USE OF BRAKES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4956, 16 February 1937, Page 3

USE OF BRAKES.

DANGER OF VICIOUS APPLICATION.

Never be too vicious in the application of the brakes even in the direst emergency. Steady and progressive braking is far better for the occupants of the car apart from the fact that it throws less wear and tear and strain generally throughout the entire chassis and body. Study sensitive foot action for progressive retardation.

A method of braking which is to be recommended and which is far less likely to produce a locked wheel on a slippery road than a jerky and abrupt pedal action is as follows: Press the pedal comparatively gently until the shoes come into contact with the drums when the car commences to slow down. Then pile on the braking effort to any required extent. This gives very quick but also progressive retardation. Cultivate the art of looking ahead and slowing down without the use of the brakes unnecessarily; release the foot from the accelerator a little far-

ther from the corner, for example, instead of waiting for the last minute and piling on the brakes for all you are worth. Develop also the sense — which is possible—of foreseeing emergencies. This only comes with road experience, of course, but it does give the observant driver a much greater distance in which to stop than is available for the uninitiated who drive on to the last possible minute. Remember that the delicate use of the brakes, even in an emergency on a slippery road, will enable the experienced driver to pull up much more quickly than the inexperienced in the same circumstances, as the latter is almost bound to make his wheels lock. Practise the quick transfer of the right foot from the accelerator to the brake pedal. When To Declutch. In the normal way there is no need to touch the clutch pedal when braking, but in an emergency the power of modern four-wheel brakes is such as to slow the car more quickly than the car would decelerate if left to its own devices. In such circumstances the brakes also have the additional work of slowing down the engine as well, and it follows that on an occasion like this it is better to depress the clutch pedal at the same time as the brakes. When the car is brought to a standstill it should be held by the brakes even on a level road. On long steep descents do not rely entirely upon the brakes, but utilise the braking effect of the engine. This relieves the exertion of effort on the part of the driver and minimises the heat generated by the brake drums. As the heat thus created increases, the braking efficiency tends to drop off.