By William Ullman
The discovery that monkeys can be taught good manners is very encouraging. Perhaps in time it will be possible to teach road hogs.
For Safety’s Sake
In the rush of modern traffic it is frequently as essential to be able to get out of the way in a hurry as to stop quickly.
Many drivers place themselves in dangerous positions because they imagine that a stalling engine requires an immediate consultation over the why and the wherefore, regardless of where the car happens to be when the engine gives a last gasp.
The moment the engine stalls, try if possible, to coast over to a position at the curb.
If the car has no momentum at the time the engine stalls, then place the gears in ”low” and use the starter motor to pull the machine out of danger. It is well to be thinking about this suggestion when you are crossing railroad tracks.
Leave ample room between the front of your car and the machine ahead when parking, for the man who parks behind you will invariably run his car as close as possible to yours.
If the car is left in a precarious position, better use the parking lights even if the local ordinance doesn’t require you to do so. If someone ran into your car they wouldn’t look you up to tell you sad news. And if you didn’t happen to have collision insurance, you would be out of luck.
Did You Know—
--That because gasoline evaporates and loses its “pep” while standing, a car that is stored for any length of time is quite likely not to start unless encouraged with some fresh fuel?
--That if the radiator is filled too full, a pint or more of water will syphon out through the overflow pipe after the engine has warmed up?
Nickel Trimmings
The present fad for nickel trimmings is a pretty one but unfortunate because nickel requires attention and the modern driver hasn’t hardly time to buy his gas. A few trimmings well polished will very shortly be found to be preferred to a mass of them gone rusty.
Worth Remembering
Never attempt to pass another car on the highway until you have first made certain that the car behind isn’t trying to pass you at the same time. Many a driver has turned over to the left side of the road preparatory to passing a car ahead only to be sideswiped by the car behind which gave no warnings of its intentions.
Did You Ever—
--Need grease for the clutch throwout collar or the universal joints while traveling and find that you haven’t any grease with you? Unscrew the front wheel hub caps and use some of the grease which should be found in them.
--Find that your brakes do not hold well after traveling a long distance over dusty roads? Drive into the next garage where you buy gas and try wetting the brake lines.
Two Tested Tips
When caught in a driving train storm and forced to stop until the worst is over, wetting the coal and other electrical equipment under the hood can be prevented by turning the back of the car to the wind.
When making an improvised covering for the gas tank filler pipe to take the place of the lost cap, be sure to allow some opening for the air. Otherwise, the vacuum feed system will not operate.
Traffic Tricks
When cars have stopped at a crossing ahead, coast along and take it easy. Sometimes you reach the crossing just in time to start off with them, thus saving your brakes, your gears and your gas. Incidentally, you save your temper for more important use.
When it appears that the car cannot be brought to a stop in time to avoiding hitting the back of the car ahead, do not try to turn off to the right or the left if there is other traffic around you. By running straight into the vehicle ahead, the bumper has an opportunity to protect your car, and you do not run the risk of involving other cars in the collision.
Pure Water
Even a novice knows that radiators, piping, jackets, etc., are injured and made inefficient through incrustations resulted from mineral substances inherent in all of natures aqua pura products, save, perhaps, rain water. The only safe thing to use therefore is distilled water. This is not always obtainable, but few indeed are the places nowadays where artificial ice cannot be found. That’s the answer; melt the ice and you have the purest water.
Don’t Do This
Any driver who stops his car on a curve or who attempts to pass another car there indulges in one of the most reprehensible practices of the unthinking road user. To those guilty of doing this when not driving to it by necessity, no ordinary punishment can be considered as being too drastic.
From page 10 of The Oxford Public Ledger, Tuesday, October 7, 1924
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073078/1924-10-07/ed-1/seq-10/#words=October+7%2C+1924
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