MOTORING NOTES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3830, 6 November 1936, Page 12

MOTORING NOTES

DRIVING A CAR. NEED FOR FORESIGHT. A great deal can be learnt by the motorist if he uses a little foresight or imagination. By watching the actions of pedestrians or knowing tram stops he can avoid any amount of trouble and risk. A great number of accidents are caused by motorists having to act at the shortest notice or when they find themselves in a position when it is too late to do anything (states a writer in the Christchurch Star-Sun). A little observation of the traffic and a little foresight are all that is required to avoid many accidents or to prevent unnecessary braking. When approaching an intersection, for instance, an eye to the movements of pedestrians will give an indication of approaching traffic. If they are crossing the intersection it will be obvious that no other vehicle is approaching, but if they stop on the corner, then the motorist can expect to meet another car and so slow down in anticipation. Traffic lights, officers, signals and level crossings also give scope for the exercising of a little imagination. It is not a bad idea to know the length of time each light is showing and thus be able to judge when the green light will appear. If, for example, you approach when the red light is showing, you can judge how long it will be before the green light shows again. By this method you can either slow down or accelerate in anticipation. A Source of Danger. The passing of trams lends itself excellently to a little judgment. If a motorist knows where the stops are, he can judge whether to pass the tram or wait behind. A lot of danger is caused by drivers rushing past a tram just as it is drawing to a stop and thereby endangering the lives of tram passengers who either step into the road in anticipation, or jump off before the tram actually stops. Another serious fault is caused by the motorist accelerating past the tram just as it moves off. If the stop is at an intersection there might be another foolhardy motorist trying to beat the tram to the intersection. Result —collision. Trams always deserve the greatest consideration, as they have powerful brakes and are constructed to withstand the onslaught of any motorist. Country driving also gives much scope for imagination. Cornering is a thing that needs study. An open clear bend need not cause any slackening in speed if negotiated correctly. To wrench the car round suddenly is terrible driving, but by adopting a correct course, theie will be no difficulty whatever. B When a corner is entered too fast, many drivers lose control because the car tends to leave the road, but by swinging the car into a skid towards the outside edge of the road and then by pulling the car out of the skid by swinging the wheels in the opposite direction and accelerating at the same time, the vehicle will continue in the correct direction.