Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1961-05-23

checks were made on a Volun-
teer basis, it is likely that these
drivers believed their vehicles
would pass.
A complete pre- vacation
check-up should include:
Battery and electrical system.
All lights should be operating
correctly, especially rear and in
dicator lights, and most impor-
tant, of course, headlights,
which should be properly aimed.
! Wheel alignment, tire balance,
initiation and condition, includ-
ing the spare, should be check
ed. Any stones or nails stuck in
the tire treads should be re-
moved. A blowout at high
speed almost always causes ex.
tensive injuries.
The motor should be thor
oughly serviced, including
check of oil level and condition,
and extremely important but
often overlooked, a thorough
servicing of the cooling system.
While always important, the sig
nificance of proper cooling sys-
tenn maintenance assumes ma
jor proportions in high speed
driving, because of the much
greater load which will be put
upon it.
Drain Cooling System
The cooling system must be
completely clean and operating
at maximum efficiency in order
to remove the great quantity of
heat created by the engine. The
system should be completely
drained of winter-worn anti
freeze, thoroughly flushed and
then filled with fresh water.
1t is important to add a rust
and corrosive inhibitor to the
cooling system. The system
should then be thoroughly check
ed for leaks. The condition and
tightness of all hoses and gas
kets, as well as the condition of
the thermostat and pressure cap
also should be checked.
The steering mechanism and
shock absorbers, as well as
minor items such as windshield
wipers, rear view mirror, horn
and glass should be checked and
serviced where indicated.
Remember that stalled cars in
traffic lanes, especially at night,
are either invisible, or even if
lighted, are very difficult to tell
from moving cars at go miles
an hour. This is one of the chief
causes Of usually fatal rear end
collisions. A properly maintain
ed car is your best protection
against this fate.
While you're at it, check the
condition of the driver, too. He
should be in shape for that long
vacation drive.
Some of the other points
which you might want to keep
in mind to make sure that you
live until Labor Day, are:
Know where you are going
and how you will get there.
Check road maps and make an
agenda Of the trip so that you
will know what highways to
take and where to change high
ways without sudden swerves or
stops.
Allow adequate time for
travel. Plan your overnight
stops and make reservations
ahead. Confusion and annoy.
ance in looking for lodging re-
duces the motorists safe driv-
ing ability. Extended driving
from one town to another in
search of lodging can create
added hazard, because of fatigue
and emotional upset.
When the trip includes free
way, expressway or turnpike
driving, the motorist should be-
come familiar with the require.
ments for safety on these high
speed roads. Remember, the
rules of the road may vary in
different states.
The terrain of highways that
is different from that which the
driver is accustomed to will
create added hazards. Drivers
accustomed to level highways
must be alert for vehicles hid
den from view in rolling or
billy country.
Know the traffic laws and
obey them; be courteous and use
common sense. Vacations are in
tended to be fun, but driving
errors can turn them to trag.
edies.
You may have heard the sug-
gestions 1 have given above be-
fore. Unfortunately, there are
many who were alive last Labor
Dav who will never hear them