The Washington times., 1922-09-17
CAUT|ONF|RST
REQU|S|TEFOR
GOOD DRIVING
Motorists Who Are Careful Get
More Service From Car
Than Others.

Summarized briefly. the character
istics Of a good driver are care and
caution under all circumstances and
conditions.
These apply with equal force TO
slow driving through consested traf-
fic or on the open highway, with
nothing either before or behind loom
ing as an obstruction of any kind.
Care and caution applies even 10
the manner in which the steering
wheel Is held, either at slow or high
sreed, and to the position Of the gear
shift when ascending or descending
a grade, says the Cleveland Messen.
ger.
The careful and cautious driver IL
such, not by reason OF fear OF any
kind, but usually from force OF habit.
He is careful and cautious uncon-
sciously. His upkeep costs are lower
than others: he knows that "serv-
ice" Is In his car and that II Is up
to him to get 1t out Of 1t.
Grip Is Firm.
Take, for example, the mere mat
tel of holding the steering wheel.
The careful driver always has firm
grip on II, the right hand grasping
the wheel at a point about one-third
of the distance up from the bottom
point on the right side and the left
hand similarly placed at a point
about one-third Of the distance down
from the top on the left side.
On the other hand, the careless
driver may usually be found with
one hand, or two. hanging loosely
over the lower rim Of the wheel and
palms down. Experienced drivers in
nearly every instance clutch the
wheel from below the rim with palms
nearly up.
1t does not follow that these
wheel holds are the only safe oneA
but they are secure and safe under
all conditions, and are the positions
that are recommended by the most
experienced drivers. II not COM
Portable positions at first, they can be
cultivated and in a short time be-
come, a matter of habit.
Because a driver is a fast driver
does not stamp him as n careful
driver: such a driver Is often quite
the reverse. Nine times out OF ten
he may get to his point of objective
quicker than some one else. but his
Journey is usually accompanied by
taking a number of Unnecessary
risks. Today there Is hardly an scci-
dent that afterward. under analysis,
will not reveal some glaring bit OF
carelessness.
On Changing Gears.
The careful and cautious driver
starts his car with an even, quiet
acceleration Of his motor, dropping
in the clutch with a smooth, velvet
like motion, shifting into the various
gears without clashing. the change
from high to low being accomplished
in such a manner that the passen-
gers in the car are hardly conscious
Of the change that has taken place.
1t is not necessary to clash the
gears, yet many drivers go through
their whole motoring experience with
q continuous clash; they drop in their
clutch in such q manner that their
passengers are frequently tipped up
ION their necks.' 80 to speak. And
when these same drivers stop their
cars they usually grind their brakes
and stop with q suddenness that
nearly throws the passengers out OF
the car.
Many motorists dread driving up
and down hills. This n no more
difficult to the careful and expert
enced driver than travelling on the
level. II is only the inexperienced
driver who insists on taking every
hill on high. Usually this type Of
driver hits the top Of the grade in
high. with his motor laboring and
knocking. every knock contributing
somewhat to the ultimate damage
and ruin of the car.
Gears are placed in an automobile
for a purpose and should be utilized,
1t Is always advisable to remember