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

HOW TO DRIVE A MOTORCAR wrong side the greatest caution has to be exercised and the eye kept on the alert for signs of passengers wish- ing to get out, and. the ear should listen keenly for the bell.- It is preferable also, instead of making a rush past, to get at about the same speed as the bus till about the middle of the bus, and then, carefully watch- ing the opportunity, sound the horn and accelerate in front of the bulky obstructor. Another point which has to be carefully guarded against in traffic driving is the danger attendant upon following an electric tram. One should never forget that the “ decelerating ” efficiency (if one may coin an expression) of these trams is much greater than that of any motorcar. Consequently, always allow them a fair amount of room in front, especially if there is not space available at the side to swing out. It must be remembered that nearly all these trams have very powerful brakes, whether the motor-short-circuit- ing one is used or the electro-magnetic, and no vehicle relying purely on the coefficient of friction between the wheels and the road could hope to stop so quickly when going at an equal speed; consequently, it is always well to remember that trams can' stop more quickly than cars, and drive some little distance in the rear accordingly. Similarly, when overtaking a tram and trying to pass between it and a lamp standard, it must be remem- bered that its powers of acceleration are also very great, and that it is quite a common occurrence for the driver to select the moment when a car is trying to pass him as the time to exhibit the powers of acceleration possessed by his tram. With regard, then, to cutting between one tram and another, or a tram and a lamp standard, if there is a shadow of a doubt as to success remember Punch’s famous advice in another direction and “ don’t.” With regard to children and pedestrians, the re- marks which have been already written anent the training of the eye to guard against all possible con- tingencies of sudden movements are of double value in traffic. >-* to