Hudson Super Six 1916 Reference Book page 47

APPROACHING RAILROADS - In approaching a railroad crossing, especially if there is an incline or grade,
the car should be dropped back into second speed and the approach made carefully, first to determine whether to
make the crossing or not, and second, to be in position to accelerate your car suddenly with very little chance of
stalling your motor.
Many accidents have happened because inexperienced drivers have become confused and stalled their motors.
On noting the approach of the train, they have thrown on their power, or let in their clutch suddenly, with the
result that the motor is stalled and it is then too late to move out of danger.
FRIGHTENING HORSES - Often drivers of horse-drawn vehicles become confused if their horses are
frightened by the approach of an automobile and in drawing up the horses sharply to one side the animals are
liable to jump or rear with the result that the vehicle may be overturned and the automobile injured as well. In
cases of this kind, it is better to stop the machine entirely and if necessary, even stop the motor.
CHANGING GEARS - More accidents result from unwillingness to change gears than from almost any other
cause. Most American drivers use their first and second speeds only in starting their car. They allow the car to
drift along and thus get into a tight place in traffic or too close to street cars and because of misjudging the speed
of the approaching vehicle or their selfish desire to crowd out another car, collisions or other accidents frequently
result
It is a simple operation to change from third to second speed. It increases your power and affords the
possibility of a great deal quicker acceleration as well.
The second speed is incorporated for a purpose. It is seldom that we are in such a hurry that we cannot spare a
moment to afford absolute safety,
ACCIDENTS NOT DUE TO LOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR - Accidents are not due to the driver losing
control of the car in many instances, but are more likely due to his losing control of himself. One is not an expert
driver until he intuitively performs the operations which control the car just as he walks or reaches out for an
object.
WHEN THE CAR SKIDS - Although the driver feels helpless at first a little experience will soon give him
confidence
Most skids can be corrected by the manipulation of the steering and brakes. An expert driver can keep his car
straight under almost any conditions, but it is impossible to explain just how he does it Usually the rear end skids
first, and in the right hand direction, this being caused by the crown of the road. Under such conditions, the
skidding action will be aggravated if the brakes are applied, and the car may be ditched or continue to skid until it
hits the curb.
The correct action in an emergency of this kind is let up on the accelerator pedal to shut off the power; but not
entirely so, or it will have 'he same effect as putting on the brake. If the car seems to right itself, the power may be
applied gradually and it will be advisable to steer for the center of the road again. However, if the car continues to
skid side. ways, steer for the center of the road, applying the power gently. This will aggravate the skid for the
moment, but will leave you with the front wheels in the center of the road and the car pointing at an angle. By so
doing you can mount to the crown of the road again and the momentum of the tax will take the rear wheels out of
the ditch on the right hand side. It is customary to advise turning the front wheels in the direction that the car is
skidding in order to correct the action but this can hardly be said to be true in all cases, as the amount of room on
the skidding side is somewhat limited, and for this reason, the explanation given above will better apply to such a
condition.
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