Auto Gossip

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31196, 21 October 1966, Page 9

Auto Gossip

More Education? ’ Although lanes have now been in use on some city roads for a long time, it is I still very common to see bad lane-driving behaviour, particularly in Bealey avenue. jThe other day I saw a truck try to turn right from the i straight-through lane without i checking his mirror: a car in the right-turn lane ended up with its bonnet under the truck’s tray. Strangely, the .drivers who should know best —the taxi drivers—are among the worst offenders, and often turn right from the centre lane, sometimes without signalling. and turn left from the [ straight-through lanes. All this suggests that far more driver education is needed, and of traffic officers stopped more of those who misused the lanes and pointed out their errors no doubt the general level of behaviour would improve. A laned highway can be far safer than an unlaned road, but only if drivers use the lanes correctly. Giving Way One disadvantage of laned roads that many drivers do not seem to recognise is that at uncontrolled intersections those on the laned highway need to look very carefully to their right, for their view is often blocked by vehicles tra-

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veiling beside them In another lane. The danger of this is obvious to those who cross Bealey avenue frequently. Often the car in the : nearest straight-through lane will see the car coming on | his right and give way, but the vehicle in the inner I straight-through lane will just I keep going. Similarly some drivers appear to take their I cue from the car in the adjacent lane rather than looking I for themselves: if the other keeps en going, they do too. Chrome Care Rusty and shabby chrome always makes a car look tatty, so careful attention to the bright work is essential for those who wish to keep their jcar looking smart. During i winter cars often get less cleaning than in the summer: ‘hosing and brushing is not much fun on a cold winter’s day. Consequently the first signs of rust are often missed, and about this time of the year owners suddenly notice the first few brown stains. Cleaning is the first essential, and often the stains can be

cleaned away before rust really sets in. But it is vital that no abrasive cleaners are used: a proper chrome cleaner, some non-abrasive car polishes, or a half-and-half mixture of kerosene and clean engine oil are the things to use. After it has been cleaned, the bright work can be protected either with a good application of wax polish or even by spraying with clear plastic, which is available in ! aerosols. Sometimes this plastic, however, tends to flake off after a time and look untidy. If the corrosion has gone too far the only thing] to do is either to paint the part, or adopt the expensive alternative of having it re-1 chromed. It is much cheaper; to take care of it right from the start. Quote of the Week “Nor is there any marked improvement in road courtesy, for signalling is just as haphazard, and motorists still fail to keep as far as possible to the left. The lounging driver andjthe elbow-out-one-hand-on-the-wheel exponents are just as numerous, and bravado, cussedness, bad temper and bad manners are not one whit the less part of the general pattern of motoring behaviour.”—From an editorial in the “New Zealand Motor World” on the standard of New Zealand driving. A NEW TYPE of tyre, said to combine the best features ; of radial-ply and cross-ply tyres, has been developed in i the United States. The casing i cords are made of a new ■ fibreglass material. ;