How Good A Driver Are You?

Press, Volume C, Issue 29505, 5 May 1961, Page 11

How Good A Driver Are You?

This is the fifth of a series of articles prepared by the Transport Department to demonstrate that it often takes two drivers to make an accident. The department’s records show that the situations dealt with in the articles frequently result in accidents.

The Situation: Jones, dashing to collect the meat on the way home, double parked his car near a comer for a few minutes Smith, travelling at 20 miles an hour, was passing and looking to his right for vehicles to which he would have to give way. Suddenly a child ran across the road from the left, obscured by Jones's car, and was struck by Smith. Do you think: (1) Jones was at fault—and why? (2) Could Smith have done anything to reduce the chance of this accident? The Answers: (1) Jones, of course, should not have double parked in such a position—and although he was not there in person his action contributed substantially to the accident

(2) If Smith had been a good driver he would have slowed down more —at 10 miles an hour he would have been in control of the situation and could have stopped to avoid the little girl or any other hazard caused by the double parked car. After passing it he then would have been able to give way to his right if necessary.

Fitting New Spring Leaf— When fitting a new spring leaf to a car using rubber bushes for the spring shackles, lower the car back on the wheels before tightening up the shackle bolts, and bounce the car on its springs. This will ensure that the rubber bushes are not prestressed, and will work equally freely in both directions.