OMNIBUS DRIVING

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 22 January 1927, Page 11

OMNIBUS DRIVING

TR AINING LONDON’S MOTOR MEN

rpo drive a bus through London’s crowded streets requires nerves of steel, eyes as keen as those of a hawk, and a temperament that remains cool, steady, and unflustered in all circumstances (states an English writer). That these qualities are possessed by the “ General ” drivers is’shown by tiie fact that last year they received some £33,000 in bonus money from the company in recognition of their freedom from blameworthy accidents. At Chiswick the “General” Company has a school for men who aspire to lie drivers, and the lessons are stiff ones. Thorough, too; and they must be mastered, otherwise the severe tests made by the police afterwards would floor the aspirants. Let r.s suppose that you want to drive a bus. If you have some knowledge of motor driving, arc between 2<i and 35 of absolute physical fitness, and otherwise suitable, you enter on a 'course of instruction. You will be put on a bus on the instruction ground, and required to demonstrate what driving skill you may possess, so that the chief instructor may estimate your capabilities. If that doesn’t sound very alarming, you will form a different opinion when you know that the ground is a concrete-covered square, with a slope of about 1 in 30, and that the surface is kept dressed with a thick deposit of oil and grease, sprayed frequently with water. Pictured, it is bad enough; to get on it with a ’bus

is terrible. But novices have to train under conditions infinitely more exacting than any they are likely to meet on the streets. Your capabilities duly gauged, a member of the training staff will take you in hand. You will be taught ,how to handle every type of “General” bus —four at present—and initiated into the art. of negotiating sharp corners. steering round obstacles, reversing, and pulling up sharply. The “test hill” may not find you wanting, but the non-skidding test on the greasiest part of the instruction ground may try you. You will have lo take your ’bus, ballasted with bags of. sand, _ through a line of posts. You will tjrive at a rapid, pace round tjie edge of the Snound, bring your' ’bus on to the ’slope, put out the hand brake, the. foot brake, and the clutch, and then, releasing the hand brake, and putting"the clutch in, straighten the fore-earriago and go ahead for the narrow pathway between the posts. If you get through first time you will be one of the few who have 'done so! But your .“skidtraining” is not. complete until you can take the hazards with ease. After a final and exacting test iby the chief instructor. Scotland Yard is after you with more tests. Yon pass . those, get vour license, and are a driver • —able to take your ’bus anywhere, and qualify for part of that £33,000!