TOP-GEAR FETISH DANGEROUS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 4771, 12 November 1935, Page 6

TOP-GEAR FETISH DANGEROUS.

WHAT IS HAPPENING ON HILL ROADS. In spite of all the wonderful improvements to the modern gear box with synchro-mesh, pre-selection and other mechanism, affording easy and silent changes, it seems to be considered bad form among many drivers to change down anywhere. Any day in the week on the hilly roads in the King Country one may meet motorist after motorist ascending easy or steepish grades round corners at top gear speeds, which take them out on to or over the centre of the road. It is entirely beyond the scope of the intelligence of many of these drivers to use second gear with its enhanced control. They must do everything in top gear, and to do that they have to give their cars the works, so to speak. If they happen to train in behind a car making safe and good progress at 25 or 30 miles an hour upwards round bends, they vent their impatience in the usual boisterous way. Surely motorists worthy the name ought to realise that the speeds they use on the level, open highways are not safely applicable to narrow hill roads where local bodies, roading authorities and automobile associations have seen fit to give warning of danger by board and stencil. Obviously many of these drivers are very familiar with the road characteristics, as their actions reveal a courageous contempt for what might be round the corner. These top-gear-at-any-price motorists out-drive their vision and" know nothing of safety margins.