Probably is, I'm sure most will pass this course and then pitch it out the window into the trash. I actually found a book on this system along with a carriers book for study. From my experience with other vehicles, many drive fast and tailgate. I definitely stay clear of trucks, they're probably the worst. I've a class a cdl myself, and rarely do I see a driver that drives professionally, or inspects their equipment.
@@JamesSmith-jq2jc They are nothing but steering wheel holders. When I was driving, I didn't drive my personal vehicles but to get from the truck to the house and back. I had to stay in the right frame of mind. I remember making very wide right turns in my 4-wheeler and getting pulled over. LOL
I was taught this Smith System in high school drivers ed. Later we taught this - with many upgrades developed over decades - to 2000 company drivers and reduced cost of accidents by over $10MM each year. This really brought me back to fond memories!
Based on some of the cars and trucks depicted in this video, it is clearly not from 1956, but rather years later. Seven years at least, I'd say, given the fact that the newest cars I've yet seen in it are 1963 models. (Now, maybe the Smith Safe Driving System was DEVELOPED in 1956, but this video almost certainly was not filmed then.)
People here are wasting their breath saying this. Original posters of things like this don't give a shit about accuracy or anachronisms. All people care about is gender fluidity and black lives (but no other lives) matter - they will exhaust their breath on these topics until they are blue in the face. This is why the IQ of the developed world's people is so low nowadays. I said the same thing with 'Your Automatic Choice (Ford Zephyr & Zodiac)'. Nothing happened.
@@saxongreen78 OK, but even so, this film cannot be that early. Maybe you weren't refuting that, but with some car models being as new as they are, this all points to the video being shot in 1962 - 1963.
This Smith system is brilliant. These are the same things that are taught in my bus company. Only now, situations have been made intolerably dangerous thanks to the use of hand held devices while driving. People today don't even try and hide the fact that they are on their devices. I can plainly see the devices on the steering wheels. By the way, there are far more rear ender's thanks to today's devices.
I still can't get my head around a few lorry drivers watching a DVD while on the motorway! You need to be constantly aware of the road when you're doing 60 or 70mph!
I imagine it is not so different from all of the accidents due to people distracted by cigarettes back in the day, from lighting them to not dropping them and that sort of thing. The old films showing distracted driving usually show that, whereas modern ones show handheld devices.
@@alisonwilliams4862 They're exceptionally stupid and I hope I never have to see them, and I hope that they wet themselves coming really close to an accident and decide it is a bad idea.
@@alisonwilliams4862 That's ridiculous. Ridiculously dangerous, more accurately. Edit: originally only included the first sentence, which was ambiguous...
Obtaining, lighting, and smoking cigarettes were a major distraction in those days. It actually distracts one worse than mobile phones, studies have shown.
Without knowing about The Smith System, my father taught me the three first ones and "preached with the example"; He Never got involved in Even a car Incident in 43 years (he drove until he was 84!). "Peccata Minuta (Italian for small sin, colloquial)": Video title Date (1956), car showing The Smith System: Ford Galaxie 1963.
I noticed, and remarked upon, that very same thing! That is, the presence of a 1963 model Ford in a video which was supposedly filmed in 1956-which it obviously wasn't.
Damn! Something like this should be taught before someone gets in the driver's seat for the first time. And probably taught every year or every time someone gets a ticket. I've driven competitive for some time, you could apply some of this to track driving, except, of course, for the 'leave space in front' bit.
If you touch your horn now you’ll get in a fight. If you signal to someone now they will think you mean they can go in front of you. Also very dangerous.
@@ang3lgonzalez77 he means he recognizes the actual model years so calm down. many people easily can tell, by physical appearance, the difference between a 1953, and 1961 Ford, and multiple models at that. Good for you that you read somewhere that Ford was started in 1903
Excellent -- I remember seeing this when growing up. It is more like 1960, though -- at 3:59 one can clearly see the taillights of a 1959 Buick Invicta.
This was from 1963. He was driving a '63 Ford Galaxy. His drivers door is unlocked. Maybe the system was developed in 1956. There's an updated version, in color, filmed around 1967 in which he drives a convertible.
Yes, but the what they are getting at is for example the f100 unibody ford pickup didn’t even exist until 1961, they probably screwed up and meant to put 1965.
While this should be required viewing by ALL drivers some of the tips don't always work out. I always try to leave plenty of room in front but, living in Atlanta, that extra space is always the que for someone to jump in front of you requiring you to slow even more to allow for the new extra space which will then invite another inconsiderate jerk to change lanes to yours and .....ad infinitum. Plus, I've always had a pet peeve for drivers who don't signal lane changes or turns. I am so used to doing it, it even happens when I'm the only car on the road.
No, you didn't understand. Leaving yourself an out doesn't necessarily mean space in front. It could be space off the side and back. Say you're in the slow lane and there's a full shoulder available. If you need to, you swerve there. There could be clear space in the fast lane. It means always knowing where you can go in an emergency. If there isn't any space, you make space, by changing lanes, speeding up or slowing down. You never want to be boxed in.
Often wondered where the fundamentals of defensive driving came from- they still apply today, although I wouldn't necessarily use my horn or flash the headlights in this era. Not to mention that nowadays if safe to do so, a vehicle must stop if a pedestrian is waiting at the corner or a crosswalk to cross the street.
This varies by state. Maybe that's true in Commiefornia, but in many states, the law is written in a way that requires "yielding" to pedestrians, and when those pedestrians are "in" the crosswalk. This is a much better system, as it allows considerate pedestrians to yield to traffic and wait for an opening so as not to completely screw up the flow of traffic in urban areas.
@@grizzlygrizzle No it is not, because it forces elderly persons to experience undue waiting times simply because they cannot cross so quickly or reliably.
