Taxi Carefully | 1940s

Stop This - Taxi Carefully, Circa 1946, Designer Unknown

This striking aviation safety poster features a dramatic collision scene between two aircraft on a runway. The design is split diagonally, with a grey background on the left and a green background on the right. The left side shows a black silhouette of an aircraft viewed from above, while the right displays a white aircraft viewed from the top. At the centre where the two planes meet, a white explosion burst dramatically represents the collision. Bold red lettering spelling "STOP THIS" and "TAXI CAREFULLY" in white text delivers the urgent safety message. The bottom of the poster includes the reference code "D—L—7" and identifies the issuing authorities as the "Directorate of Air Traffic and Safety, and Directorate of Safety Education." 

This poster was created during the mid-1940s (circa 1946) by the British Directorate of Air Traffic and Safety and Directorate of Safety Education as part of a series of aviation safety materials. During World War II and its immediate aftermath, military aviation expanded dramatically, creating an urgent need for safety education as inexperienced pilots and ground crew operated increasingly complex aircraft. The Directorate of Air Traffic and Safety was established with the mission of overseeing domestic flight operations, with responsibilities including flight control, flying safety, and safety education. These safety posters were designed to convey messages simply and directly, often using dramatic imagery to emphasize the potentially fatal consequences of carelessness during aviation operations. Aircraft taxiing accidents were a significant concern as they could damage valuable military equipment and cause injuries or fatalities.

While the specific designer of this poster remains unknown, it reflects the modernist graphic design principles prevalent in British wartime and post-war visual communications. During this period, the British government employed numerous talented graphic designers to create effective propaganda and instructional materials. This poster demonstrates several hallmarks of effective World War II-era design: bold typography, dramatic contrast, simplified imagery, and a clear, urgent message.