Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-19

superior performance tndt the Det-
ter gasolines give.
The making of a left turn fire.
uuentlv is attended with some diff
| cu1tv. much more. i'll fact, than it
should be if both the motorist turn
| ing and the one following carry out
the letter and spirit Of the regula-
tons and exercise their best judg-
| meut.
There appears to be misunder-
standing on the part of some drivers
following a car that is turning as
to where they should pass, Instead
of needing the signal OF the motorist
who is about TO turn left, and pass
ing him on the right--the one time
under the regulations that it is per-
| missible-some will insist on passing
| on the left, which is both annoying
| and dangerous when the turning car
keeps on moving.
| An incident illustrating this point
occurred a few nights ago at Sin
teenth and Longfellow streets north
west. The driver of one Car had
signaled for a left turn and had
stopped to allow the passage of a
machine coming down Sixteenth
street, As he was beginning to move
to complete the turn into the cross
street another driver narrowly avoid
ed colliding when he attempted to
pass on the left side. considerably
beyond the center OF the street.
Another motorist has had several
annoying experiences with left turns
at Sixteenth and Fuller streets
northwest After holding his hand
we'll beyond his car for Is yards or
so. as he approached Fuller street,
this motorist has on one occasion
been taken to task by another driver
for slowing i'll the center Of Six
teenth street to let traffic pass i'll
the opposite direction, On two other
occasions he has seen cars stopping
behind him instead of continuing
around on the right. If the signal
had been given late or were poorly
given there might be reason for be-
lteving that some confusion had re-
suited. but the observer who reports
these incidents states most positively
that the signal could not have been
clearer, which seems TO indicate that
some drivers are not so clear regard
ing their observance of the rules of
the road. Every driver has perfect
right to make a left turn, provided
1t is permissible at the intersection
III question and he offers no obstruc-
ton to oncoming or crossing traffic
The purpose of getting to the CEN
ter of the street before making the
turn is TO leave a clear passageway
tor the cars that are following.
Many motorists. who are not sat
isfed with what their dealers offer
them for their old cars in trade are
attempting to dispose of the cars
themselves. The process is serving
to teach thousands just what the
dealer is up against when he tries to
sell a used car. They also quickly
realize that their appraisal of the
Car usually is higher by many dollars
than that any one else sets upon the
machine.
The dealer, often at his wits end
trying to cope with the used-car
problem, would like to see more new
car prospects dispose of their old
cars, or at least make the attempt.
If they succeeded, he would not have
to tie up capital in the used car and
pay heavy overhead charges until he
disposed of it. If they failed, they
probably would become more rational
in their idea of what the car was
worth in trade.
Either way, he benefits; and with
the problem constantly pressing upon
him, he cannot be blamed for want
ing to benefit in some way.
Fifteenth and Euclid streets con-
tinues TO be an intersection that is
considered as one of the dangerous
spots of the Northwest section by
motorists who cross it frequently
Euclid street is detected northward
as it crosses Fifteenth, thus inter
fering with clear vision for drivers
approaching from any direction.
One motorist, approaching the in
tersection from Sixteenth street the
other evening, sounded his horn, as
is his custom, and kept his car at
moderate speed, but, despite this pre-
caution and the fact that he was on
the right. he narrowly avoided col
lision with a roadster going south
ward at good gait The other mo-
torist had sped past one of the
SLOW signs on Fifteenth street and
was paying no attention to traffic
approaching from his right
The driver who reports the Incl
dent suggested in facetious mo-
ment the establishment of fund
with which prize would be award
ed to the first motorist who slows
down at either of the two Slow"
signs on Fifteenth street
It is we'll to remember that rough
roads render brakes less efficient.
Brsking is dependent upon friction
between the tire and the road. If
the road is so rough that the rear
wheels are pulled away from it on
the rebound Of the springs, this fric
ton is greatly reduced.
In the case of the heavy car. this
trouble is not so common. Number
less accidents that involve small'cars
are traccable 10 this cause, however
The driver approaches too near to
the rear of another car at rather
high speed. When the need for stop
ping arises, he finds his brakes in
adequate, even il they are working
to perfection on the smooth high
way. The best brake must fail un-
less there is some friction between
the tire and the road.