@@unconventionalideas5683 -- Pray tell, what is the precise legal definition of "waiting," and what distinguishes it from loitering, from having a conversation that happens to occur on a sidewalk near a crosswalk, or from having a moment of reverie in a similar location? Have you ever driven in a congested city with so many pedestrians that some of them are necessarily standing or walking near a crosswalk with no intention of using it? -- Maybe in some sprawl-ish cities where there's virtually no pedestrian traffic, and the rare person on foot that one sees in the vicinity of roadways is obviously only there to get through and past the vehicular traffic area, it might make sense to require motorists to stop for pedestrians on the sidewalk, but in more compact, busy cities, such laws would be asinine. -- And by what kind of logic do you find a connection between elders' slower gaits and whether they get the right of way in the crosswalk vs. on the sidewalk? All it takes is one step off the curb to be IN the crosswalk. That older people move slower is only relevant when they are actually IN the crosswalk and taking more time to get out of it. Once they're in the crosswalk, they have whatever time they need to get across it.
Flashing lights would be quite dangerous nowadays as it can often be a sign that you're letting that person go ahead of you rather than being the visual equivalent to the horn
A friend of mine got caught speeding, he told the officer he was following the Smith system and leaving a cushion behind his vehicle! So checked here to see he mentions it. I think that was not what Mr Smith had in mind!
Yeah, it's more in front than back. Though, trying to control the situation (as much as you can) behind you is also of virtue (that is, driving safely & appropriately for what & who's behind you.)
After 60 years of accident free driving I have decided to stop driving, get rid of my car and take public transportation instead. This is a very instructive video, and will most likely save lives....thank you.😊😊😊😊😊😊
I LOVE THE SMITH SYTEM OF DEFENSIVE DRIVING. I WEAR A HIGHLY VISIBLE YELLOW GLOVE ON MY LEFT HAND. WHEN I DRIVE STRAIGHT I DRIVE WITH MY RIGHT HAND CROSSED OVER MY HORN . I CALL THIS 11:00 CLOCK. SO IF I NEED QUICK BABY TAPS ON THE HORN , MY RIGHT FOREARM IS ALREADY OVER THE HORN. IF I NEED TO BLAST THE HORN FOR TWO MINUTES MY RIGHT FORARM IS ALREADY OVER THE HORN. WHEN I AM DRIVING FORWARD ,THEN I SEE A YELLOW LIGHT , I PRETEND I AM SLOWLY MILKING A COW WITH MY LEFT HAND OUT SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. THIS IS TO LET THE CAR BEHIND ME KNOW THAT I AM SLOWING DOWN. IF I NEED TO STOP RIGHT AWAY THEN WITH MY LEFT HAND I RAISE MY LEFT HAND OUT SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW ,THEN MAKE A FAKE STOP SIGN WITH MY LEFT HAND. THEN IF THE CAR BEHIND ME IS DRIVING TOO CLOSE BEHIND ME THEN I BLAST THE HORN FOR TWO OR THREE MINUTES. THIS IS TO GIVE ME LOTS OF WITNESSES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. I DO NOT DRIVE WITH MY RIGHT HAND AT 11:00 OCLOCK WHEN I AM DRIVING ON WINDING CURVES OR MOUTAINS. I USE THE : 9:00 O'CLOCK POSITION WITH THE LEFT HAND. THEN THE 3:00 O'CLOCK POSITION WITH THE RIGHT HAND. WHEN DRIVING ON THE SLOW RIGHT LANE ON THE FREEWAY IF I NEED TO MERGE ON THE CENTER LANE OF THE FREEWAY I TURN MY LEFT SIGNLE ON . THEN DRIVE ABOUT A CAR IN FRONT OF THE CAR THAT IS IN THE LET LANE THAT I WANT TO GO TO. THEN TAP MY HORN AND WAVE MY LEFT HAND AND USE MY INDEX FINGER TO POINT TO THE DIRECTION I WANT TO GO TO. IF THE CAR ON MY LEFT SLOWS DOWN A LITTLE AND WAVES ME IN. I DO NOT JUST CUT IN FRONT OF THIS DRIVER . I GO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC JUST A LITTLE FASTER AND MERGE SAFELY INTO THE LEFT LAND. AS I AM MERGING INTO THE LEFT LANE I KEEP TAPING THE HORN AS MY RIGHT ARM IS IN THE 11:00 O'CLOCK POSITION. THIS IS JUST IN CASE SOME ONE FROM THE FAR LEFT FAST LANE WANTS TO GO INTO THE SAME LANE I AM ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO. THE TECHIQUE IS BASED ON THE TECHNIQUE OF THE : ( SMITH SYSTEM ) MAKE SURE THEY SEE YOU. I GET THE HIGHLY VISIBLE YELLOW GLOVES FROM THE ,99 CENT STORE . I JUST USE THE LEFT HAND HIGHLY VISIBLE YELLOW GLOVE. THE RIGHT HAND IS INVERTED FINGER NAILS FACING ME. WITH THE RIGHT ARM OVER THE HORN AS I AM DRIVING ONLY ON THE STRAIGHT STREETS. IF I DRIVE ON CURVY ROADS OR WINDING MOUNTAINS THEN MY HANDS ARE AT THE 9:00 O'CLOCK POSITION LEFT HAND. RIGHT HAND AT THE 3:00 O'CLOCK POSITION. I USE A HIGHLY VISIBLE YELLOW GLOVE ON THE LEFT HAND TO ATTRACT THE DRIVER'S EYES . I USE THE HORN TO ATTRACT THE DRIVER'S EARS. NOW DAYS MOST UNSAFE DRIVERS ARE TEXTING AND DRIVING. THEY ARE DRIVING 90 MILES AN HOUR WITH THEIR HEAD DOWN. SO THEY CAN NOT SEE THE CAR IN FRONT OF THEM THAT IS STOPPED BEHIND A CAR THAT HAS STOPPED OR HOW THE YELLOW LIGHT IS NOW RED. THIS MEANS TO STOP. SO BY READING THE ROAD AHEAD I KNOW THE LIGHT WILL TURN RED. THEN AT THIS POINT I USE THE HIGHLY VISABLE YELLOW GLOVE ON THE LEFT HAND TO MILK THE COW SLOWLY . BEFORE JUST MAKING A FAKE STOP SIGN WITH MY YELLOW GLOVE ON MY LEFT HAND. IF THE DRIVER IS BEHIND