THE DRIVER'S PAR' :NSURING SAFETY.
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ALTHOUGII commercial vehicles are usually handled in a creditable manner and accidents attributable to business transport units are considerably less numerous than those which can be properly ascribed to other forms of machine, there are many points which should be borne in mind by those responsible for the safe driving of parcelcars, vans, buses or lorries.
Proper conduct on the road is largely dependent upon the condition of the vehicle to be driven. The subject of brakes has been fully dealt with in recent issues of this journal, therefore there is no need to deal with the matter further at this juncture. Almost as important as the subject of braking is that of acceleration, in order that a vehicle may be driven through an opening without hesitation when it is safe to do so.
With regard to steering, this obviously is one of the first items to receive attention in a regular garage inspection, as it affects to a marked extent the ease of control and consequent safety. Backlash should be eliminated and ball joints or pins in yoke ends tested for tightness and fractures at regular intervals. The couplings of trailers and drawbar fixings require periodical overhaul and locking pins should be used to prevent the jumping out of coupling pins in every instance. Door fastenings are often allowed to become unserviceable, and the danger of driving with unfastened doors in towns is serious, both to the occupants of the vehicle and persons or objects in the vicinity.
Driver's Comfort a Factor in Safe Operation.
In order to drive safely, the comfort of the man at the wheel must be considered. The use of heel rests often saves fatigue and provides a driver with a firm purchase for his feet when operating the clutch, brake or accelerator pedals.
A golden rule to remember is never to take a vehicle on the road if you feel that your health is not sufficiently sound. A sick driver is a potential cause of accident, and the use of alcohol should at all times be avoided.
Speed is a relative term ; 30 m.p.h. may be safe in one instance, but 3 m.p.h. in another may be highly dangerous. No hard-and-fast rules can be laid down ; experience must be the guide, but a vehicle should not be driven faster than will allow of its being pulled up in half the distance which the driver can see.
Starting away from the side of the road, it is always advisable to look behind in addition to extending the right hand, indicating that the stationary vehicle is about to move towards the centre of the road. An overtaking car may be far too close to stop, and an accident can often be avoided by looking for other traffic before a start be made. In the same way, observation should always be made before pulling over to the off side of the road to load or unload ; signalling alone is insufficient.
Hanging-on Must be Prevented.
The carrying of one or more passengers on the step of a lorry or the running board of a coach is highly dangerous ; likewise, a man sitting on the floor of a lorry and hanging his feet over the side is simply asking for trouble. Cyclists hanging on to the back of a vehicle should be watched, as they are risking their own lives and those of others ; a driver should immediately stop and warn any guilty person, likewise children riding on the tailboard or hanging on to any portion of the chassis should be rigidly prohibited from doing so.
The us. of brakes, or, rather, the misuse, is a common cause of accident. Always slow down in advance of the point at which a stop is required to be made.. Do not leave it until the last moment, as the efficiency of the brakes may not be exactly what is imagined, with unpleasant consequences. Should there be no compensating gear in the brake system, equal adjustment of the brakes is essential to prevent skidding. Although the law demands brakes capable of locking the wheels, it should not be overlooked that the greatest retarding effect is produced at a point just short of the wheels being prevented from revolving. Should a gear change be missed when ascending a hill, stop immediately and make a fresh start. On no account continue jabbing at the gear lever, as in all probability the vehicle will commence running backwards, gathering momentum rapidly, and a serious accident will result unless it can be brought to rest in a very short space of time. In the event of running backwards and the brake failing, do not steer backwards into a bank at an angle ; reduce speed so far as possible and swing round so that the bank is. struck fair and square—a glancing blow may cause overturning of the vehicle.
Especially with a heavy type of chassis, . it is not advisable to coast down hills in neutral, as the powerful braking effect of overrunning the engine is lost. The practice of coasting with the clutch pedal depressed is not to be encouraged, as it puts a serious strain upon the clutch-withdrawal mechanism and 'spigot bearing.
Standing on a Gradient the Use of the Scotch.
When leaving a vehicle standing beside the road, care should be taken to leave the hand brake hard on, and on a hill a scotch in front of or behind one of the rear wheels is advisable. Alternatively, the front wheels may be locked over so as to direct the vehicle into the kerb if it starts to move. The possibility of children or unauthorized persons tampering with the hand brake should not be overlooked, as it has caused many serious accidents. The scotch is best placed next the kerb to prevent the necessity for the driver standing in the road to remove it and to render it less obvious to mischievous children.
Experience will guide a driver in the matter of proper and improper use of the horn. Say, for instance, a pedestrian is crossing the road in front of a vehicle and does not notice its presence ; if he be more than halfway across the path of the driver it is safer not to sound the horn, its a frequent mistake is made in stepping backwards directly in front of the radiator instead of accelerating forwards ; on the other hand, if he be just stepping off the kerb, a warning blast may prevent him rushing into danger.
