SAFETY FIRST FOR WOMEN MOTORISTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19049, 28 June 1924, Page 9

SAFETY FIRST FOR WOMEN MOTORISTS

THE NECESSITY FOR CAREFUL DRIVING. GOLDEN RULES FOR WOULD-BE OWNER-DRIVERS. A number of women would own and drive cars if they were not so nervous. They seem to think that road law and convention are very intricate and are afraid that they will do something wrong—something that will bring abuse and derision on to their heads from other road users. The great publicity given to motor accidents is probably responsible for a certain amount of this feeling. Actually rules of the road are based on ordinary common sense without any frills, and for the benefit of woman readers who are thinking of owning cars, or who have just acquired their first, we publish herewith a straightforward list of “Safety-first” rules, which have been got out by a practical woman motorist, who has had a very great deal of experience on all types of ears and on all sorts of roads. They have been written in simple and direct language, in order to appeal more forcibly. USE BOTH FOOT AND HAND BRAKE. 1. Drive slowly through towns, in narrow roads, and in all other dangerous places. 2. Never pass on corners or blind hillcrests. Take all corners and crossroads slowly and on your right side, and do not forget to blow your horn. 3. Never trust to signals given by pedestrians or other road-users at crossroads, etc. Use your own eyes, and do not pass till your are sure the road is clear. The fact that a. policeman has signalled you to pass will not exonerate you from blame in the event of an accident. 4. Take your fair share of the road only, do not force other traffic (especially bicycles) into the gutter. Do your best to avoid splashing pedestrians on a muddy day. and give way when possible . to vehicles ascending a hill. 5. Do not drive fast, on a greasy road, especially in traffic. A sudden stop may result in a bad skid. On a greasy surface, when pulling up, use both brakes gently in preference to applying one hard. If the car begins to skid, release the brakes until the road wheels resume their grip, re-applying gently, and so on, until • the car is brought to a standstill. By locking the wheels on a wet road you merely lose control and do nothing towards stopping the car. Train yourself to use both foot and hand brakes equally. If the latter is used merely as an emergency brake, it may get out of order without you noticing, and fail you when it is most needed and, anyhow, you will not be able, from lack of practice in reaching for the lever, to apply it in emergency as quickly as if you used it every day. See that your brakes are always in good order, evenly adjusted, and that the cables or rods are not unduly worn. When you want to stop, do so in go-, d time, and do not go all out until the last moment, and then Jam your brakes on hard. This

method is dangerous, besides looking bad and being hard on the car. fc. When overtaking slower traffic, souud your horn and make sure that the driver you wish to pass hears you, and that the road is clear. Keep a look-out for faster traffiic wishing to pass you and do not signal it on until you have made sure that the road in front is'clear. Bo sure to give it ample room to pass. 7. Remember to stop your car, and the engine also (if requested to do so), when meeting restive horses. Do your best always to avoid running down a dog, however troublesome it may be; but, on the other hand, do not take any risk, such as swerving or braking suddenly, which may endanger the live& of your passengers or of other roadusers, 9. If it is necessary to stop your car by the road-side, take care that it is in such a position as to allow other traffic ample room to pass. Never stop on a corner or opposite another Vehicle, so as to block the entire road, and if you should have the misfortune to break down in such a position either push the car to a safer place or, if this is impossible, arrange some means of signalling approaching traffic. 10. Slow right down when passing men at work on the roads; Apart from considerations of dangc*r to the men, driving fast over a patch of raw stone is not good for the car. 11. Pay attention to road signals, and never fail to use them. • BE COURTEOUS AND CONSIDERATE. 12. Be courteous and considerate on every occasion. If other people are road-hogs, you will not help matters by imitating them. Do not forget to thank anybody who has shown you a courtesy on the road —it is no trouble, and besides being good manners, it makes people willing to help' you again. If you can assist another motorist in trouble do so without hesitation. Even if you have no knowledge of mechanism vou may be able to take a message to the nearest garage. Give anybody a lift when possible, but use your discretion, and remember that it is not very wise to pick up a complete stranger on a lonely road —especially for a woman driver. 13. Remember that a first-class driver never gives his or her passengers cause for apprehension in any circumstances. 14. Descend all steep hills in low gear, and remember that it takes twice as long to stop the car going downhill as a does gping uphill.