The Washington times., 1930-04-02
DRIVER should
| LEARN TRICK
Of TOWING
BY ]. LEO SUGRUE
Times Automobile Editor

Times AUtOmODtkG EulGOT
No car owner ever thinks he will
need to be toWed, fact which, in
the opinion Of exponents of pre-
paredness, is one of the reasons
why he needs to learn how to play
his part in the operation. The
episode of being towed Is not al
ways the simple matter it seems
and there are certain peculiar haz-
ards against which the motorist
must guard.
There is danger If the driver
towing is too experienced, for he
then is apt to assume too much
knowledge on the part of the dis
gbled motorist and indulge in prac-
tices which may result in fur
ther miShap. All this can be
avoided through closer co-opera-
ton between the two drivers.
Have Special Pole
Some service men now use a
special towing pole instead Of
rope, chains or cables. This has
some definite advantages over
the flexible towing agent in that
1t obviates slack in the line, per-
mitting the cars to operate more
nearly as one. But the average
person who is at the end of the
tow line is not likely to be
treated to the best of towing
equipment, and often will be in
the position of the small boy at
the end of the line in snap
the-whip game.
An important feature is the
length of line between cars.
Frequently this is conveniently
decided for the parties in ques-
tion by having no choice OF tow.
lines. But when there are several
lengths available safety dictates
o moderate length.
The cars should not be so close
as to increase the chances OF
telescoping should the first one
stop quicker than the second, nor
far enough away to occasion
whipping" when the cars turn
curves and corners, or "zlgzag-
ging' when running straight
ahead.
If the motorist being towed has
good brakes the temptation may
be to draw the cars rather close
together in the belief that one
always can stop in time to avoid
collision, and that by having a
minimum of space between cars
the two will ride more as unit.
In assuming this, the fact is
overlooked that to be towed
safely it is necessary to have
clear vision of the road immedi-
ately ahead If the space between
the machines is not visible to the
man behind there is no opportun
ity to steer out of ruts and holes
In the road .One of the greatest
dangers in being towed is a Slip
perry street car track.
Should Have Signals
Before the actual towing be-
gins it is advisable for both per.
sons to have some working agree,
ment between them, some signal
code. It is rather easy for The
driver towing to give advance
news of changes in speed or di-
rection of travel. but not so easy
for him to gather what's on the
other fellows mind.
Before descending hills it is i'm
portant to stop so that the driver
in tow can shift to high or sec.
ond, depending upon the grade.
Unless this is done. burned brakes
may be the result. And worth
less brakes are doubly dangerous
where two cars are involved.
Safety in towing and in being
towed largely is a matter of COM
mon sense. Experience would be
q better guide, but being towed is
an experience which does not
come often enough for the aver
age motorist to give him pointers
for the next trip at the end Of
the towline. The best rule is to
think out the situation carefully
in advance:
-trI,