SHE SAYS...

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31018, 25 March 1966, Page 11

SHE SAYS...

... to we women motorists a new car impresses by its gloss and sleek lines, certainly, but most of us look further than this. We look for comfort inside —good seats, wide-opening doors for easy exits and entrances—and for the range of features offered, such as heaters, vanity mirrors, screen washers, and so on.

But there is one particular problem that women must look for: controls that are difficult to operate. This is an aspect of car design that has improved in recent years, but there is still room for further improvement.

Take handbrakes, for Instance. This is something about which I have recently heard complaints. These concerned the T-handled types of brake, and in both cases the brakes were so hard to apply that it was almost completely beyond the strength of a woman. In one car the handle was too small to permit the use of the full hand, and a woman’s fingers simply were not strong enough for the job.

You can imagine the problem when this driver tried to park on a hill! Other Controls Other controls can also be too heavy for a woman. Ln the city one often sees a woman struggling to park a car with heavy steering, and this is the reason so many large American cars have power steering. A heavy clutch or brake can also be a major problem for the woman driver. In the case of the foot brakes something can be done: for about £2O a power brake unit can be fitted, and this should overcome the problem.

Adjusting the seat is all too often a task that result in annoyance and occasionally skinned knuckles. Where both husband and wife drive the car the seat Often has to be adjusted frequently, and surely manufacturers can evolve some system that does not require an Amazon to operate it. A system that does not require the expense and

complication of power adjustment that is. A popular ear with women drivers is one witn light, precise controls. It is fortunate that some manufacturers are at last realising this