Stop This - Taxi Carefully

In this WWII-era safety poster, a mid-ground collision between two aircraft is captured at the moment of impact. One aircraft, rendered in black and viewed from above, has struck the tail of a lighter-toned aircraft in front of it. The point of contact bursts with a dramatic white flash, signaling the violence of the mishap. The diagonal background split — muted gray on one side, deep teal on the other — reinforces the collision course and adds a sense of motion. The bold red and white text shouts the urgent command: “STOP THIS. TAXI CAREFULLY.”

Produced by the Directorate of Air Traffic and Safety and the Directorate of Safety Education, this poster was created to address a common yet preventable danger on military airfields during World War II — taxiing accidents. With aircraft moving rapidly on crowded runways, especially during takeoff preparation or post-landing rollouts, collisions could result in injury, delays, or damage to critical machinery.

Unlike posters that focus on in-flight behavior, this one highlights the importance of vigilance on the ground. The visual style is dramatic but stripped down, relying on silhouette, contrast, and asymmetry to emphasize reaction time and personal responsibility.

This is an Original Vintage Poster; it is not a reproduction. This poster was printed on heavyweight paper and is in excellent condition apart from slight toning at folds.

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