MOTOR NOTES

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 33, 2 November 1934, Page 15

MOTOR NOTES

Avoid Accidents PROPER HAND SIGNALS (By “Spare Wheel.”) If every driver of a motor veliicle would give a little more thought and attention to applying iiaiid signals properly the roads would surely be safer for tho drivers of other motor vehicles, There can be no question as to the advisability of using hand signals’ to inform the driver of the ear behind as to one’s intentions, but, as is the case with most good rules and regulations, the trouble comes in getting the average person to apply them in a proper maimer. The hand signals of some motorists are undoubtedly various and original. Many of those made by men are interesting in theiroddity, and some women drivers just hang a hand limply out of the catwindow. As these gestures give no indication of what a driver is going to do, one should slow down and wait to see what the car ahead actually docs. A driver is often observed holding his or her hand out to indicate a right-hand turn when there is no other car in sight either ahead or at the rear. This means generally but one thing—that the driver has not bothered to glance into his rear vision mirror to ascertain if there are qars coming behind. It is not altogether wise to have blind faith in one’s own hand signals and take it for granted that they will be respected by the driver behind. If you /signal for a right-hand turn he may think he can pass you before yon have time to make it, or he may think you are merely pointing out the sights to a fellow passenger. Or he may be looking at the sights himself and not see youT signal at all. Hand ■ signals should be used- with judgment rather than in place of it. Give your signal properly, look in your bear-view mirror to make sure that it is being respected, and then turn, slow down, or stop, according to your announced, intention. ' ■*.- DIRTY WINDSCREENS Besides giving the driver what he ought always to have, a clear vision of what lies ahead, the keeping of the windscreen clean and polished will go a long way to solve the dazzle problem for many of tho>se who suffer from if. There is no real excuse at any time' for a dirty clouded screen.

The windscreen wiper, even when two are provided, is, after all, only a makeshift. It is better than nothing, but'it docs not provide all the vision that a

driver* needs. The worse the eondi-’ tlons, the more becomes the necessity of having t;he screen ,as clear as it is possible to have it. • Many motorists in Britain have recurred lately to the old method of having the-screen built in two sections, and some have gone so far as to state that they have bought ‘second-hand cars in preference to new ones for the simple reason that these old cars have divided screens. The one-piece screen cannot be opened right out,, or, if it can, the opening is such that the driver gets the full benefit of the blast and is no better off. With the divided screen an opening can bo arranged to provide quite reasonable vision without undue discomfort. It is better to be a little uncomfortable rather than cost someone ills life. With regard to dazzle, any deposit on tlje screen 'reflects' liglst.. When theroads are dry it may not seem necessary to clean the screen, but fine dust accumulates on it, and at night these particles reflect light. Such a screen is also dangerous in the .daytime, as it renders driving in the sun very difficult. Jn rainy weather mud and water are thrown up on the screen, and the wiper works it. into a smudge. When it dries, the screen will be seen to be exceedingly dirty. A good clenn-np from time to time is esesutial to proper vision. GERMAN SPEED CAR A German, Ernst Henne, holds the world’s motor-cycle record, and reports from Berlin indicate that a high-speed car which may go out after the worlds land speed record held h.v Captain Blr

Malcolm Campbell has been developed. The German car is said to look half like a fish and half like a torpedo. It is powered with a IG-cylinder engine, which is mounted in the chassis behind the driver, so that its weight is virtually. centrally exposed. The chassis has an unusually .short wheelbase. The roar of its exhaust is described as shattering and high speeds are attributed to it. • CORNERING AT SPEED The Automobile Association (Wellington) warns drivers, of every type of motor vehicle of the danger and folly of cornering at si>eed. Several instances have been brought to notice recently of narrow escapes' from accident owing to drivers going over to the wrong side of the road When taking a corner tit a speed In excess of . that which is recognised as safe. There is only one really safe way to take a corner and that is to slow down to such a speed as will enable the driver to take the corner and still keep well over to his own side of the road.