1935-10-08 — Page 2

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READING THE ROAD

Some Advice Offered By an Old-Stager

Once upon a time I employed A gardner who, after severni years of trying to make two blades of grass-or cabbag:s and the like-grow where one grew before, asked me to give him a "lesson with the handle." It was in the bad old days when the starting handle was the normal implement for spurring the en-. yine to activity, and I said: "But you use it very well. What more do you want to know about it?" He explained that by "handle" he meant the steering wheel, and, as I love my cars, I promptly de- clined to do what he asked.

What I did du was to send" him to a motor driving school for A course of instruction on somu-ne e.se's car, and when he

back-not at all came

a bad enauffeur-gardner-he made zy raise is wages! However, that is by the way. He returned very full of a slogan that had been drummed tato him at the school: it was "Read the Road!"

.

GOOD SLOGAN

It is a really good stogan, and more than half the road accid- ents to-day occur because drivers tau to comply with it. I propose to explain D Rule of what it means primarily for the benefit of newcomers to motoring, but also for that of a good many drivers who, though not novic's, often behave as if they were. There is nothing new in what I have to tell you: it has all been said before, and repeated. But It is so vitally important that it deserves to be said all over again.

Has it ever occurred to you that the part of the road ahead on which your eyes should nor mally be focused. when there are. no complications due to curves or traffic, varies according to the speed at which you are travel Ing you are poitering along at 10 m.p... the proper eye. locus point should be. let us say, ten to twenty yards in front of your radiator. At 60 m.p.h, that focus, point should have shifted to per- haps a quarter of a mile ahead on a straight road.

Don't misunderstand me: I ain Jo suggesting that you should disregard everything between your eyes and the focus point. Every yard of it should a ready have been closely observed as you approached your present

position. What Hes between you and the focus point should be old history-carefully noted and tucked away in your

memory. but not engaging your immediate a.tention. What you see at the focus point should determine precise y what

do before your eye focus automatically moves on,

YOU

CORRECT FOCUS POINT Exactly what

represents the correc. focus point for any speed is hard to define; probably the baking efficiency of the car has a good deal to do with it. The s-urid driver seldom uses his brakes with any violence, and he' remembers, all the time, that he may meet a car coming towards him a his own speed, or even considerably faster. Therefore, here is probably at the back of his mad a subconscious feeling .hat lie must be able easily to pull up in; at most, half the dis- tance between him and the "point on which his eyes are focused- the point at which he will be- come acutely aware that there

Is something approaching from

In front,

But the normally correct 10- cus point is not always correct by any means. There are many, cir" cumstances in which it may have to be altered, if only momentar- ily: Take, for instance, the case of a car travelling fast and com- ing up behind a slower vehicle. To make sure that it will be safe to pull over to the right-hand side of the road to overtake, the driver of the fast car, having mentally recorded the precise place at which he will

come abreast of the slower machine, momentarily lengthens his eye focus very considerably to see whether there is anything ap- proaching from In front. He automatically registers mentally every object on the road as far as he.can see,

This intentional alteration of eye focus is necessary on'y in circumstances where special cal- culations of distance, time, and speed have to be made. Normally, as I have said, a certain speed a straight road calls for a

оп

certain

focus, with a subcon- scious knowledge of everything that is on the road between the car and focus point.

To know just where to focus the eyes is to know how to read the road in one way. But there are many other matters to have in mind if the highway is to be. as it should be, an open book.

BLIND CROSSING

There are certain meteorologic- al phenomena which suggest to us the propriety or wisdom of certain actions. For instance, if there are low. heavy rain cloods about we go out with a mackin tash or an umbrelia In the same way there are certain signs un the road-I don't mean plac- ards with wording on them-that tell the experienced driver" what is likely to happen,

due

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1935.

MOTOR

INDICATORS

And Stop Lights

JOTTINGS

The Other Point Of View

This is the age of efficiency. There is but

one standard by which an article is judged: Does It serve its purpose "efficiently?" The family man wants a motér car that will protect his wife and, children from rain and cold, so he buys a Ave-seater saloon. The wants a motor car with thrilling accc.eration and high maximum speed. and he buys an open two-seater, Al though the famliy man may sigh occasionally for better perform- ance, and the sportsman wish sometimes, for just a little more protection from the elements, yet each vehicle serves its main pur pose, emclently.

