JOURNEYS BY ROAD

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 234, 15 September 1934, Page 11

JOURNEYS BY ROAD

Saving of Time En Route

CHANGING EARLY ON HILLS

It is an exceptional occasion for most people when they leave on a journey by road at scheduled time, for it has become a habit of the age to leave

things until the last possible moment. Getting one’s passengers ready, pack ing the luggage, filling up and making sure that nothing has been forgotten, always seem to take longer than anticipated. After a belated departure too many drivers imagine that the way to make up for lost time is to drive as fast as conditions permit. This is where they make a mistake, for speed alone will not save much time on any journey, and driving near the maximum speed for a long time will unquestionably tire most people. They will slack off or stop to rest after a short burst and be overtaken by the ear going at a steady cruising speed. If you think it out it is not difficult to see why, for 60 m.p.h., compared with 45 m.p.h., over a short distance represents very few minutes saving of time; and these minutes gained are lost almost as soon as one stops.

On hills you can Save time by changing into third (four gears) at the moment when speed on top begins to fall off, and again early into second if you are obstructed by traffic ahead. If you are already in a low gear you will be able to take an opportunity of passing when it presents itself. If you wait uuntil you see the chance before changing you will waste a few seconds in getting up the necessary revs, to pass safely and quickly. In descending hills you will be able to go faster in greater safety by- keeping in third or even second than by going down cautiously in top with the brakes applied.

On corners the driver will always be at an advantage who changes into third as he slows down. This will give him quicker acceleration out of the corner and greater stability and a wider margin |f safety when actually in it. The wrong way to take a sharp bend is to approach it fast in top gear, brake heavily and then change gear. The fastest, safest cornering always gives the impression of smoothness. There should bo no jerking and lurching. For one thing it tires the passengers. There should always be a margin of safety in case the unexpected is encountered.’ On a winding road correct cornering methods will save considerable time.

Every- motorist should realise, too, that the one way in which not to save time is by taking unwonted risks; nothing will delay him more effectively than an accident, while argument and the probable showing of his licence after an ostentations piece of driving in a traffic block will nullify all his previous efforts to make up time. Undulv stressing his car, also, will make it more prone to breakdown and should be regarded in the same light as taking risks.