Real Road Sense

Ladies' Mirror, Volume 4, Issue 10, 1 April 1926, Page 51

Real Road Sense

IT would appear to be a wide- * spread belief that once a man is sure of himself as a driver, and knows the capabilities of his car, he can drive with the maximum of safety. That belief ignores two vital points. One is that a motorist never knows the skill of another driver; the other is that there is such a thing as allowing a margin for this unknown quantity. It is in providing that margin that a man best shows road sense. Road sense is most frequently called into play in overtaking and passing another car, and again in meeting an oncoming one. A driver deficient in this quality forgets or does not appreciate that in the one case the speed of passing is the difference between the pace of the two cars, and in the other the sum of the two speeds. This knowledge ought to govern his actions. If, passing a

car doing twenty-five miles an hour, he speeds up to thirty miles, then he draws ahead at no more than five miles an hour, a good walking pace only, which, whilst the passing is in progress, does something to obstruct the road to others. The best way is U pass quickly, to keep up the pace for a brief period until well clear of the other man, then come down to normal speed. By this means the road is kept clear, and the one left behind is not inconvenienced. In meeting another vehicle it is advisable to slow down a little and to pull well over out of the way, so as not to flurry the oncoming driver by the sudden sensation of speed created by the rapid passing of the two machines. Nervous or inexperienced drivers are apt to swerve inwards when so disturbed, and there is some excuse for them. For the sensation can be an amazing one.