THE “CHAUFFEUSE”

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 66, 10 December 1921, Page 9

THE “CHAUFFEUSE”

USUALLY A CAREFUL DRIVER BUT OFTEN A SPEED FIEND!

(By

F.E.B.)

Tho days of the brougham are undoubtedly over. Instead of the smart carriage, in which Milady used to recline gracefully, drawn by well-groomed horses, Milady Junior prefers to rattle through the city—and to speed through tho country—in a two-seater, of a racing model. Milady the Elder either goes visiting in her limousine, or else drives a big touring ear. Those who prefer luxurious comfort and are not particular as to speed, are to be seen behind the shining windows of a Sedan model. Tho Mero Man is apt to sneer, nnd to imagine fondly to himself that tho weaker sex cannot drive ono half as well as he can; that they are too highly strung, and too sensitive to impulse, to steel themselves in cases of emergency. “They’re all right out on a lonely country road,” ho will say. "But put them on Lambton Quay or in Willis Street at five o’clock in the afternoon, and they will show their weakness." All of which is entirely contrary to what the city’s chief traffic inspector has to say about things. Mr. L. S. Drake has, on his own admission, seen and dealt with lady drivers in many countries. And ho said yesterday that in many cases he preferred dealing with women drivers, as bring more amenable to reason than men. “Tell them onco about their faults, and thoy will take good care that the faults will not occur again,” ho said. "Since January last we have given driving licenses to several hundred people in Wellington. Of this number, 52 were women. On their test drives, they proved quito as good as tho men, and in some cases much better. It has been my experience that the highly-strung temperament of a woman stands her in good stead in case of emergency. Take the average man As he drives ho probably thinks of'what hr would do If an accident happened. The woman doesn’t. When thb accident docs happen, she gets her inspiration in a flash, and acts on impulse. And you’ll admit that in cases of emergency impulse counts a great deal.” The Careful Driver. Tho chief inspector thinks that there is nothing better in the motor world than the careful woman driver. She always keeps a good look-out; she is very seldom negligent; she has complete control of -her machine; she never leaves home, carelessly, with an eighth of an inch of "juice" in her petrol tank; she obeys traffic policemen, and has a regard for pedestrians. Her latter quality would be regarded by some motorists as altruistic to an extreme! "When we tell her anything, she remembers,” added Mr. Drake. I have often had to make complaints of a mm nature to women drivers, and they have almost invariably been remedied without the least bit of trouble." The Speed Maniac. So far, he was charitable in his. description of women motorists. But for the woman “speeder" he has no good word “They are the absolute limit, he skid. “Some girls who get control of high-powered cars on suburban and country roads simply go mad. They will not be told, either, for one sees them doing the same thing again, a very short time after the warning. And they do have a habit of forgetting to light u p’_ as the Magistrate s Court books will 8110 AV. A traffic inspector has amusing ex P“ rl " ences at tests. Some women step Proudly ?nto their car, and away; but when it comes to the first hill, and the gears have to bo changed, they begin to bo nervous. Those are tho ones, so Mr Drake says, who tell the inspector that flrev can drive. Tho other .day a woy for a driver's license, and sh* had done hardly any driving. “When I got into tho car beside her I times tho whole family comes down to operation. Lady Jellico© as Motorist. Tvervone who wants to drivt?. a motor ln Wellington has j to go for Jellicoe. The traffic ’"®P ec^ ce^ a c S nc y“ g driving 10 "ShTV really a splendid motorist"" he said. “She could show, many ■mon drivers points about driving. types of women get licenses. There are lady doctors, taxi-chauffeuses, farmers old f'> voung ladies, and girls over 16 telrT’of age. The latter class, should not bo granted permission to drive thtliat age i u „ "How Mn they bo” expected’ to act. quickly in oare of emergency? There m no doubt that th ago should ho raised. chnnld The lady who drives a motor-car should bo taken ‘very seriously. She has passed an examination!