SAFETY ON THE ROADS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22436, 24 June 1938, Page 16

SAFETY ON THE ROADS

Keeping To Left On Bends A RULE MANY DRIVERS BREAK ^ — “Many drivers have been noticed lately failing to keep as near as practicable to the left when negotiating bends or curves. The danger of' this failure is a very real one,” says the latest safety message of the Automobile Association, Canterbury. “Much of the trouble caused at bends in the roadway comes from the use of an unreasonable speed when approaching bends, the car drifting out to the middle of the road and often straddling the centre line, if one is marked. The regulations require that every driver of a motor-vehicle shall at all times keep the vehicle as far as practicable to his left of any longitudinal line or lines of the roadway marked at corners bends, or turnings by local authorities for the direction of traffic. “On a bend or curve where visibility is restricted there is the ever-present danger of collision with a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction, and there have been many serious accidents caused by the failure of drivers to make allowances for speed and visibility at bends. “Actually, even if the road is marked with a centre-line, and the driver is keeping well within the area to his left of the centre-line there is a call for the greatest caution. The application of that excellent half-distance rule, that is, of travelling at a speed that will allow the driver to pull up in safety in half the distance of clear road ahead, is never more essential than when approaching bends, particularly where the crest of a rise is also involved.

“There is always the chance that some vehicle or other object or animal may be across one’s tracks round the corner, and if the speed is too great the consequences may be serious. “Always use reasonably safe speed, particularly approaching and negotiating bends; always be prepared to expect the unexpected.”

“STOP WHEN YOU ARE DAZZLED”

INSPECTORS’ ADVICE TO MOTORISTS “Although the traffic regulations do not require that lights should be dipped when two vehicles are approaching each other, it is an,.act of elementarycourtesy for drivers to do this,” say the traffic inspectors of the transport department. “Dazzle creates a black spot ahead, and it is essential that drivers should reduce speed when they are affected, or even stop, if the dazzle is intense. Ic is generally impossible to pick up objects within the range of the black spot. “Dazzling lights have frequently been offered in the Courts as an excuse for driving faults and accidents, but Magistrates have repeatedly refused to accept this plea. The motoring public should take notice of this,”

LOOKING AFTER THE SPARE ' TYRE

The problem of keeping the spare tyre of a motor-car in good condition over the long periods when it is not in use is one that has caused concern to many owners. A new spare tyre carried in an exposed position on the car- will develop small cracks on the walls ivbicli will be the starting points for serious defects when flexing takes place after the tyre is put into service. If the exposed spare cannot be provided wlth f a cover, it should be treated with a solution of one part of. glycerine mixed with four parts of water. While the enclosed rear luggage compartments of modern cars offer good storage for the spare, it is recommended that new tyres be put into service for a few hundred miles to take out the stretch. ’