WHAT TO DO IF BRAKES FAIL

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6811, 15 January 1929, Page 4

WHAT TO DO IF BRAKES FAIL

If your brakes fail when you arc on a quite straight hill and tbo road is clear, not much harm will conic if you allow the car to coast to rest —that is, if you are going down in the forward direction. Should there be a side turning, however, or preferably a fork which can be taken at reasonable speed and the road continues level or goes uphill, the best thing you can do then is to direct the course of the car into this road.

On a winding road with high banks, however, should you find the car has got out of control, it is advisable to turn the steering wheel sharply on the full lock and charge the far side bank bead on or tail on, according to the way in which the car commences to run. This will lessen considerably the chances of turning over.

When the speed is not very great you will possibly be able to reduce it by driving close to the bank or hedge, considerable friction being developed by contact with the wings or wheels. Needless to say, recourse to these expedients should only be made if the obvious procedure of engaging low gear has not been carried out owing to the driver failing to act quickly enough. A change down to “second” is possible at speeds up to thirty or forty idles per hour, and produces a great retarding effect.