Auto Gossip

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30900, 5 November 1965, Page 15

Auto Gossip

by

A.J.P.

mentally practice emergency drills. For instance: “If the windscreen crazes, 1 will punch a hole with my left hand HERE,” or “In an accident I will turn off the ignition at the switch HERE.” These drills can make remedial action in an emergency automatic, and save valuable seconds. Carelessness Most of our road accidents are caused by carelessness and lack of attention to driving including such faults as failure to give way (“I just didn't see him”) and failure to look in the rear-vision mirror before manoeuvreing. One' can see this sort of thing—<a hoplessly casual attitude to driving—on the road every day. For instance, take the gutter-grippers, middle-of-the-roaders, and those who pull out of side roads and parking places without looking. Are our penalties for this sort of thing sufficiently severe? Hoardings Hope springs eternal. I recently noticed work on the two large and ugly hoardings facing the Main North road at Chaneys Corner, and though they were about to be removed. Alas, they were only being renovated. All power to the authorities who are trying to have all roadside hoardings banned. They are a distraction to drivers and certainly add nothing to the scenery. Parts Machines Motorists will soon be able to obtain spare parts from coin-in-the-slot machines, the Ford Motor Company has announced in London, the Press Association reports. The plan will operate in Britain next year. The machines will dispense spark plugs, fan belts, lamp bulbs, fuses, contact points and other items. Ford said it later hoped to have machines selling such items as polish, and antifreeze.