ME IS TRAVELING TOO CLOSE I TAP THE HORN A FEW TIMES. THE YELLOW GLOVE IS TO LEFT THE DRIVER BEHIND ME KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO. BEFORE I JUST DO IT. THEN THE HORN IS ALREADY UNDER MY FOREARM WHEN SOME ONE IS ABOUT TO JUST DASH OUT OF A SHOPPING CENTER . THAT FAILED TO STOP AT THE STOP SIGN AT THE SHOPPPING CENTER EXIT. I USE THE LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE HAND TO MAKE A FAKE STOP SIGN FOR THE CAR BEHIND ME. IN CALIF. CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODE : 21703. THIS IS HOW TO KNOW IF YOU ARE TAILGATING. IF I DRIVE 60 MILES AN HOUR. MY SPACE CUSHION FROM MY FRONT BUMPER TO THE BACK BUMBER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SHOULD BE AT LEAST SIX IMAGINARY SMALL CARS. WHEN I STOP BEHIND ANY CAR. I SHOULD BE AT LEAST 15 FEET BEHIND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. OR THE 2 THOUSAND 3 THOUSAND SECOND RULE. I USE THE SMITH SYTEM EVERY DAY ,WHEN I AM SAFELY DRIVING EVERY DAY. I NEVER TEXT ON MY CELL PHONE WHEN DRIVING. I NEVER TALK ON THE PHONE WHEN DRIVING. I STAY FOCUSED ON DRIVING SAFELY . WHATS UP, WHAT IS LEFT , WHAT IS RIGHT, WHAT IS ON THE ROAD, WHAT IS BEHIND ME. I LOOK FOR CARS WITH PROBLEMS. I KEEP MY PROPER SPACE CUSHION. DRIVING IS 100 PERCENT FOCUS.
It still applies. We just have to be more careful now. Mobile phones were not around back then. Cars are much safer now. Manufacturers are even installing devices in our cars to keep us from colliding with one another. I personally think these devices make us less safe by removing the responsibility of safe driving from the individual operator. Generations have grown up with this nonsense. Many States don't even require drivers education in high school like they used to. Every time I get behind the wheel I practice the Smith system, and my head is on a swivel looking for the next dummy on their phone. Nobody should be given a license without viewing this first.
Licensing requirements are generally stricter than they used to be, though. The real problem is that the reality of older people using phones, and it is disproportionately no longer the youth who use their mobile phones when driving. Ditto for speeding, driving while impaired, red light running, or even risky behavior in general. It simply is uncool to do that sort of thing, and it can cause loss of social status. "Oh, you drive while texting? Clearly you have no care for the future or sense of responsibility for yourself or the others on the road." That sort of thing is not unheard of, although they second sentence may be more implicit than explicit.
I used to drive school bus & they used to preach this ALL THE TIME!!! They had a little saying they used, 'All Good Kids Like Milk' - A = Aim high, G - Get the big picture, K = Keep your eyes moving, L = Leave yourself an out, & M= Make sure they see you.
I love that (for me at least) this video is sponsored by Miller Lite and showed a beer ad right before it. Ah RUclips, your unintentional irony is perfect.
The Smith system regarding the car horn was hilarious because if everyone used it like that, there would be so much honking going on. Besides, if you use the Smith system car horn idea today, there would be a finger sign given back in return or worse.
blind spots: people are now using them as a defensive driving edge. Also they think if you hit them while in the blind spot they get paid. In my area its a 50/50 wash. but maybe not in others. always keep track of the cars around you, the ones behind are just as important as the ones ahead, if you suddenly dont see one of em you know where to look right? and obviously, check there too before any lane change. but in an "emergency lane change" its nice to know (but not for sure) what your chances are. safe distance: if you leave that kinda of gap, you know whats going to happen? everyone will be filing in in front of you because you will be holding up traffic. instead, a max of 2.5 lengths are good. but be aware of the condition for the car in front of you, as like you are driving it too, you want to respond to their response so some imaginary rp will help you. Remember situations and reflect on them later on while you are not driving.
The one carlength per 10 mph recommendation has been superseded by the 2 second rule. Some people want to change that to 4 seconds, but that is too far back. I recommend 2 seconds on dry pavement, 3 seconds in the rain and 4 seconds in the snow.
@@deliveryguyrx Lol..... in that case, maybe us drivers that passed a good few years ago do need a refresher test every now and then, then - even if it is just a theory one!
Howard Smith put it all into 21 words !! All details and elaboration can ' attach ' to these 5 Strategic Principles !! Howard Smith RIP . SEE YOU IN HEAVEN !! ALSO Circle Check vehicle before and after driving --this centers and readies You for driving ! 《《《《《《●●》》》》》》 ♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡!!!!!!!!!
Motor Officer 1994 Traffic School Don't be the lone ranger speeding Leave yourself an "out" by scanning You should be watching 20-30 seconds ahead of where you are.
