The Washington times., 1921-10-01
WATCHING ROAD
FAR AHEAD AIDS
EASY DRIVING
Drivers Who Watch Only Fore
ground Are Liable to Meet
Emergencies.

| cars along the road ut nearly uni
form speed, preserve an almost
straight course with scarcely per.
ceptfble deviations when the ROAD
! Ii straight, avoiding small obstruc-
tons on the surface as II by luck
| more than intention, and never ge,.
ting Into tight places in traffic tnat
requires sudden dexterous movements
| to prevent collision or other ACCIDENT.
On the other hand, there are driv-
ers who dodge every little hole, stone
horseshoe and broken bottle with q
short turn OF the steering wheel
that results in an unpleasant sway
Ing Of the car body; who slow up
and start with annoying frequency,
and are repeatedly treating their
companions In the car to thrilling
moments of suspense as they mar
rowiy avert the running down OF
slower , moving pedestrian or
cyclist. t a
Distance Ahead. ~;
These differences are noticeable
alike on city streets and country
roads, and are amply sufficient to
make 1t q delight to ride with one
| friend at the wheel and almost tor
ture to sit in the car behind another.
You may be unconscious OF the pre-
| else reasons that give you confidence
In the one and make you apprehen-
sive with the other, yet the feeling
L. there. In all probability the sec
rot lies In this fine point In driving
I'm automobile-the distance ahead
Of the car at which the driver To-
cusses his gaze.
| The proficient driver has early
learned to watch the road far In ad-
vance Of his car--as far, In fact, IS
| the road Is visible. On straight,
level road this may be several miles;
on q winding course as Tar as the
next turn; on q hilly road the crest
OF the next rise, and on city streets
as far az the state OF the traffic
permits the way to be seen clearly.
Following this practice, All pdo
places and small objects on the sur
face of the road are seen long before
the car comes to them. and almost
unconsciously the car In steered TO
avoid them. The action begins 80
early that the movement 10 practically
| imperceptible TO other passengers, ana
the driver does not find II necessary
! to keep his eyes fixed upon the spot
or object until Il has passed: he has
early Insured that II will not be struck
by the wheels. and 30 continues 70
keep his eyes focused away ahedo.
Thus he avoids dropping his eyes to
ing them again to the focusing point.
a practice that becomes wearisome TO
the driver and gives rise to unexpected
emergencies z.
The novice or indifferent driver who
concentrates much Of his attention on
the road directly in front Of his wheels
does not see impedimenta Tar enough
/ In advance to begin q gradual move
| ment In avoidance OF them, but must
make quick turns<to swing out around
the holes, stones and other oos.rac,
upon the particular thing or place Nc
IL avoiding. he IN unprepared for the
next one, which he has not seen.
| Eye Like. Camera.
The human eye In like q camera In
this respect that when focused upon
the distance the immediate foreground
| is also IN fairly good focus, but when
focused only q few yards or two or
| three rods ahead, the background II
very indistinct. Consequently the no.
tor-car driver who watched the ROAD
AT the point Of disappearance iinds
that the foreground takes care OF ltoch
that IL. he subconsciously directs .ne
movements Of the car without any
Hs,r.ction Of his attention from whit
IL coming farther on.
90 his car follows straighter course
with long, easy sinuosities that ooes
not cause any swaying OF the pooy.
"A his COMPANION motorists scarcely
resi,ze that there any bad places Iii
the road over which they are travelling.
Even more important than this
hoveyer. a the fact that. by follow
inr this method Of driving. SUDDEN
emergencies can be wholly aVoioeo'
when watching the point OF d,sap'
49, ~noA a fNanOa9lDl0
tor any other vehicle TO emerge
around a turn. over the top OF
hin. ar from q cross road without
the driver being ut once aware OF
q and. a q result, prepared 70 pre-
want A collision. He has ample tine
N reduce speed without sudden
shuttinr off Of power and nppiica-
tion OF brakes, and to decide upon
his course Of action--whether to turn
rirht or left. slow doXn or speed up
and to sound hts horn az warn
ing In time to enable the obssructns
vehicle 70 pub out to one side.
| Preserves Speed.
Thus he preserves more uniform
Fate OF speed and finds few occa-
sions for change Of gear and appli-
cation Of brakes, all Of which are
wearing on the mechanism and uron
the nerves Of the passengers. He
Ia able 70 cover a greater distance
In A given time than the man who
follows the contrary driving prac-
tice, and does Il without the need
OF making short dashes at top speed.
Similarly in city traffic the prof.
oient driver watches the movements
q all the vehicles well In advance.
and, BY Judging their speed and
noting their direction Of motion. Is
on the alert for the slightest sign
Of an Intention to slow down or turn
| into q side street or pass around a
wagon or car going In the same di.
rection. He governs bis own move
ments accordingly, and easily avoids
liability Of running into another We