COUNTRY DRIVING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 16, 29 October 1938, Page 5

COUNTRY DRIVING

AVOIDING DAMAGE TO CAR. HINTS FOR NEW MOTORISTS. The warmer weather approaching is certain to be accompanied by an increase in country touring. Many of the motorists who set out for distant parts are certain to be new owners, experiencing the joys of the open road for the first time, and often with new cars, which are their most prized possessions. These drivers usually do not realise that country driving and crty motoring, in their effects upon a car, are as wide apart as the poles. Generally, the differences have to be learnt from experience, because, it is extraordinarily difficult for the man who has been through the mill to explain his experiences, so that they will be remembered, to the driver to whom this kind of motoring is new. However, there are a few simple hints which can be written down, and which are worth digesting. The gravel road, though often very pleasant to drive upon, may have devastating effects on the paintwork 'and polished metal surfaces of a car. The gravel is thrown back by the front wheels in a fine stream, and will strike the large, highly polished hub caps of the back wheels, scarring them with thousands of minute pit-marks and thoroughly destroying their smooth and shiny surfaces. In this respect, some cars are worse equipped than others, the Avell rounded hubs projecting beyond the tyres, suffering more than the flatter types rather screened by the tyres. The hubs are very important to the general appearance of a car, and it is particularly desirable to protect them. Nothing could be simpler. It is only necessary to leave them at home. They are mot vital to tine safety of the car, and a little dirt within the wheel hub cavities is soon cleaned out on one’s return to the city. The front hub caps, it will he found, will remain unaffected. Gravel, however, may also be thrown by the back wheels against the rear bumper-bar and from there will bounce on to the back panel. If the space between the bar and the body is mot already filled in by a sheet metal tray, as is the case with many of this year’s models, ft> is wise to have such a distance piece fitted.

The worst damage from gravel, however, is generally caused to the broad surfaces of the front mudguards, the gravel in this case coming from the back wheels of cars in front. For this reason, the driver should pass those cars as soon as possible, or stay well behind them. Incidentally, on gravel roads, corners should be viewed with suspicion, and the car slowed, well down before they are negotiated. They may be badly corrugated, and, in any case, the surfaces are sure to he fairly loose.

Another, trouble with, country driving is the impact of thousands of insects against the front guards, the radiator core, the windscreen, and the body above the screen. If the car is painted a light colour, thesie insects will stain the paintwork, and will be a little difficult to remove. It has been found that methylated, spirits and water is an excellent medium for removing the fragments, and will take away most of the stains as well. A good body polish will do the rest. Fast driving on stony roads should be avoided. Not only will this cut tyres about., but large stones will be thrown against the undersides of the | guards, causing ugly dents.

RULE FOR TRAFFIC. KEEP TO THE LEFT. Concern with reports received from patrols regarding the extent to which traffic generally is driving on the centre of roadways, thus failing to acknowledge the most elementary and most important rule of the road, that of “keep to the left,” was expressed in a report the executive of the Automobile Association (Wellington), received from its roads committee the other night. The report showed that that tendency to drive in tine centre of the road did not apply to country roads only but to city streets as well, stated the report. So far as country roads were concerned failure to keep to the left formed a distinct danger and was known to he the cause of many accidents, while in city streets not only did the risk of accident exist,, but a large amount of available city street width was wasted, and in addition a great amount of undue congestion was caused. With traffic again increasing, the committee appealed to motorists generally to observe more strictly the first rule of the road with a view to eliminating the great danger of accidents, and also with a view to making greater use of available street widths. The committee stated' that it had hefore it a circular letter from the Main Highways Board advising that provision was to be made for placing double centre lines on portions of road considered to bie particularly dangerous. The circular stated that the Safety Council had adopted a recommendation of one of its sub-com-mittees in favour of such double lines as being in the nature of an added safeguard. It was not proposed to introduce a regulation in regard to the placing of double centre lines in the meantime, but as the lines were placed, it was desired that motorists would understand that where they had been put down it was not, permissible to overtake another vehicle.