The main road shots are on Michigan Ave. in Dearborn, Michigan very near Ford Motor World Headquarters. That exact stretch of road has not changed very much but has been widened just East and West of there and looks very different today. The rural shots are hard to pinpoint. They are at Allen Road which is mostly in Allen Park, Michigan but by then the city was already well established in 1963 when this was shot. My *guess* would be Brownstown Twp. (South of Dearborn), which is now considerably built up from what is pictured there, but is still a small town.
1956? No, it's at least 1963. That's clearly a 1963 Ford at 3:05 and other places in the video. The Smith System is great, though. I've had that training at work many times since about 1997.
Yowza, what silly debates here! Whatever its date says, this was filmed no earlier than late 1962, as quite a few 1963 cars, including the Ford shown most often, are evident. This also was not filmed in California, but largely if not entirely in Michigan. E.g., the Earl Keim Realty seen at 6:13 was a Detroit-area company. At 6:16, you can see a Dearborn Pharmacy.
Yeah this is all good common sense but there is a lot more to it than this. If you really want to learn how to be safe then go ride a motorcycle for a few years that will teach you what to look out for in traffic cos your life is literally on the line with every lump of metal around you, although that works here as well they didn't have seat belts in the 50s.
I tried this method but it took me longer to get to work so I got a Tesla and let it make all the decisions. Not sure if it follows the Smith System or not but I will say so far I am getting a lot more work done during my commute.
At 6:01, you're supposed to STOP for that pedestrian, not blow your horn for him. Even in the 1960s when this was filmed, had this been California, the driver would have been stopped and ticketed.
Since when is a pedestrian allowed to walk out in front of a car unless at a pedestrian crossing? If that's a law its stupid. Here in Australia we'd laugh harshly at that.
This is still taught in many trucking companies. I used to teach it.
They taught it at Schneider Natl when I started there in 2005.
This is taught where I work at the phone company to this day.
Probably is, I'm sure most will pass this course and then pitch it out the window into the trash. I actually found a book on this system along with a carriers book for study. From my experience with other vehicles, many drive fast and tailgate. I definitely stay clear of trucks, they're probably the worst. I've a class a cdl myself, and rarely do I see a driver that drives professionally, or inspects their equipment.
@@JamesSmith-jq2jc They are nothing but steering wheel holders. When I was driving, I didn't drive my personal vehicles but to get from the truck to the house and back. I had to stay in the right frame of mind. I remember making very wide right turns in my 4-wheeler and getting pulled over. LOL
And you taught it with a straight face?
Right now, thousands are watching this on their smart phones while driving.
Maximus Minimus try one person. This video has hardly any views 😂
Maximus Minimus
😂😂😂😂😂😂
Lol
I am one of a handful of people who can proudly claim i have never or will never own a smartphone.
mybluebelly boomer
currently watching this for my drivers ed class, gonna get my license in 2022 boys!
In my class rn! we out here!!!!!
I was a UPS driver for 20 years and this is exactly what they taught us when hired.
I live these 5 golden rules every day. It's all about being a defensive, alert driver!! Great vid!!
Good job, the world needs more lerts. :)
I was taught this Smith System in high school drivers ed. Later we taught this - with many upgrades developed over decades - to 2000 company drivers and reduced cost of accidents by over $10MM each year. This really brought me back to fond memories!
Based on some of the cars and trucks depicted in this video, it is clearly not from 1956, but rather years later. Seven years at least, I'd say, given the fact that the newest cars I've yet seen in it are 1963 models. (Now, maybe the Smith Safe Driving System was DEVELOPED in 1956, but this video almost certainly was not filmed then.)
A lot of the videos here are later _prints_ of films developed in earlier years - the original date of copyright is used for uploads.
People here are wasting their breath saying this. Original posters of things like this don't give a shit about accuracy or anachronisms. All people care about is gender fluidity and black lives (but no other lives) matter - they will exhaust their breath on these topics until they are blue in the face. This is why the IQ of the developed world's people is so low nowadays. I said the same thing with 'Your Automatic Choice (Ford Zephyr & Zodiac)'. Nothing happened.
@@saxongreen78 OK, but even so, this film cannot be that early. Maybe you weren't refuting that, but with some car models being as new as they are, this all points to the video being shot in 1962 - 1963.
I was taught the “The Smith System of Driving” in 1970. It has served me well over the years. Saved my butt many times.
This Smith system is brilliant. These are the same things that are taught in my bus company. Only now, situations have been made intolerably dangerous thanks to the use of hand held devices while driving. People today don't even try and hide the fact that they are on their devices. I can plainly see the devices on the steering wheels. By the way, there are far more rear ender's thanks to today's devices.
I still can't get my head around a few lorry drivers watching a DVD while on the motorway! You need to be constantly aware of the road when you're doing 60 or 70mph!
The Smith System is really common sense.
I imagine it is not so different from all of the accidents due to people distracted by cigarettes back in the day, from lighting them to not dropping them and that sort of thing. The old films showing distracted driving usually show that, whereas modern ones show handheld devices.
@@alisonwilliams4862 They're exceptionally stupid and I hope I never have to see them, and I hope that they wet themselves coming really close to an accident and decide it is a bad idea.
@@alisonwilliams4862 That's ridiculous. Ridiculously dangerous, more accurately.
Edit: originally only included the first sentence, which was ambiguous...
I love the American cars of this era with their chrome! :)
I notice that, even then, they mentioned distracted driving as dangerous!
They didn't foresee that every car would have a TV with more communications technology than NORAD.
@@irvhh143 yes It's simply pathetic how far we've fallen.
@@crediblehulk420 but you weren't in an automobile from the 1950s in the 1950s. who's to say the internet knows? it's only what you've been told.
