It used to be so much easier...

This is a lovely story from the bbc. There's a new edition of the Highway Code out, so they've excavated the original version from 1931.

Suffice to say clear instructions were not deemed necessary for the (presumably limited, and wealthy) readership of the day. I'm particularly fond of this advice: 'Never take a risk in the hope or expectation that everyone else will do what is necessary to avoid the consequences of your rashness'. I can't help feeling that our clarion imperatives ('THINK!') lose a little eloquence in comparison, even if they are more effective.

Here's the article.