SAFETY FIRST.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 232, 1 October 1929, Page 19

SAFETY FIRST.

THE ART OF DRIVING.

NEEDFUL CONTINGENCIES.

WHEKE TO KEEP A LOOK-OUT.

Many drivers round Auckland city and suburban streets fail to appreciate their all-important duty in relation to "'safety first." In this article it is proposed to deal with a few points in actual driving - which are too often- overlooked and are not fully- appreciated. During the past year manufacturers have paid special attention to what' may I>e called safety equipment, and this is well evidenced in the majority of 192& models. Increased flexibility by multiplication of cylinders, by increased p6wer, or - by; lowering gearing, or a combination ;of these, not only makes for less! congestion in traffic, but often allows a driver to escape out of a tight place. Steering actions have been made lighter, yet without sacrifice of steadiness; and with easier and more responsive movements a car can be guided with greater accuracy and safety. There is still much room for improvement in. the principles of chassis suspension, and it is believed that the solution will be found eventually in independent springkj of each road wheel. Nevertheless, normal suspensions have been improved, and the addition of shock-absorbers, front and back, on the great majority of new models as standard fittings shows an advance. The importance of efficiency of suspension cannot be emphasised too strongly, because it depends to a large extent on the effectiveness both of the steering and the braking of the car, apart from such considerations as petrol economy and depreciation, of the mechanism. Anti-dazzle. The general demand for a greater measure of safety in car construction and control is exemplified by the provision in so many cases on modern cars, of power assistance, for the four-wheel brake application. This is undoubtedly sound, because it enables powerful braking with,a minimum of physical exertion, and in aji emergency this may well prove of importance. A further point is that actual brake efficiency should not be sacrificed because of the power assistance. Control levers have been made more accessible, and it: is the exception rather than the rule to find a hand brake lever which is awkward to get at; while such parts as the electric, horn button, and often the dimming light controls are usually now placed where they can be reached with the least delay. The practice of fitting over the rear window a blind which can "be controlled from tJ*» driver's seat is on grounds of

safety, a sound minor point, because the blind can be used to exclude reflection on the windscreen from lamps of vehicles approaching or following behind. The headlight anti-dazzle problem will remain to be solved, and , until we get some form of standardised lighting—and ifc is made compulsory —it is unlikely that the difficulty will be entirely overcome. Signalling Devices. Much the same may be said as to signalling from a car. There are one or two signalling devices which may be considered effective by day and by night not only for indicating to the rear an intention of slowing up or stopping, but also for signalling to the front and rear a change of direction. The former, of course, is of special assistance for purposes of filtration at points where a traffic officer is on duty. It cannot be said, however, that' we have arrived at the ideal, because these devices are not always entirely automatic, and they cannot be called inexpensive;

and since there is no form of standardisation, the maximum value in safety cannot be said to be attained. "Safety" or unsplinterable glass has been slow to reach wide adoption, but, as was foretold some year? ago, it is fast becoming a standard iifcting. This remark applies also to bumpers or fenders. The one-piece windscreen since it offers less distraction to the eye, and gives clearer vision, is. to be recommended. The shading of lights such as those, illuminating the instruments on the dashboard and roof lights is sound in principle and practice, because it helps to protect the eye of the driver from undue dazzle or light. The efficiency of the brakes of the car depends to a large measure upon the degree of handiness of adjustment. On one or two makes of car both sets of

brakes can be regulated by the driver from his seat while the car is in motion. This scheme is ideal, not only in its accessibility, but also because any alteration can be- immediately tested under practical conditions. With the coming of free-wheeling on cars, this matter of brake governance assumes an even more important aspect. The art of driving lies mainly in the use of the imagination. Where this faculty is developed and brought into habitual play so that its exercise is almost unconscious, "safety first" will always be observed. For example, no driver with any mental vision will overtake another vehicle on a comer unless he can see clearly that the way is free, not only up to the turn or bend, but beyond it'. This is only possible where the road is open. The careless or unimaginative driver, depending only on physical vision, will pass, or attempt to pass, on a corner. The good driver — and to be good he must have an appreciation of the feelings and conveniences of others —will never indulge in this practice, for which the severest penalties, including suspension of license, should be inflicted. He will foresee the possibility of a car approaching on the other side of a corner, of the way being partly blocked by other forms of traffic, or by a flock of sheep or a herd of cattle, or ox the other man doing the wrong thing. Stopping on a corner, where it can be avoided is equally inipuitous.

Courtesy. Cutting-in, which infers that some other person is inconvenienced, is to-day all too common a fault. It is often done from lack of appreciation of a car's powers and tfie "relative speeds of other vehicles. The" first point to be remembered is that no driver is justified in overtaking a vehicle while another is approaching from an opposite direction, if by so doing he causes the approaching driver to have recourse to his brakes. The second is that if a driver is not sure that he can slip through comfortably, it is for him, by all the rules of courtesy and etiquette of the road, to say to. himself, "Safety first," and to hang back temporarily. The few seconds are far from being wasted, because they have added their quota to goodwill and safety on the road.

Caution is one of the biggest factors of importance, and especially in the circumstances of to-day. Here again it is merely a matter of imagination. Many an accident could be saved by the proper use of the horn. Some drivers do not sound often enough, other drivers may sound too often. It is the happy medium which is the most , desirable, but above all warning should be given in time. A note just on a corner or cross* road is of Zittle value, but a warning given before the corner or crossroad is reached may save an accident. Many instances where imagination and road sense make the difference on the road between safety and danger to life and limb might be given. The position may be summed up by saying that for the greater safety on the road it is essential that a driver should think in advance and act in time.