How To Drive A Motorcar
A Key To The Subtleties Of Motoring

MISUSE OF POWERFUL HORNS safety, a potential accident being converted to a mere incident. Then, again, in country touring when overtaking drivers of heavy vehicles of the traction engine type, or drivers of horse-drawn vehicles who are asleep, the ser- vices of a good hom are most valuable. All these facts, however, do not constitute an excuse for the misuse of such a horn in ordinary town traffic, neither should the valuable properties of such an instrument be called into play for taking cross-roads at excessive speeds when driving late at night—or of course at other times. At the best one cannot assign musical honours to such an instrument, its main value being the safety it provides, and its utility. Do not, therefore, make a habit of using such a horn indiscriminately for ordinary town driving. It js bad taste to do so and argues a lack of consideration for other road users. Some of the younger folk in the motor world seem imbued with the idea that the pos- session of such a warning instrument is an item upon which they can justly pride themselves, and conse- quently they like to exhibit its abilities on the least provocation. This, of course, is a misconception of the real state of affairs, and an ordinary gentle-toned horn should be used for all cases where one merely asks for permission to pass. The situation, where in the interest of the person concerned and oneself the message to be conveyed is “ stand still,” is in quite a different category, and then an ear-piercing warning is not only justifiable, but is in the best interests of all concerned. Where such an intimation is not, in point of fact, absolutely necessary for one’s own safety or for others, a mere gentle warn- ing should invariably be used. Mesmeric Influence As this is not a book on psychology, anything relative to the subject of mesmerism would appear to be out of place, but there is just one point however which may be mentioned, and that is the situation in which a person who is crossing the road suddenly becomes aware of the presence of a car which, is apparently going to come 127