@@artdecotimes2942 I know enough about what they were like to know that they were not safer. There are real advancements that have occured.
Obtaining, lighting, and smoking cigarettes were a major distraction in those days. It actually distracts one worse than mobile phones, studies have shown.
Fundamentals never die. This is still relevant today, if not more so.
This is later than 1956. Cars shown are early 60's models.
Im betting its a typo for 65
The copyright in roman numerals at the beginning says 1956
@@kmerian That makes TWO errors, then.
Too bad people don't use these tips today. BTW, don't know where they got 1956 from in the title, the cars are 1963.
The Roman numeral on the title screen means 1956. (Even if part of the numeral was cut off, we can still tell it had to be in the late 1950's.)
It can't be the late fifties with a 1963 Ford.
1963 in Roman Numerals is MCMLXIII
1963 in Roman Numerals is MCMLXIII, so this is 1956
@@robertlozyniak3661 Wrong.
Completely relevant to today's motoring.
Learned this 42 years ago. Still use it today.
Excellent training, even for the past 64 years! Ty.
Without knowing about The Smith System, my father taught me the three first ones and "preached with the example"; He Never got involved in Even a car Incident in 43 years (he drove until he was 84!).
"Peccata Minuta (Italian for small sin, colloquial)": Video title Date (1956),
car showing The Smith System: Ford Galaxie 1963.
I noticed, and remarked upon, that very same thing! That is, the presence of a 1963 model Ford in a video which was supposedly filmed in 1956-which it obviously wasn't.
Damn! Something like this should be taught before someone gets in the driver's seat for the first time. And probably taught every year or every time someone gets a ticket.
I've driven competitive for some time, you could apply some of this to track driving, except, of course, for the 'leave space in front' bit.
If you touch your horn now you’ll get in a fight. If you signal to someone now they will think you mean they can go in front of you. Also very dangerous.
Or get shot at by a outlaw not a legal gun owner
@@55jplock Even if 100% of guns were legally owned & carried I still wouldn’t honk at a bad driver these days!
This is either a twilight zone with a time machine or they made a mistake cause this is not 1956 cars are 1963 !!!!!!!!
First ford was made in 1903 bud...
@@ang3lgonzalez77 he means he recognizes the actual model years so calm down. many people easily can tell, by physical appearance, the difference between a 1953, and 1961 Ford, and multiple models at that. Good for you that you read somewhere that Ford was started in 1903
@@travonmiller5279 "so calm down"😂
Probably a typo. Film was most likely made around 1963.
The copyright date at the beginning does seem to be 1956, so I suppose it's a mystery....
I use the 5 keys when I drive. I just sent them to my 18 year old granddaughter so she can use them too. Everyone should use these keys.
Excellent -- I remember seeing this when growing up. It is more like 1960, though -- at 3:59 one can clearly see the taillights of a 1959 Buick Invicta.
I think I saw a couple of 1963 Fords, as well.
This was from 1963. He was driving a '63 Ford Galaxy. His drivers door is unlocked. Maybe the system was developed in 1956. There's an updated version, in color, filmed around 1967 in which he drives a convertible.
Others have commented on the date of this film, but the copyright date is given as MCMLVI (1956}.
Yes, but the what they are getting at is for example the f100 unibody ford pickup didn’t even exist until 1961, they probably screwed up and meant to put 1965.
While this should be required viewing by ALL drivers some of the tips don't always work out. I always try to leave plenty of room in front but, living in Atlanta, that extra space is always the que for someone to jump in front of you requiring you to slow even more to allow for the new extra space which will then invite another inconsiderate jerk to change lanes to yours and .....ad infinitum. Plus, I've always had a pet peeve for drivers who don't signal lane changes or turns. I am so used to doing it, it even happens when I'm the only car on the road.
They prolly didn't account for the ridiculous amount of cars 60 ears later.
Even so you still don't lose that much time off your trip. Trust me I drive all day across the USA.
@@Mike-xp1nx stop commenting on RUclips and driving then!
Super truckers are to busy saying it's not my fault they did this.
No, you didn't understand. Leaving yourself an out doesn't necessarily mean space in front. It could be space off the side and back. Say you're in the slow lane and there's a full shoulder available. If you need to, you swerve there. There could be clear space in the fast lane. It means always knowing where you can go in an emergency. If there isn't any space, you make space, by changing lanes, speeding up or slowing down. You never want to be boxed in.
My dad was a mechanic for ups and this is how he taught us kids to drive
Often wondered where the fundamentals of defensive driving came from- they still apply today, although I wouldn't necessarily use my horn or flash the headlights in this era. Not to mention that nowadays if safe to do so, a vehicle must stop if a pedestrian is waiting at the corner or a crosswalk to cross the street.
This varies by state. Maybe that's true in Commiefornia, but in many states, the law is written in a way that requires "yielding" to pedestrians, and when those pedestrians are "in" the crosswalk. This is a much better system, as it allows considerate pedestrians to yield to traffic and wait for an opening so as not to completely screw up the flow of traffic in urban areas.
@@grizzlygrizzle No it is not, because it forces elderly persons to experience undue waiting times simply because they cannot cross so quickly or reliably.
@@unconventionalideas5683 -- Pray tell, what is the precise legal definition of "waiting," and what distinguishes it from loitering, from having a conversation that happens to occur on a sidewalk near a crosswalk, or from having a moment of reverie in a similar location? Have you ever driven in a congested city with so many pedestrians that some of them are necessarily standing or walking near a crosswalk with no intention of using it?
-- Maybe in some sprawl-ish cities where there's virtually no pedestrian traffic, and the rare person on foot that one sees in the vicinity of roadways is obviously only there to get through and past the vehicular traffic area, it might make sense to require motorists to stop for pedestrians on the sidewalk, but in more compact, busy cities, such laws would be asinine.
