MOTORING

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10318, 29 January 1927, Page 4

MOTORING

RULES FOR PEDESTRIANS.

A GOOD SET OUTLINED

“What we need is a .good set of traffic rules for persons who insist on crossing streets at the wrong time or in the wrong way,” sys Harry Daniel in the “Thrift Magazine.” “Latest figures show that American pedestrians are now dodging 20,051, 276 motors of all styles and dispositions,” he continues, “and the quota for each car is six pedestrians, running, walking, or lying down.” Then he suggests- these rules, which' certainly have a Gilbertian touch:

Rule 1. All persons desiring to engage in the regular pursuit of crossing streets must take out a license and leave a statement showing name of their favourite hospital. This permit will be revoked after the holder has been knocked down and run over three times, unless ho gets a license entitling him to additional accidents. Rule 2. Pedestrians who start across the street in the middle of the block are allowed three downs, if they can’t make the morgue at" the end of the third down they then have the right to take a gun and shoot themselves.

Rule 3. In being knocked down by an eastbound car, pedestrians must make a left turn. If the driver fails to shout “Look out, there,’’ after he has run over a pedestrian, the latter is liable to fine and arrest, and may at the discretion of the court, have his name misspelled in the telephone directory.

Rule 4. In crossing a street, slow down to a run. The driver’s score does not count unless both shoulderblades of the pedestrian touch the pavement. Rule 5. Pedestrians who find themselves unable to get flattened out in another way have the right to try crossing' a street corner diagonally; Every man must stand up for his right to be knocked down.

SAFE DRIVING. RULES FOR. MOTORISTS. Here are a few rules for safe driving: (1) Keep your speed consistent with safety. (2) Always signal properly before slowing down, stopping, or changing direction. (3) Never pass another car going in the same direction on curves, or where the view ahead is obstructed. (4) Sound the horn before cutting out to pass, and at all curves on a crooked road. (5) See that nil lights are functioning, and that they are properly adjusted. (6) Respect safety zones and all trams discharging passengers, and do not pass to the right of trains going in the same direction. (7) Keep to your own side of the road except'when cutting out to pass. Follow these rules, exercise your power of observation in cities as to parking, turns and stops, and your record and your conscience will be clear.

CAR CRASHES. FACTS THAT LEAD UP TO THEM What are the real causes of traffic accidents ? For the first time organised research into this problem has been can* ied out by the Safety First Committee in Great Britain. The results were made known in a paper read by Captain J. W. Moore, chief constable of Huddersfield and chairman of the “Safety First” Committee, at the Public Safety Congress at Caxton Hall, Westminister. Of over 50 different causes, those discussed included: Drink, inattention, illness, failure to signal and to sound horn, incaution at crossing, on wrong, side of road, cutting comers, speeding and cutting-in. Some 200 coroners in England nud Wales supplied particulars of 450 fatal accidents.

WHO OR WHAT? An important point m the investigation was the extent to which drivers, vehicles, road conditions, fire and weather have been responsible for accidents. The following example of what Is meant by contributory causes is given in an'issue of the journal, “Safety First” : In one accident we may have an experienced driver, driving on the wrong side of the read, at an excessive speed, having regard to the temporary greasy condition of the road, and the insiifficient local lighting of the street, colliding with a cyclist who is also travelling too quickly and swerving to avoid a pedestrial who steps off the pa vement without looking and with his back to the traffic. It is also stated that excessive speed is often a contributory cause to accidents, officially described as due to skidding, dangerous corners, faulty brakes, and burst tyres. . * SAFETY METHODS. BE WARNED IN TIME. Here lie the remains of Percival Sapp, He drove his car with a girl on his laii. Lies slumbering here, one William Blake He heard the bell, hut had no brake. Here lies the body of William Jay, He tHed maintaining the right-of-way. John Smith lies here without his shoes, He drove his ear while filled with booze. CHANGE GEAR CONTROL. QUESTION OF POSITION. After at one time appearing to have nearly gone out of fashion, there has, of late, been a distinct revival of the right-hand position for the change-speed and brake levers on European cars. Coincident with this course in design is a practically universal demand for four doors, or, at any rate, a door to the driver’s seat. Many makers standardise the latter highly desirable feature, but by placing as it were a hurdle in the doorway in the shape of a couple of levers largely nullify their good intentions. . Probably the majority of motorists, -if a leferendum were taken would choose right-hand controls, but almost certainly, also, they would specify a door to the driver’s seat, and if it were shown to them that the two do not always go well together, particularly on the shorter and smaller chassis, would willingly 'sacrifice their desire for the righthand controls if by doing so they could secure absolute ease of ingress and egress in their cars. Few people ever found a central change-speed gear lever in any way awkward. It was the central brake lever—not invariably too well placed for sudden use—to- which they objected. To-day the almost universal adoption of efficient four-wheel brakes has rendered use of the hand lever practically obsolete in driving, and

NOTES AND NEWS.

it is, to-day, used mainly after the car has come to rest to lock the wheels. _ . . . The objections to its position in- the centre of the cockpit therefore largely disappear, and makers who place the levers on the right-hand side as a ‘talking-point” may be pursuing a chimera, unless they, at the same time are not too far away from the driver’s hand. This ideal is achieved in a few cases, but is not too easy to arrange. The difficulties to be overcome are such that four-wheel brakes and the demand for easy and exit may cause a popular return to the central position of the control levers.

