MODERN MOTORING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 110, 11 May 1926, Page 13

MODERN MOTORING.

TALK AND ACTION. Tn the North Island (remarks a southern scribe' when roads are renuired. tho people pet them; in the Smith Island they agitate, throw loan Llis overboard, and "request the Government. That is wliv we in the South Island are "down under." backward, and so on, and that i= why "Spotlight'" in the -Dominion" i- aide to draw a striking comparison, a- follows:— In the South Island, Waimairi County, on the outskirts of Christchurch. recently took a small poll on a proposal to lav bitumen surfaces on its main roads. Out of about 5000 ratepayers on the county roll, only 1248 felt sufficiently interested to record their votes. Of tlu-e 1245. G.">o voted for the proposal, and r»!»:l against. The necessary two-thirds majority not being obtained, the project therefore lapsed, and Waimairi goes without its proposed good roads. Contrast the attitude of Auckland; The improvement of the Great South Road out of Auckland has been talked of for some time past. The Main Highways Board was prepared to give £1 for £ i 'subsidy on a hot-mix road, estimated to cost £7f>im. Tln> local bodies, however. y_jt.lv prefer concrete, and have obtained a quotation of £8000 a mile for a concrete road. Manukau County and Papatoetoe Town Board last week submitted loan proposals for such a road, the local bodies bearing the extra cost above hot-mix. their share being £4500 out of the £S00» a mile. In the county, with (iIS ratepayers on the riding poll. ">4.K voted for the proposal ami IT against it. At Papatoetoe. of .">l4 ratepayers, 437 voted for the concrete road, and 29 againsr it. The South Island is in need of a demonstration of tlie fact that good reads do really pay.

Employer: 'i suppose you have your references?" Chauffeur: "I can't pet them Tor a week or two, sir."' Employer: "How's that?" Chauffeur: "Because my previous employer is still in hospital arter our last accident, sir."'

CONSCIOUS DRIVING. Statistics collected recently in America are reported to have shown that considerably the larger proportion of motoring accidents occur to drivers of two or more years' experience and not to novices." Such a conclusion would be unexpected by most motorists. Perhaps the following theory regarding driving will afford an explanation of this particular matter (says an English paper). This is that the physical movements of a practised driver when controlling the car are liable to be exercised unconsciously, and that when this condition occurs the conscious mind is left free to occupy itself with extraneous subjects, just as it does in those moments which precede sinking into sleep in bed. A state of mental apathy dulls the senses, and its intensity will vary with conditions incidental to driving and conducive to hypnosis, such as fixity of gaze, monotonous sound, and relaxation of the body in a comfortable seat. In the case of people highly trained in forms of sport, there can be no doubt that action is largely subconscious, but when the specialist reaches a condition wherein his physical movement* are automatically precise and adequate, bis brain is freeand alert to plan, organise, and marshal his skill in advance, and he becomes a scratch man at his game. Just so the experienced motor driver reaches a condition where the skill of his hands in manipulating is exercised subconsciously, but it is at this particular point that so many stop. Subconscious driving is a state that permits the conscious mind, free of restraint, to wander. It encourages to conversation, to regarding distant views, the scenery, even the condition of the sky. These pleasures of motoring are all very well for a driver passing slowly along an open, straight road devoid of traffic. But subconscious driving is apt, when once started, to continue into dangerous places, and out of peace comes a sudden smash, for the subconscious mind cannot tackle an emergency, and there is fatal delay before the conscious mind can obtain control. It should be the aim of every experienced driver to fight against the tendency to handle his car automatically. He should keep his mind constantly busy with what he is at, and by conscious concentration seek to maintain absolute accuracy of driving. People do not realise how general is this matter of unconsciousness in driving. Yet the next time any experienced motorist starts on any familiar route, one covered every day for preference, let him set out with the object of performing e\erv manoeuvre perfectly. He will soon be surprised at the number of familiar curves he may find himself taking with tbe off wheel* over an j imaginary white safety line. He will have to exercise more than usual care to make sure that the car is leaving a full half of the road clear at any point when rounding a blind corner. On the straight bits he will realise now and again that he is nearer to the right side of the fairway than to the left. He will detect himself passing turnings faster than will permit him to make an emergency stop. And, lastly, he may observe that his handling of the mechanical controls of the car is not always above reproach. Most of us will find that to go through 6uch a self-imposed test reveals more lack of perfect skill than possession of it. Drive always with full consciousness and with all faculties on the alert, with full mastery of self and car, and no danger to car, self, nor others will arise. ACROSS AUSTRALIA. S. Westwood, a 64-year-old rider of a 2")0 c.c. 8.5.A.. recently accomplished a successful 0120 miles' crossing of Australia. Several times he had to resort to the compass to guide >him along the unmade roads. He next intends to make a tour round the continent.