DRIVERS' RESISTANCE.

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 2, 2 July 1926, Page 12

DRIVERS' RESISTANCE.

Subconscious driving is a state that permits the conscious mind, free of restraint, to wander. It encourages to conversation, to regarding distant views, the scenery, even the condition of the sky. ■ These pleasures of motoring are all very well for a driver passing slowly along an open, straight road devoid of traffic, but subconscious driving is apt, when once started, to continue into dangerous places, and out of peace comes a sudden smash, for the subconscious mind cannot tackle an emergency, and there ia fatal delay before the conscious mind can obtain control. It should be the aim of every experienced driver to fight against the tendency to handle his car automatically. He should keep his mind constantly busy with what he is at, and by conscious concentration seek to maintain absolute accuracy of driving.

People do not realise how general is this matter of. unconsciousness in driving, yet the next time any experienced motorist starts on any familiar route, one covered every day for preference, fct him set out with the object of performing every manoeuvre perfectly. He will soon be surprised at the number of familiar curves He may find himself taking with tho off wheels over an imaginary safety line. He will have to exercise more than usual care to make su/e that the car is leaving a full half of the road clear at any point when rounding a blind corner. On the straight bits he will realiae now and again that he is nearer to the right side of the fairway than to the left. He will detect himself passing turnings faster than will permit him to make an emergency stop; and, lastly, ho may observe that his handling of the mechanical controls of the car is not always above reproach.

Most of us will find that to go through such a self-imposed test reveals more lack of perfect skill than possession of it. Drive always with full consciousness and with all faculties on the alert, with full mastery of self and car, and no danger to car, self, or others will arise.

A driver found his way blocked by two bulls, and although lie sounded both horns, bulb, and electric, the animals took no notice. As they were also equipped with horns, but of a rather menacing type, the motorist was literally on the horn of a dilemma.

American, engineers continue to take very great interest in the high-speed oil-injection type of engine, and the opinion seems to bo general that this principle will make considerable progress during the; next few years. In addition to its other advantages it has recently been pointed out that this kind of engine can bo made entirely to solve tho problem of eliminating poisonous carbon-monoxide from the exhaust, because tho injected oil can be burnt completely with an excess of air.

Ordinary grease-cup lubrication has the disadvantage that in cold weather and when using stiff grease, considerable force is required to screw down the cup, thus forcing the grease where required. Using plierß to turn the cup generally damages it. By taking a piece of fairly strong string about 3ft long and giving it three turns round the cup, a slight pull on the string will quickly force in the grease by screwing it down. By reversing the motion the empty cup comes off easily for refilling. By this means it is possible to force the grease right through the bearings.

Various screws forming part of the construction of a car will occasionally work slack owing to vibration, the threads becoming worn, so that they no longer grip so well as previously. In many cases it is cheaper to tighten up those screws than to roplaco them. This can be effected by drilling the screws from tho small end, and reaming them out with a slight degree of taper. They should then be slit down with a saw, and expanded by driving a small taper pin into the hole.

The automobile has contributed much to the human race. It has revolutionised transportation and made isolation in civilised countries impossible; it lias introduced now manufacturing methods that have been adopted by other industries, thereby lowering the cost of living, and it has added' to the pleasure of millions of families. Now it is highly probable that it will develop merchandising methods which may be copied by other lines of buisnesa as a means of lowering the cost of distributing the world's necessities.