-- And by what kind of logic do you find a connection between elders' slower gaits and whether they get the right of way in the crosswalk vs. on the sidewalk? All it takes is one step off the curb to be IN the crosswalk. That older people move slower is only relevant when they are actually IN the crosswalk and taking more time to get out of it. Once they're in the crosswalk, they have whatever time they need to get across it.
@2:44 Unbelievably they managed to get a 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 not in 1955 nor 1957 but exactly in 1956 to shoot this film.
This is taught in a lot of bus company training here in the UK a very good set of driving tools which everyone should adapt .
The acting is unparalleled!
i think i had to watch this for my drivers ed class in Jr High school
I drive now with my headlights on all the time, just to make sure that other drivers see me.
Same here!
Welcome to Europe.
You, or your lights?
They're way to interest in their cell phones to see your lights.
Most new cars have lights that are on all the time as a default.
A 1962 pickup (2:18) and other newer cars.
Flashing lights would be quite dangerous nowadays as it can often be a sign that you're letting that person go ahead of you rather than being the visual equivalent to the horn
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A friend of mine got caught speeding, he told the officer he was following the Smith system and leaving a cushion behind his vehicle! So checked here to see he mentions it. I think that was not what Mr Smith had in mind!
No indeed.
Yeah, it's more in front than back. Though, trying to control the situation (as much as you can) behind you is also of virtue (that is, driving safely & appropriately for what & who's behind you.)
HE IS DRIVING A 1963 FORD HARD TO DO IN 1956 I BELIEVE...........
Yep, First year of unibody ford was 1961
Amazing how they put those 1963 cars in a 1956 film!
I can't tell if that is only a 4 digit odometer or if there is a 5th number hidden on the left.
After 60 years of accident free driving I have decided to stop driving, get rid of my car and take public transportation instead. This is a very instructive video, and will most likely save lives....thank you.😊😊😊😊😊😊
i took the Smith system course for my job and still use the techniques with my personal vehicles. The techniques save on fuel too
I LOVE THE SMITH SYTEM OF DEFENSIVE DRIVING. I WEAR A HIGHLY VISIBLE YELLOW GLOVE ON MY LEFT HAND. WHEN I DRIVE STRAIGHT I DRIVE WITH MY RIGHT HAND CROSSED OVER MY HORN . I CALL THIS 11:00 CLOCK. SO IF I NEED QUICK BABY TAPS ON THE HORN , MY RIGHT FOREARM IS ALREADY OVER THE HORN. IF I NEED TO BLAST THE HORN FOR TWO MINUTES MY RIGHT FORARM IS ALREADY OVER THE HORN. WHEN I AM DRIVING FORWARD ,THEN I SEE A YELLOW LIGHT , I PRETEND I AM SLOWLY MILKING A COW WITH MY LEFT HAND OUT SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. THIS IS TO LET THE CAR BEHIND ME KNOW THAT I AM SLOWING DOWN. IF I NEED TO STOP RIGHT AWAY THEN WITH MY LEFT HAND I RAISE MY LEFT HAND OUT SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW ,THEN MAKE A FAKE STOP SIGN WITH MY LEFT HAND. THEN IF THE CAR BEHIND ME IS DRIVING TOO CLOSE BEHIND ME THEN I BLAST THE HORN FOR TWO OR THREE MINUTES. THIS IS TO GIVE ME LOTS OF WITNESSES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. I DO NOT DRIVE WITH MY RIGHT HAND AT 11:00 OCLOCK WHEN I AM DRIVING ON WINDING CURVES OR MOUTAINS. I USE THE : 9:00 O'CLOCK POSITION WITH THE LEFT HAND. THEN THE 3:00 O'CLOCK POSITION WITH THE RIGHT HAND. WHEN DRIVING ON THE SLOW RIGHT LANE ON THE FREEWAY IF I NEED TO MERGE ON THE CENTER LANE OF THE FREEWAY I TURN MY LEFT SIGNLE ON . THEN DRIVE ABOUT A CAR IN FRONT OF THE CAR THAT IS IN THE LET LANE THAT I WANT TO GO TO. THEN TAP MY HORN AND WAVE MY LEFT HAND AND USE MY INDEX FINGER TO POINT TO THE DIRECTION I WANT TO GO TO. IF THE CAR ON MY LEFT SLOWS DOWN A LITTLE AND WAVES ME IN. I DO NOT JUST CUT IN FRONT OF THIS DRIVER . I GO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC JUST A LITTLE FASTER AND MERGE SAFELY INTO THE LEFT LAND. AS I AM MERGING INTO THE LEFT LANE I KEEP TAPING THE HORN AS MY RIGHT ARM IS IN THE 11:00 O'CLOCK POSITION. THIS IS JUST IN CASE SOME ONE FROM THE FAR LEFT FAST LANE WANTS TO GO INTO THE SAME LANE I AM ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO. THE TECHIQUE IS BASED ON THE TECHNIQUE OF THE : ( SMITH SYSTEM ) MAKE SURE THEY SEE YOU. I GET THE HIGHLY VISIBLE YELLOW GLOVES FROM THE ,99 CENT STORE . I JUST USE THE LEFT HAND HIGHLY VISIBLE YELLOW GLOVE. THE RIGHT HAND IS INVERTED FINGER NAILS FACING ME. WITH THE RIGHT ARM OVER THE HORN AS I AM DRIVING ONLY ON THE STRAIGHT STREETS. IF I DRIVE ON CURVY ROADS OR WINDING MOUNTAINS THEN MY HANDS ARE AT THE 9:00 O'CLOCK POSITION LEFT HAND. RIGHT HAND AT THE 3:00 O'CLOCK POSITION. I USE A HIGHLY VISIBLE YELLOW GLOVE ON THE LEFT HAND TO ATTRACT THE DRIVER'S EYES . I USE THE HORN TO ATTRACT THE DRIVER'S EARS. NOW DAYS MOST UNSAFE DRIVERS ARE TEXTING AND DRIVING. THEY ARE DRIVING 90 MILES AN HOUR WITH THEIR HEAD DOWN. SO THEY CAN NOT SEE THE CAR IN FRONT OF THEM THAT IS STOPPED BEHIND A CAR THAT HAS STOPPED OR HOW THE YELLOW LIGHT IS NOW RED. THIS MEANS TO STOP. SO BY