Evening star., 1925-10-11
DRIVER MEETS NEW
DANGERS IN FALL
Ieaf Skidding," StaIIing,
Glare and Battery Failures
Among Hazards.

Autumn, usually a period Of mo-
toring delight, is also period of
special hazards, according TO the
American Automobile Association,
which has Just issued a paper on the
subject, pointing out that at this sea
son of the year the touring motorist
should give particular attention to
such fall hazards as leaf skidding,"
stalling, headlight glare and battery
failure.
"Leaf skidding.'" it Is explained,
lis likely to be a more serious hazard
this year than ever before. Many
side roads have been repaved recently,
and since these roads are invariably
lined with trees autumn rains are
likely to combine with fallen leaves
TO make very unstable path for the
careless driver. Leaves always have
been source of danger In the fall.
particularly when they hold water on
their under side and thus trap the
driver who thinks he can get perfect
traction when he wants to stop quick
ly. This year the situation is ag-
gravated by reason of the higher
speeds at which drivers will travel
over the improved roads"
Blowouts Threatened.
Weak tires are also pointed out
as a grave danger. Autumn time is
blowout time, It is said.
Careful inspection of tires should
he the rule before setting out for a
fall trip" the A. \. \. advises. Many
motorists so all summer without ap-
preciating that the tires are rapidly
weakening. When they start on the
fall tour 1t Is not an uncommon thing
10 find these overworked tires blow
ing out.
IAN excellent plan is TO purchase
new set Of tires in the fall, using
them for the trip and then removing
them for the winter. Old tires will
be found safe enough on the car dur
ing cold weather when speed Is not
the rule, provided, of course, that the
nlotorist is not troubled by inefficient
traction due to the smooth treads
Whatever plan he decides upon, 1t is
a matter of safety to have good rub
Der on the car for the fall tours,
since travelling is invariably accom-
panied by speed. and speed does not
go with weak tires.
Stalling Danger.
can important point in connection
with fall motoring Is that this season
or the year creeps upon one without
a full realization of what is happen
ing. In winter car owners make it
a point to have the carburetor ad-
Justed properly for the weather condi-
tions the motor will encounter, and 1t
IS the rule to have some sort of COW
ering over the core of the radiator
In fall. however. the average driver
tries to get along on summer car
buretor mixture. This means stall
ling.
Stalltng Is now generally recogniz-
ed as a grave hazard. Stalling is a
contributing cause of a large per-
centage Of grade crossing accidents.
1t results In considerab BILE traffic de-
lay and occasions much unnecessary
congestion.
THE matter Of stalling and made
quate carburetor mixture Is closely
related to battery failure. Fall is the
period of the year when batteries are
overworked. Garages are without
heat, yet temperatures are low. Car
buretor mixtures are so Inadequate
that the average motor must be crank
ed several times before it will keep
from stalling.
Little Reserve Current.
While many owners manage to get
through the fall without having the
battery actually fail in its Job of morn.
ing cranktng. there is little current
stored up for an emergency. The av-
erage battery in the fall Of the year
Is not in condition to supply suffi.
ctent current to operate the starter
motor long enough to pull the car
off railroad crossing. assuming the
engine has stalled.
Last but by no means least among
the fall hazards in motoring is the
matter OF headlight glare. Shorter
days and the end of daylight saving
for many cities means increased
travel by artificial light. Throuehout
the long summer evenings the aver
ago driver gets little out of prac-
tice In the art Of facing bright lights.
and II Is possible that his own head.
lights will have been Jared more or
less out of adjustment.