The new direction indicator and stop sight regulations are to criti cism on one or two points. They become effective on January 1st are summarised" on a next and lacer

sportsman page. They apply to all vehicles registered on January 1st next, but nothing in them requires that a direction Indicator or stop light must be fitted. They ensure that all in- diestars which "are" fitted shall be of semaphore type.

or after

First. In view it would have been well to make stop lights in working order compulsory on newly registion, and in certain cases the centre pillars cannot easily be made to carry the in- dicator. Also, the the coupé body with only two wide doors gives rlse to 'difficulties. If one ex- ception Is made, others whose body construction merits it should also have been included.

15

To-day, all cars fall naturally into two separate groups, family and sports. The distinction. Important. for each group has produced its own type of driver, As a rule, the family saloon is driven very largely on top gear. while in sports cars the

gear. box 13 in constant use. Very often the family car functions for thousands of miles without much attention; brakes "are out or adjustment and tyre treads badly worn, the engine responds' sluggishly to controls unlubricat- whether the indicators are operated since assembly, and generally

It seems as though the Intention is for all indicators to be mount- ed well forward, say, level with the windscreen, A requirement is that the driver may be readily sware from his driving seat

ing correctly. It is probably this

the vehicle although still very wish that has led to the pre- comfortable is below par. Al- ference for a forward mounting. most invariably the sports car is and also tered vehicles. They are maintained in excellent condition, fitted to new cars to-day as a

brakes finely adjusted. engine. in matter of course, and

to make perfect tane, all contro's In good them compulsory would have for- working order. and the entire ced drivers to maintain them in vehicle more efficent mechanical- proper order. They are a greatly than when it first left

works.

To take a case in point: if we are approaching a blind street crossing, and we see pedestrians sauntering unconcernedly across the "mouths" of the side streets, we may be fairly sure that there is nothing approaching the cross

ng from those side streets-at any rate, nothing travelling quicky and likely to reach the crossing for an appreciable rum- ber of secords. Therefore, we car proceed, always with care, on our course. If however, we see that pedestrian hesitates before crassing the mouth of the side street, or hurries across, or LOOKS Hway up. while he is crossing, or starts to cruss and ..Chen,steps back on to the pave- ment, our reading of the position should be very different. The chances are that something is coming, and we may meet it acta- ally at the junction of the roads. - Again, at a blind curve on a rather narrow country road. we. are tollowing another car. driver can see farther round the corner than we can, and if we по се that he is, hugging the very edge of the Foan we snai be wise to assume that he is do-do ing so to give room to some- thing, appriaching something that he can see but that is still. inylsible to us. The same applies to the blind top of a steep hil If the driver ahead disappears stil hugging the extreme edge of the road, it will be criminal folly on our part to keep in the mid- dle at the creat,

IISE YOUR EYES

Its

Yet another chapter in sür book of the road relates to what is practically hidden from our eyes by a vehicle either priced- Ing, us or coming towards us from in front. We can learn much by looking under the front axle of the ear that is leading us, or under the back axle of the vehi- cle coming towards us. The lower part of a bicycle wheel or L

safety factor,

Direction Indicators when at- ted. will have to be not more" than four feet behind the base of the windscreen. Pillarless four- door saloon are specially exempt- ed from this four-font require- ment 1 the indicator is not situated behind the widest part of the body. However," bodies with very narrow centre pllars

not receive exemp. the fact that we are accustomed to look for signals from the neighbour- hood of the driving seat. Em phasis appears to be laid on the visibility of the indicator from the front. We would point out that it is visibility from the rear that is more important.

the

In these circumstances a dif- ference in driving methods is not only natural, it is inevitable. But here is the important point- each driver must realise the other man's position!

