Life — May 1932 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Be a REAL Driver" — Metropolitan Life Insurance Ad This is a **safety advertisement** by Metropolitan Life Insurance, not satire. The page promotes responsible summer driving through a self-assessment checklist (10 questions scoring up to 100 points). The black-and-white photograph shows hands gripping a steering wheel, emphasizing driver control. The ad argues that most accidents result from **driver error rather than mechanical failure**: "The majority of them were caused by poor drivers or by good drivers who momentarily failed to control their cars." The message targets inexperienced or careless drivers, contrasting them with "real drivers" who master vehicle control through attentiveness and skill. The ad offers a free booklet on proper driving technique, reflecting early 20th-century automotive safety concerns as car ownership expanded and traffic fatalities rose.