Middletown transcript., 1922-09-30
INDICATIONS OF
CORRECT DRIVER
Something More Needed Than
Being Able to Stop, Start and
Guide Car Along Road.
SOME UGLY DRIVING TRICKS
Aporq Most Common Practices That
Result in Accidents Are Starting
Ahead in Second Speed and Re-
Iaxing Vigilance.

Tne test OF good driver Is not
whether he Is able to stop, start and
guide the car along the road, but
whether he is invariably considerate
Of the mechanism of his own vehicle
and of the feelings, eccentricities and
safety Of all other users of the road.
If man drives well in every respect
except that he expects all pedestrians
to know how to walk, all equestrians
to know how to ride, and all motorists
to know how to run car, he is still
a menace of the highways.
There are some bad driving tricks
which are encountered every time you
go out-ignoring the right-of-way rule,
cutting corners, swinging around Il
corner without first going close to the
curb. cutting in on the wrong side of
car,
The careless, unmannerly driver Is
a poor driver, even though he may be
expert in car control.
The simple mechanics of driving
the steering, the manipulation of gear
shift lever pedals and SO on-are
easily mastered. But the record of
crumpled tenders, damaged lamps, and
wayside wrecks tell the story that a
whole lot of motor car owners do not
know how to drive.
Result in Accidents.
Among the most common practices
that result in needless accidents may
be mentioned the following examples ::
The first driver, Mr.. A., was very
proud of the cars acceleration equip
ment. After being held up by con-
| gested traffic he always started in
| second and was going twenty miles
| an hour before slower cars had got
into motion.
One day he relaxed his customary
vigilance and piled head-on into the
rear of another car. First result :
Two bent tenders and no headlights
on his own car, plus two Sheered
spring clips on the car ahead, total
ing a repair cost of $3.50. Second re-
suit, arising from stopping too quick
ly: Demolished rear luggage carrier
and the total eclipse Of the lights
on the car which bumped him from be-
hind. Because he failed to put out his
hand on stopping, Mr.. c. assumed re
sponsibility for the damage to the
overtaking car-and it cost him about
hundred silver dollars to learn that
he didn't know how to drive.
Next in line comes Mr.. B. He was
such good driver that he could af
ford to be careless. He prided himself
on knowing the bumps and other pc
culiarities of all roads in his neigh
borhood. But one night after a heavy
rain he was loafing along at so miles
an hour when his car bounced in ant
out of hole which had been caused
by undermining water, and he in
dulged In two new springs and 8
rather expensive rear axle assembly
He Is now better driver than h,
was.
Could Divide His Brain.
Here we find Mr.. ID. Z. Eff, to whom
driving had become like second nature
He could divide his brain into two
parts, reserving the one for guiding
the car around corners, speeding it VI
and down hills, avoiding bad spot
in the road, and so on; and utilizin:
the other for entertaining his guests
He could laugh and tell droll storie
which provoke his friends into gale
of merriment. But one day he glanced
around to see how the point of a stor.
had been taken, and just then a tele
phone pole grew up in what he though
was the middle of the road. Hi
spirit is now motoring down the long
long trail.