Fun

and

THE FAMILY OUT FOR A RUN

Suppose, for example, that i am a family man taxing wife children out for an afternoon

You come up behind m sports car. Le road is narrow, with a crossing fifty yards anead. You hoot, indicating that you in- tend to overtake. Now, in my mirror, I can see that yours is à fast car, but somehow I cannot believe that it is fast enough to pass, return to the left-hand side ot the road, and still slow down for the crossing.

|:

It is well that position and type of such Attings as direction in- dicators should be standardised so far as is reasonable, and the The fault may be mine, but I new regulations will adequately

simply cannot credit you with achieve that purpose,

good On the

enaugh acceleration and good enough brakes. Possibly you other hand, to standardise A type discourages those who

don't realise that a crossing is not prepared to admit that per-

ahead. fection and finality have been reached.

are

So I accelerate, tending to wave you on after we have both negotiated the cross-roads; but still you come on, draw level, and then cut-in to the left. 1 slam down the brake peda; my her

pair of feat and ankles will tell 50,000 MILES IN A £2 CAR wife puts her hands over

us that someone may swerve, Ito, or walk out from in front of or behind those vehicles right into our path.

It la impossible in the space of on article to give you a complete key to the reading of the road; the instances I have recorded

are merely typical of the kind of knowledge-one might say com-

mon -anse-required.

SPOTTING THE PUMP

One of the motorist's difficulties when in a hurry on a long run and in need of petrol is to "spot" in time a filing station with the required blend. Usually, the dri- ver is level with the station be fere he sees the proper pump. and pulling up backing that would be involved make him de- cide to wait for the next garage a cng, his route. Eventually one begins to slow up-on approaching each filling station until the ap- propriate pump is found, and 'ume is wasted.

It would simplify things con elderably if a greater number of Alling stations would advertise Afty yards or so down the road precisely what brands of Detrol are stocked. Driveta could slow! up at their leisure and pul straight in without having to peer at the row of gibes. The adver

sing signs need not be large; a straple list clearly legible is all that is required. Some places have sort of standardised plate. Undoubtedly such devices add to business-and...are appre ciated by drivers.

Över 50,000 miles of motoring for almost nothing!

I know It is hard to believe, but it's true-I talked to a man yesterday who has actually done

it, writes a correspondent.

He is Mr. Frederick A Banwell of Leighton Buzzard, and this is how he managed it:

He bought a car for £2 Inst year. Day after day he has t for his private hire service, and up to yesterday it had completed 50,000 miles.

Even more remarkable perhaps. is the fact that it has run prae- tically trouble free.

And all It it needs to-day, Mr. Banwell told me, is new bit of carpet on the floor!

"It's a rattling, good car," he said, "in more senses than one. It had a rattle in it when I bought it, and it has one still, but nothing has developed from

that.

"I bought it in London-It's of 1925 vintage.

NEVER A.MISHAP

"I have spent practically not- ning on her. I did not decar- bonise her until she had done 10,000 miles,

"When, after 20,000 miles, I took a look at the big ends, they. were still all right.

"I have never had a mishap in her-touch wood and my only complaint is this with a laugh

that depreciation is very highi "Honestly, though, I would not sell her today for ten pounds. She really does look quite decent,

eyes; the sudden alteration in speed jolts Edith (aged three) off the rear seat, and Bobby (aged. five) barks his knuckles on the walnut fillets. Ignoring-for the moment-screams and yells, I see that, after all, your acceleration and braking were good enough and that you were justified In overtaking; but you have given my wife a bad fright.

Now, note this point. You have proved yourself in the right; 1 am compelled to admit that I' W39 wrong. I see the position from your point of view, but you. know nothing of minel. Beyond" arizonic ramark about an "old

family bus” you take no further notice. You don't understand my position.

Let us take another example. Again I am a saloon driver, this time following a stream of trams and heavy commercial vehicles. You come up behind in a sports

about to overtake the line of car and indicate that you are:

traffic. In the distance is an oncoming tram. I have already decided that it is not possible to pass and cut-in to the left before meeting the opposing tram. Thinking that you may not be aware of the tram-not realising how your low-bullt bodywork al- lows you to lean out and obtain a much better view than is possi ble from any saloon-I give the slow-down signál.

But you sweep past, taking trams, buses, four-ton vehicles"in between the leading bus and the Ducoming tram or so it seems say

tod except for that bit of carto me, "What an ass!" pet."

to my passenger.

