Auto Gossip

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31326, 23 March 1967, Page 13

Auto Gossip

by

A.J.P.

Those Signals Too many Christchurch drivers do not signal at all: they just turn or stop without any indication. But others seem to think that merely giving a signal automatically clears their way, and that by giving It they have discharged all their obligations. All too often such drivers signal only split seconds before they alter course, and never look for other traffic. Many need to show much more care when pulling out of parking places, too. In the last few days I have seen several near-misses caused by drivers pulling out from the kerb without either signalling or looking. Cars In Books Have you ever noticed how some popular authors like to mention cars in their books, but seem to know very little about them? Recently I read one of the current crop of spy stories, in which the hero drove his vintage Bentley furiously to the docks, where its “. .. disc brakes gentled it to a stop." The author should have found out that Bentleys did not have disc brakes until a year or so ago. It is like the story of the Mini driver who had to stop when his car broke a leaf spring. No Warning A colleague comments on the number of trucks which appear to give no stopping and turning signals because their tail-lights are plastered with mud. Often such vehicles are very hard to see at night when one is approaching from behind because the reflectors and side-lights are completely caked with dirt. This sort of thing can be a problem in cars too: always clean your

lights after long drives In i very muddy conditions. It Is surprising just how much a ! thin film of mud can reduce the power of headlights: some j rally cars overseas even have, extra windscreen washers, i with the jets directed at the headlights, in an attempt to : overcome this problem. Tail Markings I think the suggestion that, all heavy trucks should have' black and white diagonal markings on the rear edge of the tray is a very good one.' These markings show up very well both by day and night, as any driver who has followed a Ministry of Works vehicle marked in this way will agree. Good Example Lane driving in Christchurch is slowly improving, but it is surprising the number of professional drivers—those driving trucks, vans and taxis—who know the rules but do not observe them, just because traffic is light and they think it does not matter. But many private motorists take some lead from these drivers, who after all are expected to know the rules, and for this reason alone it is desirable that the professionals should set a good example. At present It is very common to see trucks or taxis straddling the lines on laned roads, as well as making turns from the incorrect lanes. Quote of the Week “It is important to try to cultivate an attitude of relaxed concentration, so that the driver can react smoothly and gently to any difficulty. If the driver is sitting at the wheel rigid with fear waiting for the dreaded skid, his responses are likely to be so violent as to create an emergency situation.”—Comment on driving in slippery conditions, by John Langley in the “Daily Telegraph.”