
merely lacks the ability quickly to size up a situation which is at
all out of the ordinary. This is the driver who, for example,
because there is no obstructing traffic, comes speeding down a
street, beside which several small children are unconcernedly
playing. One of them steps in front of him and is injured. In
sizing up the street situation, this driver should have taken into
account the children on the sidewalk. In traffic he may run into
the rear of the car ahead because he does not foresee from the
movements of the other cars and the entire situation the possibility
 of that car stopping suddenly.
When “riding the meter” (riding in front with the driver) with
all types of drivers I discovered that good drivers invariably
possessed this ability to see ahead, to feel what the other person
is going to do.
s. A type due, for lack of a better mame, to physiological
defects. Here is the driver whose reaction time varies considerably
 from the average, who is easily distracted, has an abnormally
short range of observation, or poor ability to estimate the speed
of objects as well as the distance between moving objects, or who
has little muscular resistance.
These five types are those with which the psychologist is concerned.
 In addition, there are a sixth, seventh, and eighth type
of accident.
6. A type due to physical defects, or disease of various forms.
We had nothing to do with the prevention of this type of accident
inasmuch as the medical staff of the Yellow Cab Company passes
on all applicants.
7. A type due to a temporary prepossessing idea. The driver
who has domestic difficulties or sickness in his family is subject
to these accidents. His mind at moments instead of being on his
driving is occupied by these difficulties. T he welfare department
aims to prevent such cases.
8. A type which is unavoidable. This is the accident due to
such causes as a sudden breaking of the steering gear, or unusually
bad street conditions, such as icy pavements on which, no matter
how much care is taken, an accident is likely to occur. There
are others in this class, too—accidents which it is not possible for

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