PASSENGER NUISANCE

Shannon News, 4 June 1929, Page 4

PASSENGER NUISANCE

Confidence in the Driver

The first essential of a good ear passtinger is that he shall have complete conlidenco in the powers of the. drive?, but this is the thing that the driverpassenger rarely has.

I-lis methods of attack are various. Sometimes he sits bolt upright on the edge of the scat .and watches the traffic with almost unbelievable concentration. Sometimes he indicates his feelings by suddenly stopping in the middle of a remark and finishing it only when the intersection has been crossed or a car passed, 01 whatever simple manoeuvre you were about to undertake.

Soihetimcs he gives 'a sharp, disconcerting and dramatic intake of breath. Sometimes he merely jams his foot on an imaginary brake so that the floorboards of the car creak ominously..

But whatever he does, this type of 'passenger is not a peaceful sort of person to have on the front seat.

Equally annoying is the passenger who has no confidence at the man at the wheel.

"I’d have passed that,” he declares, when you pull behind a car to avoid cutting in. “You needn’t slow down much for this corner. I never do. ’ ’ “Here’s a fair bit of road; you can let her out a bit,’’ and so on. It is the same, type that passes remarks about' the ear itself. “Clutch is a bit fierce,’’ he comments as you start off, and if your car is a, Ford he dilates on the easy starting and stopping of the Buick. The speedometer, of course, over-registers, and the springing is' nothing to compare with tlie Churtz. A Beage would have taken the last hill without a murmur and he is sure the bus is not greased often enough. The timid passenger who gives advice is terrible. Wives, they say, are the worst offenders. They point out obstacles and dangers only to be met with the reply, “Saw that hours ago. You can keep your eyes on the scenery. ’ ’

When the traffic policeman is visible they tell you the minute he mWes his position, but if he bo obscured 'from your vision and only visible to theirs, they will never warn you that his hand is against you, and will sit in disapproving silence while you ignominously back.

A husband, after fifteen years’ driving experience, answers his wife’s remarks with “Thank you; I might not have noticed it.’’ •

Few, however, are capable of as much control as that!