MOTORING NOTES

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 368, 9 March 1932, Page 4

MOTORING NOTES

. BY MAGNETO. ■ - -=

Leaving- Cars on Corners. “ There is a marked carelessness just now in the way motorists leave their cars near corners,” says the Canterbury Automobile Association in its latest Safety First Message. ” Motorists who lfeave their cars close to a corner,” says the association, 44 are contributing materially to the traffic dangers. The by-laws prohibit the leaving of motor-vehicles within twenty feet of corners, and the twenty feet line is marked down at many places. There is no excuse for a breach of this by-law. It is necessary to impress the fact on motorists that when they leave cars right up to the corner they are masking the view of road users. It is obvious, too, that when a car is left close to a corner and there is a vehicle parked ahead, the car near the corner must be reversed right round on to the corner before it can be driven away. The danger of starting away from the head of a line of cars when too close to a corner is obvious to anyone. It is the duty of all motorists to make sure that they park or leave vehicles not less than twenty feet from a corner.” Simple Soles to Observe. Because of the increase in the number of automobile accidents each year, more attention is being focusted on the rules of the road than ever before in the history of motoring. Here are some of the rules which have the approval of automotive experts. Always come to a full stop before making a turn at a 44 road end ” intersection. Do not follow othter vehicles too closely. Avoid 44 slip hack ” when starting on grades, especially when stopped by traffic. Refrain from pulling into open traffic lanes when stopped by a halted vehicle until sure the road is clear. Never weave in and out to gain ground when in a traffic lane. Always signal when you are about to turn out of a main highway. Be sure you havto room to pass another vehicle when entering a section of road under construction which another car is traversing. Careless Motoring. Although more safety factors are added to automobiles each year by the manufacturers, they are pointing out that these are no guarantee against the

neglect by car owners which often results In grief. Among the causes of misfortune emphasised are operating motors in closed garages; failure to check batteries at least once a month and tyres every two months, and omitting to grease cars every thousand miles run. Many radiators have been ruined when cold water was poured into them while they were excessively hot, and oiling systems become clogged because the filter cartridge has not been renewed each 10,000 miles. Draining and thoroughly flushing the entire cooling system twice a year will add life to the motor, and an inspecion of the ignition system in the autumn and spring will reveal any wear which may lead to trouble. Most' defects which develop In automobiles are the result of lack of proper care, the makers say, rather than any inferiority in materials, since these are all rigidly inspected before they are put into thte vehicles. « « News and Views. At the western entrance to Cathedral Square there is a large three-cornered sign warning motorists to keep to the left when rounding the post on which it is erected. This rule is being laxly observed. It is understood that the traffic authorities are preparing to take steps to prevent motorists from ignoring tho notice. •*# S’* * The practice of tram-cars passing over the Cashel Street crossing after the yellow signal has come on is not a good one. Riccarton Road is being top-dressed again, and the surface should benefit considerably. In the meantime, motorists are advised to drive slowly between Puriri Street and Clyde Road, as parts of the sticky surface are picked up by the wheels and sprayed around. *.• *.♦ ♦.* Large cracks appeared in the surface of Lincoln Road recently. It was found necessary to pick out the cracks and fill them with fresh bitumen. This work lias now been completed, and it is hoped that there will not be a recurrence of the trouble. The inland route to Kaikoura is in good order at present. The stream* and rivers were all fordable on Sunday. This promises well for the trial.