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

HOW TO DRIVE A MOTORCAR across to the left too suddenly, as although you may be going a good deal quicker than the car you are over- taking, nevertheless when you take a diagonal course whilst he continues in a straight line, the relative speeds are more in his favour. Never take corners too groat a sp66d. Tlcmcniber that it is against the laws of mechanics, and that one corner taken at an excessive speed will put more strain on the front-wheel bearings and steering gear, than a very considerable length of straightforward running. Always endeavour to use the brakes as little as pos- sible. The better the driver the less frequently does he require violent braking effect. In traffic, do not follow too closely in the wake of a tram, bus, or other mechanically-propelled vehicle, as there is nothing particularly clever in running, as so many taxi drivers do, with the mudguard or lamps only a foot from the rear of the preceding vehicle, and it only brings into play a considerable amount of excessive braking. Some people are wont to express the opinion that, because so-and-so drives like this, he is a good driver and possessed of sound judgment. Such an opinion is entirely erroneous, and such driving is nothing more or less than rank bad driving. In the case of necessity, it is well to be able to judge things by a small margin, but when there is no necessity it is only foolish. In the case of an accident, whether one is concerned in it or not, humanity demands that the driver should proffer assistance. Do not make too great a use of the horn, especially if it is of the loud-toned variety. It is bad taste, and one should remember that everyone has an equal right to the proper use of the roads. If the steering seems suddenly to pull to one side, it is usually an indication that one of the tyres is becoming deflated. If the pull is a continual one to the left, it is probably the nearside front tyre, if to the right the off- side. If it has a tendency to pull first one way and then the other, it will probably be found to be one of the rear tyres. 136