KEEP THE CAR SMART. USEFUL CLEANING HINTS. A motorist is judged by the car he drives; not by its make but by its appearance. To create a good impression means a little thought and elbow grease spent on keeping the machine looking young and “peppy.” A weekly cleaning with a gentle stream from a hose, followed by a drying with a clean chamois, with as little rubbing as possible, will do much to preserve the body finish. And a cleaning of the motor is just as important. Whenever you come in with rain on the car dry it off before you. close ,hc garage. This will prevent the formation of paint-destroying spots. If fenders begin to look dull clean carefully with petrol,, let it dry, then apply a coat of good motor-varnish. It only takes a few minutes and ashilling or so but it makes a lot ot difference in looks. To clean leather unholstery motor tops and bodies with petrol is to ruin their finish for ever. Curtains should be dried while fastened in place. They will mildew if folded and put away wet. To wash a car when it is hot is a good way to spoil the finish, especially if the car is new. Mud allowed to cake on the car will give it the appearance of ' having measles when washed off. It should ho removed gently when wet. When you are going to drive through a lot of wet weather it will save a lot of work later if you cover the nickel parts with vaseline. Leather unholstery and tops can be given lengthened life by a washing in plain water with a little ammonia, a brsk rubbing with a soft cloth, and then an application of topdressing, obtainable at any harness maker’s and many other places.

HELPFUL HINTS. Valve Crinding. When grinding in valves, do not use a brace. It is too slow. Moreover, an amateur is apt to bear too heavily upon it, and to turn it in one direction only, so producing ver> unsatisfactory results. A screwdriver blade fitted into a cylindrical wooden handle, and operated by rolling rapidly between the palms of the hands, is the simplist and most efficient tool the motorist can adopt. Using first a coarse grade grinding compound, finishing with a hue. grade, the grinding in of eight valves can be effected in a few minutes only. Keen the grinding tool truly in line with the valve stem, so that the pressure is exerted uniformly all around the seat.

Watch the Distributor. Car owners should not forget that one part of the battery system which needs attention is the distributor head. When soot forms on this part, it often enables the current to pass across from one terminal to another, with pre-ignition as a result. The track of the distributor head should be kept clean, and he touched up from time to time with a kerosenesoaked rag. This will prevent it becoming dirty, and will keep the motor button from sticking and cutting. Warm Up Slowly. A cold motor should be warmed up slovvv n? it is dangerous and detrimental to race or accelerate a cold motor. This docs more harm than constant service under a full load at correct motor speed. Never race a cold engine. \> here this instruction is disregarded, and the engine is speeded up beyond the speeds which are indicated as the sate running speeds, you are inviting trouble, repairs and expense.

Self-Starter Trouble. If your self-starting system is of the pinion acting on flywheel' teeth type, and it has an unfortunate habit of jamming, it is probable that most of the trouble is due to dirt and oil collecting on the pinion shaft. in such case if you will take the starter right out, soak the pinion with its shaft in paraffin so as to get it absolutely clean, then dry it off with a rag, lubricate it with a few chops ot machine oil—not engine oil—ind then replace; you will have very little trouble. This process must, of course, be repeated from time to time. There is also the possibility that some of the teeth on the flywheel are broken or worn completely' off altogether. If this is dim case, jams are almost bound to occur and the only remedy is to lit a new ring of teeth, which is rather an expensive matter, but cannot he avoided in tire circumstances.

A Low Gear Hint. It is well to declutch and accelerate the engine occasionally when compelled to move slowly through traffic iu intermediate gear. The slov operation .of the motor is likely to load up the engine with oil or raw petrol and encourage it to stall. The needle valve of the carburetter may stick or the constant slow, running may helf to discharge the battery. Speeding up the engine now and then makes conditions normal. Engifie Service Advice. When removing the head to grind valves or clean out carbon on most makes of cars it is best to disconnect the distributor head and keep the ignition wires from the spark plugs which, of course necessitates tracing the wires carefully when reassembling the job. Any carelessness in this process results in throwing the engine out of time. Where wiring is carried with the head of the engine each plug can be removed separately and cleaned when the head is on the work-bench.

Some Proverbs; Take care of the machine, or thieves will take care of it themselves. Time, tide and road hogs wait for no man. An oiling a day keeps the repair bill away A little knowledge of driving is a dangerous thing. Take care of.the car; the ditch can take enro of itself. A fool and his license ’ are soon ported. , , ~ It is a wise driver who .knows ms own ‘failings. . . Spare the brakes and spoil the outfit. Hooters speak louder than words A stop in time saves a fine. pr _ v , .... ... - . ■ ’ •• •;• r . •