SOME GENERAL HINTS.

Northern Advocate, 7 December 1935, Page 7 (Supplement)

SOME GENERAL HINTS.

You are on a holiday, so take your time. Carry a small first aid outfit. ■ This does not imply that you are going to have aii accident, but it is very easy to cut or burn .hands or arms in such simple jobs as changing a plug or jacking up. This is when iodine is a good companion. Carry some soap in an easily accessible position in the car in case it is necessary to change a wheel or do any other odd jobs in the car. Put a bathing suit and towel in your car. You may not have any intention of bathing when you start, but you are almost sure to come across a nice little beach or an attractive river that will make you want a dip. A suit takes up very little room in a door pocket, and can be left there permanently. Before you leave have the back axle and gear box drained and refilled. Remember to check the pressure of the spare wheel occasionally. It can quite easily lose its pressure, and sc cause much annoyance if you happen to have a puncture. Have the brakes adjusted before starting out, and if there is any doubt as to the state of the linings have them renewed, particularly if the tour is to be in uphill country. Do not pass a petrol station with only one gallon left in the tank. Even if you get 30 m.p.g. you may not find another station for 31 miles—very nice on a hot day. Check the level of water in your radiator daily. It is quite a simple precaution, and can save you quite a lot of trouble. It is worth while to take a camera. If you take it you may not use it. but if you do not you are sure to want it so put it in the car’s pocket, and see that you have films. You will, of course, carry as little luggage as possible, but a camera is worth its space. Remember that on a holiday tour the battery is very hard at work. Give it a thought once a week, and top ;l up with distilled water, if necessary. You can get distilled water at any garage along the road. In all car traffic keep well over to the left so that faster vehicles can pass with ease. Remember your own opinions of the man who keeps to the centre of the road and will not let you pass. Quite often in summer you may not need to use the windscreen wiper for

on the alert for any unusual development. Since he' does so many of the necessary things from force of habit, he is better able to act when the unexpected happens.

On the holiday tour, over strange highways, the driver must consciously direct his mind to warning signs, crossings, curves, steep grades, etc. And it is on this kind of drive, when he needs all his attention on the road, that he is most subjected lo distraction. He has to observe the scenery, keep an eye on the youngsters, converse with his wife, see that the bagThe first rule of safe touring for the driver, therefore, is to keep constantly on the alert. The rule for the passenger is to avoid distracting the driver from his main job.

Passengers could be a positive help if they tried. They can call out or “Red ss the csr sp* proaches a traffic signal, just as the locomotive fireman calls out the signals to the engineer; they can do the watching for and reading of the road signs, follow maps, and call attention to warnings and stop signs, and in many ways relieve the driver of some of his burden.

Inexperience is a frequent source of trouble, but ignorance is no excuse. The good driver will take special precautions that may not be needed, rather than to go ahead and trust that none will be necessary. For instance, if he is starting down a grade In mountainous country, he will shift to a lower gear in advance. If he is entering a curve, he will slow down and be prepared if the road suddenly takes a sharp bend. If he parks his car on a stiff grade he will leave it in low rather than trust to his hand brake. “Take nothing for granted” is an excellent rule for the tourist driver. He should not assume that all is clear around the bend of the road or just over the crest of a hill—he should not count on what other drivers will do. The one safe assumption about drivers in fact, is that they will do the wrong thing. If you anticipate that they will, you’ll save a lot of trouble. POINTS ON COMFORT. The comfort of the driver and his passengers on a holiday tour depends partly on their utilising the special features built into their car, and partly on their own initiative. The gage remains in place, and look after a dozen things that in ordinary driving cause him no concern.