RAC and AA to end salute: traffic danger – archive, 1961
The traditional salute to members from patrolmen of the Automobile Association and the Royal Automobile Club when on the move is to be discontinued for safety reasons.
The salute, however, will be given by patrolmen when they are on foot. A statement issued today by the Standing Joint Committee of the RAC, the AA, and the Royal Scottish Automobile Club “very much regrets the need to dispense with this traditional courtesy of the road, which has been appreciated by members for over half a century.”
The density of traffic on the roads today makes this decision long overdue. Not only have patrolmen got into difficulties on occasions through saluting but they have on occasion distracted the attention of drivers and sometimes caused embarrassment.
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