He almost

་

ני

Next time

Lucky!

smashed up his car. he won't be so lucky." How was I to know that you had ample acceleration to spare, inat you completed with

the manoeuvre tons of power in reserve, that you exercised skill and judg- ment in deelding to overtake? I knew that I daren't overtake, and therefore I assumed that no one else could!

INCONVENIENT FOR THE

LEADER!

Now, suppose that your sports car is following my family saloon along a narrow, fairly open, winding road. At last there is a straight section. which you utilise at once to overtake. Perhaps 7 am In a hurry myself, and so decide to use you as a pacemaker. Of course, you leave me on the straight, stretches, but I make up as you slow down for cross-roads and on sharp bends." I realise, also. that perhaps I'm taking slight risks, but if you go round bends quickly, why shouldn't I? And so mile after mile my old saloon careers madly in pursuit.

As family motorist. I don't know how awkward it is to have some- one following immediately behind, probably with indifferent brakes and Httle or no experience in I don't taking corners, quickly. realise that you have more po- werful brakes.and better accelera- tion. It doesn't occur to me that stop suddenly I must If you choose between ramming your car or striking anything that may he approaching from the opposite rtirection. I don't realise that. whereas you slow down for cross- roads and Bccelerate on the straight, m making up on the cross-roads what I lose on the straight.

To come down to brass tacki, Motorists to-day insist upon em- ciency, but are they themselves efficient? Just as we judge a car by its suitability for purpose, so should we judge a motorist 'by, his ability to realise the other man's position W. A. G. M. in "The Autocar."

THE CUSTOMER

Is He Always Right?

Much is written and said about the deficiencies of repair garages. but Httle is heard of their point of view, Whilst many of them efficiency and speedy execution sacy lacking. here is no doubt that many motorists" "de- Anitions of "good service' can. only be upheld by the vigorous application of a magic wand.

are

The garage's greatest bugbear is the "man in a hurry." Whist he may not actually held them responsible for his car's bad be- haviour, he does create the Im- pression that it shoud have been anticipated and a staff of com- petent mechanics be waiting for ram. The apologetic suggestion. that the garage is very busy 's ignored. apecial consideration should be extended to him. none of the other cars awaiting repair can be so urgently reoul-.

ed.

48

To te exasperation of the me-. chante, he persists in keeping up conversation whist an examina- tion is made, and if the trouble is not diagnosed in a few minutes he consults his watch and gene- rally Impairs the skill of even the most phlegmatic mechanic by his attitude. Eventualy, when

the repairs are completed at the risk of invoking the wrath of dis- appointed customers it often transpires that his car was not ao urgently needed. after all...

Perhaps the

garage man's greatest worry is the

man who never wants to pay: This may be natural up to a point-but mechanics have to be trained,

and even a loose, but cannot al- ways be traced without exp perience and the expenditure time. The actual repair may not: be lengthy, but that is reason for expecting it to be done for not- hing. If the repair is extensive,. the manager may blamed for. proceeding with it, and if he waits for further instructions be is often accused of wasting time.

THE TAIKOO DOCKYARD & ENGINEERING COMPANY OF HONGKONG, LIMITED.

"

COM

BUILDERS OF ALL CLASSES OF SHIPS. BUILDERS OF RECIPROCATING STEAM ENGINES. BUILDERS OF MARINE AND LAND BOILERS.

BUILDERS OF TURBINE MACHINERY

Under License From Messrs Parsons! BUILDERS OF DIESEL ENGINES

"Under Special License *

From Messrs. Sulzer Bros., Winterthur. Licensed To Manufacture Lanz Perlit Iron, Specially Suitable For Internal Combustion Engine Working Parts.

DOCK & SLIPWAYS.

FOR DOCKING VERY LARGE, AS WELL AS SMALLER VESSELS,

ON ANY TIDE"

"

ALL CLASSES OF SHIP, ENGINE AND BOILER

REPAIRS AND EXTENSIVE

WELDING, BOTH ELECTRICAL AND OXY ACETYLENE SKILFULLY AND PROMPTLY CARRIED OUT.

BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE, Agents,

HONG KONG, CHINA & JAPAN.

TEL ADDRESS: "TAIKOODOOK," HONG KONG. TELEPHONE: 30211,"

CALL FLAG: "NUMERAL ONE" OVER * PENNANT ÅNS.”

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