The Proust Questionnaire has its origins in a parlor game popularized by Marcel Proust, the French essayist and novelist, who believed that, in answering these questions, an individual reveals his or her true nature.
The United Road Safety Fund (UNRSF) proposes a new blog adaptation of this questionnaire for the road safety purpose. Our goal is raising awareness for road safety and share the voice of Road Safety champions on how all of us can contribute to new Decade of Action for Road Safety.
We launch this questionnaire with the honorable participation of Mr Carlos García-Hirschfeld, General Manager for La Nuez TV and of a TV show about road safety "Seguridad Vital" in the National Television of Spain.
1. What is your favorite mode of public transportation?
My favorite public transportation is the subway.
2. What is your greatest fear on the road and the most stressful situation you have ever experienced on the road?
If we're talking about other drivers, I'm really scared of drivers who get too close to the back of your car. If we talk about road situations, maybe dense fog and heavy rain. When I was young I had two accidents with friends who were driving drunk. In one of them I thought my time had come.
3. What is your idea of perfect happiness on the road?
Empty road, good weather, great car, going with my family on vacation. Of course, we love to stop to eat in a good restaurant along the way. And, always, buy some local typical product of each region.
4. What is the trait you most dislike in others on the road?
Aggressive drivers. Those who believe that traffic signs and speed limits were not made for them. Those who drive and look at their cell phones or write messages. Those who harass cars in front of them on the road.
5. If you could change one thing about yourself for road safety, what would it be?
Anger with other drivers when they put me in danger or when they are aggressive.
6. Which quality do you most appreciate in other drivers?
Those who keep a safe distance and are aware that there are other drivers, cyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians on the streets and roads.
7. What is your favorite sound on the road?
Most of sounds on the road are noises. That’s why I think that my favorite sound could be the music. And, remembering, I loved the voices of my kids, my wife and mine singing (or shouting), for example, Queen’s hits like “Don’t Stop me now”…
8. What is for you the most awful noise on the road?
The milliseconds of silence between the screeching of the wheels during a braking and the sharp impact of a car's sheet metal against an object, another car, etc....
9. Which road safety champion/advocate do you most admire?
At the international level, I think Jean Todt did a great job at the FIA to put the focus of many actions on road safety and he continues as the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety. The creation of the UNRSF, it seems to me, is a magnificent achievement of that work. In Spain I will always remember with respect and admiration the great Master Paco Costas. Paco was the pioneer of TV shows dedicated to road safety.
10. What do you consider your greatest achievement for road safety?
I wish we had some achievement! We only try to collaborate with the institutions to improve the situation. We have managed to produce more than 200 episodes of "Seguridad Vital" in the National Television of Spain. It is difficult to get 30’ a week of TV broadcasting, and TVE allows us to be every week bringing that message to thousands of viewers and followers on the Web and Social Networks.
11. If you were to re-invent yourself as someone or something linked to road safety, who or what would it be?
I would bring road safety and sustainable mobility education to schools on a more regular basis.
12. What is your favorite slogan, quote for road safety?
In Spain, the work of traffic accident victims' associations is excellent. One of them is AESLEME (association for the study of spinal cord injury). Their slogan is very simple, but very insightful: "It can happen to you". And that is the key. We should all drive being aware that, at any time, we can kill or we can be killed.