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

HOW TO DRIVE A MOTORCAR in the case of cross roads, etc., the strong beams of light projected by powerful headlamps can be seen on the road where perhaps the car, were it daylight, would be entirely obscured by hedges or houses. The main consideration, however, for night driving is care, and it must be remembered that eyes are given us for use, and that the driving of a motorcar at night is one of the occasions on which they should be con- tinually employed in the work of directing the car. One does not wish to be too dogmatic in laying down regulations, but personally the writer usually excuses himself as regards anything much in tbe way of con- versation when driving a car at night-time, and really it is not advisable to enter into too animated a con- versation, as the work in hand is usually sufficient to occupy one’s whole attention. At night, then, observation must be a little in- creased, and conversation on the part of the driver should ba cut down to a minimum, and such minimum should never entail the use of the eyes ! The pas- senger can always appreciate the fact when the posi- tion is explained. Taken the other way round, in the possible event of an accident, the reply that conversa- tion caused one to take one’s eyes from the road at the moment when the accident happened, could hardly stand as a legitimate excuse. J Falling Asleep This heading is rather a startling one, but it is a case of forewarned is forearmed, and therefore the subject may be briefly referred to. A long drive at night, by which is meant (varying with the constitu- tion of the driver, of course) anything from 70 miles upwards, undoubtedly produces a somnolent effect upon a large number of people. To the writer’s own knowledge quite a number of accidents, luckily in not one single case attended with any serious injury, have occurred through the driver absolutely falling asleep when at the wheel; in fact, it is the writer’s belief that many of the accidents which occur at night are attributable to this cause. It is usually considered a very bad thing to make 18