This 1951 black and white public service film about irresponsible drivers features Judge Roger Alton Pfaff, the narrator is radio broadcaster Elliot Lewis, produced by Cate & McGlone, and sponsored by International Harvester Company. It opens with “Arthur Average” laying on the horn and illegally passing on the shoulder (1:09-1:33). A California Highway Motorcycle Patrolman on motorcycle watches traffic. Arthur reduces his speed (speedometer shown) and speeds up again. The police officer pursues (1:34-2:10). Arthur enters the Municipal Court Traffic Building. The courtroom is panned. Arthur sits down (2:12-3:32). The judge enters (3:33-8:05). Violators are called before the judge to state “guilty” or “not guilty” (8:07-9:18). A sketch artist sits next to Arthur (9:22-9:48). The Chevrolet Skyline speeds through the crosswalk, narrowly missing a woman and child. An officer writes a ticket on September 5, 1951. The car narrowly misses a pedestrian and runs another car into a pole. “The Grabber” sketch is a pig driver (10:23-11:25). A woman wears multiple strands of pearls, large pearl trimmed earrings, and a 1940s hat with a net veil. She doesn’t know how to use the Ford’s clutch on a hill, almost hits a father and son crossing the road, and backs into a car. She drives too slow, straddles two lanes, slowly parallel parks and pulls across lanes. The “Nervous Nelly“ sketch is a chicken driver (11:28-12:38). A man drives intoxicated, causing another driver to crash. He drives in the wrong lane, drives through a stop sign, and illegally passes on the right. The “2-Beers Bennie“ sketch is a drunk goat driver (13:06-14:06). A man uses his car to bully drivers, blocking traffic, refusing to let drivers pass, and blocking exits. The “Super Mouse“ sketch is a mouse driver (14:27-15:15). A woman wearing a 1940s corsage and large hat with net veil argues in a car with a passenger and pulls out into traffic without looking. She looks around while driving and narrowly misses a trolley. The “Desert Island Daisy“ sketch is a cat putting on makeup driver (15:52-16:22). The male college student drives his convertible in the wrong lane while he and his passenger flirt with two women in a convertible. He crashes. The police officer covers the face of the dead passenger and the driver is on an ambulance stretcher (16:51-18:22). Arthur approaches the bench. He almost hits boys on bicycles and a woman, blocks traffic, follows too closely, turns from the wrong lane, and cuts off a car (19:22-20:22). The judge fines him $50 and reprimands him and the courtroom (20:23-22:45). Various 1940s and 1950s commercial trucks are shown (22:56-23:10). A truck driver smokes a pipe (23:12). A truck driver helps a stranded car at night (23:33-23:50). The judge holds up a “Courtesy is Contagious” sticker (25:25). The judge leaves the courtroom (25:42). The artist hands Arthur his sketch. It shows him as both an angel and a devil driver (25:48-26:05). The drivers highlighted show courtesy on the way home. Arthur waves at the Officer (26:35-29:25).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com