Low - Risk Driving  a skill for LIFE 

- - - - - - - - - - Road Safety by Dieter Fischer - - - - - - - - - - ISBN No. 0 09577 426 06   

   Your  SAFETY  is  Driving

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C.28    A worn rubber dilemma

A teenager’s first car is seldom a new one. The combination of inexperience and driving an older model vehicle on a shoestring budget increases the crash risk for young people.

 

My first car, a 1961 Vauxhall Victor, had a major defect when I bought it. The steering wheel had a huge free-play, which meant that the car would change direction, without any turn in the steering wheel. If I simply looked away, just for a moment, the Vauxhall veered off course considerably. 

During my first long trip from Sydney to the Snowy Mountains , my friends and I were approaching a narrow bridge. A truck was approaching from the opposite direction, when my Vauxhall decided to gradually move across into the path of the truck. We missed a head-on collision only by inches.

This scary incident made me do straight away, what I should have done (or insisted the motor car dealer does) immediately - have it repaired!  All it took was a small rubber bush, which only took a mechanic 1/2 hour to install and cost a few dollars.

What a fool had I been to neglect the repair! I would have never forgiven myself, had one of my friends been hurt or killed.

Helpful hints to avoid breakdowns:

Always drive with a gentle touch on all controls.

Avoid late, harsh braking and sudden acceleration, unless necessary. It wastes petrol and wears tyres. Slipping the clutch on a hill, instead of getting the handbrake fixed, ruins the clutch, which is more expensive to repair than the handbrake. False economy! 
Don’t save on maintenance. An automobile kept in good order not only provides transport for a number of years, it pays dividends when you trade it on a later model.
Don’t save on tyres. Bald tyres on a wet road cause havoc. Even a skilful driver has little control of a vehicle in the rain with bald tyres.

For safety and convenience, join your state’s Automobile Club. They do not only provide a breakdown service, but employ experts to assist members in all motoring related fields.

 If you can't afford  repairs on your car  - you can't afford your car! 

 

Disclaimer: Above information could vary in your part of the world. We take no responsibility for any accidents or failed driving tests, even if the advise in this book has been followed. We recommend you use above information in conjunction with a professional driving instructor. Site copyright ©driving-school.com.au  2001 / Revised Aug. 2010

Here is a little test to remember what you have learned. Firstly, answer the True / False question. Secondly, using the letter beside the correct answer, form a word. All answers are on this page

 T>    S

 To save on car services is false economy in the long term.  F>    T
 T>    R The best way to learning car mechanics is doing all repairs yourself.  F>    C
 T>    A Gently braking and accelerating saves tyres from wearing out quickly.  F>    U
 T>    N Working on a motor car can be dangerous for an inexperienced owner.   F>    S

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