The giving of signals is the duty of all careful drivers ; likewise, signals should be observed when given by other drivers. Chassis having long wheelbases generally have a considerable overhang at the rear, and when going round Et corner to the left the projecting portion will cross the path Of a vehicle behind. Many drivers overlook this fact and try to pass before the longer machine is safely out of reach. It is best to give the "slow down" signal in order to prevent the overtaker trying to pass too early, and if a. mate be occupying the front seat he should extend his left hand further to advise the passing driver of what is about to take place.
The Essential Rear-view Mirror.
A rear-view mirror is, practically speaking, essential, particularly on vehicles where the driver cannot easily turn round to see what is • coming behind. Keep well over to the left and look at the mirror from time to time, especially on hills, as other drivers are tempted to speed up to get past, and the slightest deflection on the part of the driver of the slower machine may cause an unpleasant accident.
When reversing, always take care to notice whether other traffic is likely to be inconvenienced by your action. If the occasion arises for pulling in beside the kerb, between two other vehicles or objects, do not forget that if the front of the vehicle be driven into the opening and there is not sufficient space to straighten out, the rear of your lorry will probably project into the road, owing to the back end not being steerable. Go past the opening, reverse in, and the front wheels will automatically line up the vehicle so that it is parallel with the kerb.
Passing on corners is an obvious danger, but the practice is far more common than it should be, as is the . habit of cutting-in after passing any road user. When
descending a hilT and another vehicle is in front, always keep behind it until you see a clear road ahead ; the driver coming tip-hill should be given the right of way.
The correction of skids is a matter of practical experience and is soon acquired. For the benefit of the novice, however, should the rear wheels slide towards the left the front wheels should be turned as if taking a left-hand turn—that is, always steer in the direction of slip.
Particularly in the case of long wheelbase vehicles, wide sweeps should be made in order to avoid fouling the edges of kerbs in town, as pedestrians often overlook the fact that the rear wheels make a sharper turn than the front ones and are likely to stand On the edges of the kerb, ignorant of the danger.
Turnings into main or by-roads should always be made dead slow, so that an, instant stop can be effected if safety demands it. A belief exists in many quarters that traffic on main roads has a right of way over that on roads of secondary importance ; there is no foundation in law for this idea.
Making the Load Secure.
The fastening down of loads is not always attended to as it should be. The danger of loose cases falling from the body of an open lorry is a serious -one; likewise, flapping tilt sheets or loose ropes must be carefully watched. If travelling with a long load and the tailboard is hanging down, it should be cardully secured in
order to prevent its swinging about and fouling any vehicle which comes too close.
At night careful attention must be given to the working of lamps and their Positions. The off-side side lamp should be so placed as to indicate the maximum width of the vehicle and the tail lamp should be placed at the extreme right-hand side and at the rear ; thus, if a load of girders is being carried, for instance, the light should be on the end of the girders, in order to prevent overtaking traffic running up too close in ignorance of the fact that the load projects. In the case of a breakdown do not allow the vehicle to stand unlighted beside the road—it is merely asking for further trouble.
Difficulties Occasioned by Tramcars.
Traffic difficulties occasioned by trains are one of the thorns in the side of all drivers. Avoid driving with the wheels running along the lines, as serious skids are often caused by so doing. Watch the path of the tramlines ahead, esPecially in narrow streets, as the sudden swerving of a tram can cause almost anything larger than 'a bicycle to be nipped between it and the kerb.
The passing of trams is often a difficulty. In some towns or cities vehicle drivers are prohibited from passing a stationary tramcar, and care muSt be taken to ascertain local regulations in this respect. So far as overtaking a tram on its off side is concerned, the principal danger lies in connection with the central standards which are so commonly used and the presence of a tram moving in the opposite direction to the one which Is being passed. Never pull out towards the centre of the road until a good space ahead can be observed, and do not overlook the acceleration which trains possess.
Bus drivers have their own little problems, among which is the question of pulling in to the kerb in order to pick up or set down passengers. When the roads are cambered there is considerable danger of a skid towards the kerb just before the vehicle comes to rest. Pedestrians have a habit of standing in the gutter to wait for the bus rather than on the kerb, and if a skid takes place some of them are liable to be knocked down by the lateral movement of the vehicle. It is safer, therefore, to pull close in to the kerb some little distance before reaching the stopping point, and proceed slowly, thus causing the waiting passengers to step back on to the kerb out of the way
of danger. This chiefly applies in wet weather.
Care should be taken by _all persons responsible for passenger vehicles to see that the conduct of fares is not likely to cause danger when tanks are being filled, particularly if the filling aperture be inside the body.
• When bad or treacherous surfaces have to be traversed, it is much safer to get down and inspect the ground before proceeding, particularly when a temporary "ditching" would involve traffic congestion.
Steam-wagon drivers should avoid, whenever possible, the safety valve blowing, particularly where horses are likely to be met, owing to the danger of their taking fright. A little coal added to the tire will damp the flames somewhat for a few moments and thus reduce the head of steam.