THINGS NECESSARY FOR FAIR AVERAGE SPEED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 96, 24 April 1928, Page 18

THINGS NECESSARY FOR FAIR AVERAGE SPEED.

Quite a heated controversy,lhas 'been carried on in the' columns of "The Motor," London, on the subject of the average speed of several popular cars. Some rather extravagant claims have been made, but practical experience proved that the average was about 33 miles per hour for moderate-powered cars. A correspondent writes:—

May I put forward a few remarks on the question of average speeds of standard cars which I have not seen expressed? Extravagant claims appear, at times in your correspondence section, tout I am iiß'lined to agree that the feats described are possible in certain conditions.

(1) Time of Day.—ln the early morning there is practically no traffic to cause delay of any kind.

(2) Visibility.—Daylight is essential, and the light should be behind the car— i.e., one should be travelling towards the. west in the morning.

(3) Koad Surfuce. —Smooth and dry on the average.

(4) Route. —A "give and take road" is very vague. Hills make little difference compared to (a) bends; (b) turnings; (c) main crossroads; (d) high hedges; (e) driver's familiarity with the route.

(5) The Car. —The following, apart from maximum speed, make for high average on long runs:—(a) Good acceleration; (b) efficient intermediate gears; (c) good brakes; (d) an efficient horn; (e) light and accurate steering; (f) weight distribution and road-holding ability. (0) The Driver. —(a) Efficient sight; (b) knowledge of his car; (c) long driving experience.

With a combination of many of the above points, although not necessarily all, I am sure that some cars of low power and popular price can do the stunts claimed, but otherwise I can only believe that the claimant is either telling untruths or is a dangerous lunatic. 1 have been a riving, except for a few years during the war, since 1906, and consider 1 have claim to be called "experienced," but I discover fresh possibilities of accident frequently.

•Experience teaches a driver tp forecast practically every possibility of circumstances throughout every moment of a run, and makes him "safe" on the roads, although, possibly, he may drive faster than many others on the same stretch of road. Nothing but years of driving will provide this "safety instinct"; it cannot be taught because it covers so vast a field that I doubt whether all .lie. living and past experienced drivers combined could remember it'all to put it on paper. < Expert handling of a car is no substitute whatever, and the' large number of (mostly post-war) drivers who appear to think so are a danger to everyone, the cause of high insurance premiums, ( and a source of income to the police courts—or wherever their fines go to.

I have been fined, so far as I can remember, twice for exceeding the 20 m.p.h. limit, but £ hope never to be accused of dangerous driving.