SKIDDING AND SKIDS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXX, Issue 20165, 20 July 1935, Page 10

SKIDDING AND SKIDS

THE ROADS IN WINTER Owing to many causes skidding dangers are more threatening in the winter months than during most of the year. Instead of regarding skidding as a tendency on the part of the car which he is powerless to avoid, however, the motorist should regard it as a problem in driving that he has to overcome. Skids can be corrected, many of them quite easily, but much better is it to avoid skids, and this can generally be done if one’s knowledge of road surfaces and the car is good enough and the sense of anticipation keen. A skid should never be incurred voluntarily in ordinary driving unless some emergency demands it. Accidents have often been prevented by drivers who know how to make a carskid, and how to control the skid when it is set up. It is well to bear in mind, however, that it is much easier to create a skid than correct one.

Common causes of skidding are water, mud, slime, ice, or snow on the road surface. Loose gravel is a frequent cause, and patches of oil often throw the car into quite violent skids. A driver should be alert to oil; it is always in evidence on roads where traffic is heavy and lorries and buses form a large part of it. Oil is very dangerous on paved surfaces.

A prolific cause of skidding on the part of the rear wheels is taking corners too fast, the weight of the car owing to its momentum, tending to go straight on. The front wheels travel in the direction to which they are steered, giving the rear of the car opportunity to slew round to the front. The danger is greater where there is no banking, or where the road camber is falling away. Another prolific cause of these skids is braking a car on which a larger proportion of the braking power is applied to the rear wheels. For reasons unnecessary to enter into here most cars are so arranged for ordinary road use. Some drivers aim at having all wheels equally braked and a few have a larger proportion of the braking power on the front wheels. So arranged, cars have less tendency to rear-wheel skid when the brakes are applied, but they have increased tendency to lose adhesion in front, and, unfortunately, front-wheel skids are exceedingly dangerous. This is because steering is lost and correction made very difficult and sometimes even impossible in time to avert accident. Novice drivers should take note that it is not for nothing that manufacturers send out their cars with the braking arranged to the advantage of the rear wheels, and the so-called "emergency” brake fitted to act on the rear wheels only.

Exxcept in such emergency, keep the feet off the brakes. Rear-wheel skidding application. Also, take the foot from the accelerator pedal; the car must not be driven. Rely on steering, allowing the wheels freedom to pick up a rolling motion. A driven wheel will not easily pick up trAction in a skid; worse still, if it did the car might Plunge forward in the direction to which it is being steered, a danger as great, or greater, than the original disease. The car might plunge forward straight off the road, or, if the skid is in the other direction, head into opposing traffic or even dash right across to disaster on the other side.

To correct front-wheel and ourwheel skidding it is necessary to pick up the steering. Everything; here, depends on the circumstances. The safest course for the novice is again to avoid braking and acceleration, but the practised hand may use some of both or either. The main thing to accomplish is adhesion of the front wheels with the surface—rolling motion.

This is obtained by "waggling” the steering, giving the front wheels a chance to pick up roll in some kind of forward direction. An application of the brakes, provided they act first on the rear wheels, may help; otherwise a touch on the accelerator pedal. In some cases a quick pull on the handbrake may be effective. There is very little time in which to act, and no theorising will help much without a great deal of practice. Rear-wheel skidding may be practised on the open road, if one has it to oneself, but drivers would be wise not to attempt front-wheel skids unless special provision has been made for practice. Some day motorists will have driving schools and places to experiment in and learn with safety.

There is really no safety, as regards either front-wheel or four-wheel skids, other than anticipation and avoidance. Approach danger spots warily; do not brake and do not drive. “Waggle" the steering very lightly; the wheel will communicate through the hands just what is taking place, and just how much control is threatened or lost. There is virtue in the “waggle.” Violent movement must be avoided, only a light touch being required. Beware of driving with a heavy hand. Slow down for corners and do not attempt to pass in bad places or where there is not plenty of room, keep well clear of other vehicles. Never brake vio-. lently or suddenly, or when rounding a bed. As far as possible avoid tram rails, and be always alert to the condition of the road surface. Steer gently. All these things and others like them play a big part in safe motoring.