Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-11-19
Unprepared For Trouble.

Observers of present conditions de-
clare that because SO many drivers are
difficulty that they recall even the most
fundamental Of the rules needed for
correcting skid
Put down as an elementary rule the
necessity for steering in the direction
the rear wheels are Slowing. That Is,
If the rear of the car starts to move
over to the right immeditely cut the
front wheels in the same direction.
This must be sudden, sharp cut if the
car is heavy; not so severe II the car
is light, otherwise it will skid in the
opposite direction after the original
skid is corrected. 1t takes courage to
apply this remedy, because one has the
sensation of steering straight into that
skidding law.
One reason why this law sometimes
fails to afford remedy is because
the driver does not sense the skid in
time. A good driver should be able
to detect any side slippage" above an
inch or two In fact, he should know
in advance by the behavior of the car
just about how prone it is to skidding
under the particular driving condi-
tons. The modern superpower motor
is handy for acquiring such knowledge,
because if the rear wheels are not
offering sufficient traction there viii be
slippage and marked tendency for
the car to skid every time the accelera-
tor is touched too freely.
1t does not necessarily follow that
If the rear of the car is unstable dur
ing squirt of speed there will be a
skid when the brakes are applied. A
test with car equipped with treadless
r1d rlnrfna4Irr Dnd tlxpl yae
showed that it could be stopped with
out any tendency to slide or skid
when on the straightaway, going either
uphill or down. But the driver could
hardly hold the car on the road when
he tried to accelerate to pass other
cars. He also had great difficulty
rounding curves.
Motor Braking Factor.
1t should be obvious, but many
drivers still choose to ignore it, that
If the brakes are equalized the car
will skid less in free wheeling than
when the motor is braking through the
rear wheels. This will not apply to
every car, because some do not have
sufficient amount of braking force
on the front wheels. A test will quick
ly show whether or not your car is
safer stopped in free wheeling, or
with clutch pedal pressed down, or If
it is stopped with the motor helping
with the braking.
Especially important is the rule
about stopping in a straight line. Many
accidents are caused from what are
known as steering skids. Even if the
brakes function properly. and power Is
not point to be considered, a car
may skid If its driver steers it into
tangent or into turn while ap-
plying the brakes The weight of the
car tends to stop in a straight line,
but If its position is changed then the
rear end will try to go its own way.
When travelling fast it is often neces-
sary to follow very different procedure
Never should the cars full braking
power be applied until. it is known
how the brakes take hold. First Jockey
down the speed of the car with the
clutch engaged and the brakes care
fully applied. If the car shows the
slightest tendency to slide or skid re-
lease the brakes and try them again.
You viii know by this time which way
the front wheels are trying to pull and
can correct this with suitable counter
pull on the steering wheel. Few drivers
realize that as the object to be avoided
is neared, and If the car is in process
of slowing down, the more rapid the
rate Of declaration.