READING THE ROAD AHEAD I KNOW THE LIGHT WILL TURN RED. THEN AT THIS POINT I USE THE HIGHLY VISABLE YELLOW GLOVE ON THE LEFT HAND TO MILK THE COW SLOWLY . BEFORE JUST MAKING A FAKE STOP SIGN WITH MY YELLOW GLOVE ON MY LEFT HAND. IF THE DRIVER IS BEHIND ME IS TRAVELING TOO CLOSE I TAP THE HORN A FEW TIMES. THE YELLOW GLOVE IS TO LEFT THE DRIVER BEHIND ME KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO. BEFORE I JUST DO IT. THEN THE HORN IS ALREADY UNDER MY FOREARM WHEN SOME ONE IS ABOUT TO JUST DASH OUT OF A SHOPPING CENTER . THAT FAILED TO STOP AT THE STOP SIGN AT THE SHOPPPING CENTER EXIT. I USE THE LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE HAND TO MAKE A FAKE STOP SIGN FOR THE CAR BEHIND ME. IN CALIF. CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODE : 21703. THIS IS HOW TO KNOW IF YOU ARE TAILGATING. IF I DRIVE 60 MILES AN HOUR. MY SPACE CUSHION FROM MY FRONT BUMPER TO THE BACK BUMBER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SHOULD BE AT LEAST SIX IMAGINARY SMALL CARS. WHEN I STOP BEHIND ANY CAR. I SHOULD BE AT LEAST 15 FEET BEHIND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. OR THE 2 THOUSAND 3 THOUSAND SECOND RULE. I USE THE SMITH SYTEM EVERY DAY ,WHEN I AM SAFELY DRIVING EVERY DAY. I NEVER TEXT ON MY CELL PHONE WHEN DRIVING. I NEVER TALK ON THE PHONE WHEN DRIVING. I STAY FOCUSED ON DRIVING SAFELY . WHATS UP, WHAT IS LEFT , WHAT IS RIGHT, WHAT IS ON THE ROAD, WHAT IS BEHIND ME. I LOOK FOR CARS WITH PROBLEMS. I KEEP MY PROPER SPACE CUSHION. DRIVING IS 100 PERCENT FOCUS.
It still applies. We just have to be more careful now. Mobile phones were not around back then. Cars are much safer now. Manufacturers are even installing devices in our cars to keep us from colliding with one another. I personally think these devices make us less safe by removing the responsibility of safe driving from the individual operator. Generations have grown up with this nonsense. Many States don't even require drivers education in high school like they used to.
Every time I get behind the wheel I practice the Smith system, and my head is on a swivel looking for the next dummy on their phone. Nobody should be given a license without viewing this first.
Licensing requirements are generally stricter than they used to be, though. The real problem is that the reality of older people using phones, and it is disproportionately no longer the youth who use their mobile phones when driving. Ditto for speeding, driving while impaired, red light running, or even risky behavior in general. It simply is uncool to do that sort of thing, and it can cause loss of social status.
"Oh, you drive while texting? Clearly you have no care for the future or sense of responsibility for yourself or the others on the road." That sort of thing is not unheard of, although they second sentence may be more implicit than explicit.
@@unconventionalideas5683 That is written horribly. I have no idea what you are trying to convey.
Still very relevant today, more so than ever.
The horn method is used all through Asia for warning if in blind spot - it works but is sure noisy
As a fleet courier, my company had us drivers take this course in the early 2000's.
Old Bill looked at that mirror like he'd never seen one before
Most accidents happen at intersections and upon left hand turns or are rear-enders.
I used to drive school bus & they used to preach this ALL THE TIME!!! They had a little saying they used, 'All Good Kids Like Milk' - A = Aim high, G - Get the big picture, K = Keep your eyes moving, L = Leave yourself an out, & M= Make sure they see you.
Back in 1963 they had no clue that modern cars and smartphones would be totally distracting!
I love that (for me at least) this video is sponsored by Miller Lite and showed a beer ad right before it. Ah RUclips, your unintentional irony is perfect.
The Sith Smystem looks pretty cool. I’ll ty it some time
The Smith system regarding the car horn was hilarious because if everyone used it like that, there would be so much honking going on. Besides, if you use the Smith system car horn idea today, there would be a finger sign given back in return or worse.
1956 but there are cars from 63 64 65
Many drivers today take less care at operating the car than they do to running their clothes washer.
blind spots: people are now using them as a defensive driving edge. Also they think if you hit them while in the blind spot they get paid. In my area its a 50/50 wash. but maybe not in others. always keep track of the cars around you, the ones behind are just as important as the ones ahead, if you suddenly dont see one of em you know where to look right? and obviously, check there too before any lane change. but in an "emergency lane change" its nice to know (but not for sure) what your chances are.
safe distance: if you leave that kinda of gap, you know whats going to happen? everyone will be filing in in front of you because you will be holding up traffic. instead, a max of 2.5 lengths are good. but be aware of the condition for the car in front of you, as like you are driving it too, you want to respond to their response so some imaginary rp will help you. Remember situations and reflect on them later on while you are not driving.
5:38 Holy shrikes, that's a pretty good attention to detail. (If you don't know what I'm saying, pay attention to the overtaking car's turn signal.)
Reminds me of driver's ed in the 60's.
Never saw this, but I've been doing this for 30 yrs!
No Accident Driving means just stay home.
Did you notice the odometer only went to 9,999.9? It wouldn’t be until the 70’s when the extra digit was added.
If you were lucky back then the car would reach that.
Love the 🚗
This system is still used today in the trucking industry.
fuck me the average cars were beauties back then
The one carlength per 10 mph recommendation has been superseded by the 2 second rule. Some people want to change that to 4 seconds, but that is too far back. I recommend 2 seconds on dry pavement, 3 seconds in the rain and 4 seconds in the snow.
Only a fool breaks the two second rule! That was in my driving theory book about a decade ago!
Last year my Smith driving instructor told me 4 seconds regardless.
@@deliveryguyrx Lol..... in that case, maybe us drivers that passed a good few years ago do need a refresher test every now and then, then - even if it is just a theory one!
Howard Smith put it all into 21 words !!
All details and elaboration can ' attach ' to these 5 Strategic Principles !!
Howard Smith RIP .
SEE YOU IN HEAVEN !!
ALSO Circle Check vehicle before and after driving --this centers and readies You for driving !
《《《《《《●●》》》》》》 ♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡!!!!!!!!!
Certainly was not made in 1956. At the 6:00 mark there is a 1962 Thunderbird Roadster in the film.
Why does this feel like I’m watching an classic Tom and Jerry episode?
Motor Officer 1994 Traffic School
Don't be the lone ranger speeding
Leave yourself an "out" by scanning
You should be watching 20-30 seconds ahead of where you are.
This Make sense to me as a new driver
Weird, the copyright says 1956 but they're using 1962 Galaxie's for demonstration.
I just got a print of this film but unfortunately it has a lot of sprocket damage.
All Good Kids Love Milk.
Aim high in steering.
Get the big picture.
Keep your eyes moving.
Leave yourself an out.
Make sure they see you.
Where are these filming locations? how do they look today?
The main road shots are on Michigan Ave. in Dearborn, Michigan very near Ford Motor World Headquarters. That exact stretch of road has not changed very much but has been widened just East and West of there and looks very different today. The rural shots are hard to pinpoint. They are at Allen Road which is mostly in Allen Park, Michigan but by then the city was already well established in 1963 when this was shot. My *guess* would be Brownstown Twp. (South of Dearborn), which is now considerably built up from what is pictured there, but is still a small town.
Mr. Smith , meet the cell-phone.
1956? No, it's at least 1963. That's clearly a 1963 Ford at 3:05 and other places in the video. The Smith System is great, though. I've had that training at work many times since about 1997.
Copyright = 1956 (see 0:05). It was a long production effort into the 1960s.
excellent video. however i'm confident, judging by the cars, this was filmed in the early 60s.
Completed
This couldn't have been 1956, there was a Ford Falcon, not released until 1960.
The title says "1956" ... CLEARLY this was in the mid 1960s, I wonder if they meant "1965" ??
Yowza, what silly debates here! Whatever its date says, this was filmed no earlier than late 1962, as quite a few 1963 cars, including the Ford shown most often, are evident. This also was not filmed in California, but largely if not entirely in Michigan. E.g., the Earl Keim Realty seen at 6:13 was a Detroit-area company. At 6:16, you can see a Dearborn Pharmacy.
If driver’s actually did this, can you imagine??
Anyone know when this was actually filmed?
'62.
basically it's honking the horn all the time
I took my driving lessons from American Graffiti.
Yeah this is all good common sense but there is a lot more to it than this.
If you really want to learn how to be safe then go ride a motorcycle for a few years that will teach you what to look out for in traffic cos your life is literally on the line with every lump of metal around you, although that works here as well they didn't have seat belts in the 50s.
aim far
luk around
check mirrors
state presence
keep a leeway 👍
Lots of 1960’s car for a film from 1956
0:53 that’s a 60s ford I think. This must be 1965 not 65
JB Hunt sent 4 big rig drivers out in a station wagon...verbalize their actions!
This is definitely NOT 1956.
0:01 FORD MOTOR COMPANY MCMLVI
0:01 MCMLVI = 1956
0:01 MCMLVI = 1956
@@planetX15 The card's wrong. There are multiple early 1960s cars in the film.
I tried this method but it took me longer to get to work so I got a Tesla and let it make all the decisions. Not sure if it follows the Smith System or not but I will say so far I am getting a lot more work done during my commute.
ALL GOOD KIDS LIKE MILK. AIM HIGH IN STEERING , GET THE BIG PICTURE, KEEP YOUR EYES MOVING, LEAVE YOURSELF AN OUT, MAKE SURE THEY SEE YOU.
This is a circa 1963 version of a film that is copyright 1956...just sayin'.
This is 1960s!
B''H, Christ, Jesus, Amen.
This is the 60s change title giblet
At 6:01, you're supposed to STOP for that pedestrian, not blow your horn for him. Even in the 1960s when this was filmed, had this been California, the driver would have been stopped and ticketed.
This was filmed in the 50's
The was filmed in 1956, so the 1950's.
Commiefornia.
Since when is a pedestrian allowed to walk out in front of a car unless at a pedestrian crossing? If that's a law its stupid. Here in Australia we'd laugh harshly at that.
@@planetX15 1962 or 3.
The film date can't be correct. These are early 1960s cars.
They put when they started making it as copyright, instead of when it was finished or the range of production.
I saw a 1962 Cadillac . 1956, NOT.