MTFCA Forum

After a recent accident where a Model T knocked over a pedestrian I’ve been asked to write a procedure
on the safest way to drive our favourite car. This is to include close quarter work as in parking bays, shopping centres etc where
Pedestrians are present. Our incident was the old “panic stop” situation where the driver hit the clutch making the vehicle leap forward. This has been happening for over a 100 years but Has anybody produced a modern version driving instruction sheet for driving the T’s?? Any feedback or suggestions to produce a document of this nature would be appreciated!
Thanks in advance
Alan In Western Australia

In today's litigious world, be careful what you recommend. Any 'slip up' will be used to come back to whoever wrote the 'sheet'.

As to panic stop - regardless of potential damage to the car - a simple "stamp on any two pedals hard" is a good easy to remember line - especially when it is an emergency situation like you describe. I 'drum' that one into my son-in-laws, son and daughters whenever they would like to drive. i would rather fix a tranny than try an fix a person.

I keep the hand brake lever halfway back in tight quarters. That takes "high" off the table and makes the hand brake lever more accessible. Most people today drive automatic transmission vehicles, and may lack the clutch-to-the-floor-to-stop-quickly conditioned response that most people used to have. I drive mostly manual transmission vehicles, and have done so for many decades, and the clutch-to-the-floor-to-stop conditioned response is strong. Accumulating some driving time in a T, preferabley in a less demanding driving environment, is probably the best way to become a safer T driver. "Muscle memory" can get you in a jam in a T. Keeping ALL controls and systems in good condition and good adjustment simplifies driving a T. If you often drive your T around children and pets, or in unfamiliar surroundings, adding some kind of clip on rear vision camera might be a wise move. It's impossible to see low profile obstacles directly behind many Ts.

Whether antique or modern, if people are wandering all around a running vehicle and someone is at the controls, the potential for an accident exists.

I realize that writing a procedure is a well meaning gesture, but the fact remains that no living thing should have been allowed to wander in front of or behind a running automobile. THAT is what the procedure should cover.

I'm a mere prole, having never been elected. So I am only able to control my vehicle. I cannot control the people and vehicles around it, beyond avoiding crowds and traffic, so far as is practical. People and kids are drawn to Model Ts, so extra caution is required when operating around them. Having a copilot is a good thing, if such is available. It's remarkable how many adults engage in risky behavior, apparently without realizing it. Trains are probably the most predictable of vehicles, yet people continue to put themselves directly in front of moving trains. That usually results in a spectacular mess.

The times I went to Chickasha there was a Model T here and there driving around slowly. People who had bought parts sometimes would pickup them up and move on. It was done safely but it was in fairly close quarters and people would mostly watch what was going on. At other large car swap meets and events this probably goes on. Whether it’s an antique car or not driving slowly between the rows of parts and cars this goes on.

When there are events which have old cars whether buying or selling there are people who attend them and the organizers probably expect people to have a reasonable sense of safety and to watch what’s going on.

I haven’t been to any really large old car or swap meets and wonder if they have any type of “enter at your own risk” sign posted.

Has anyone tried turning the ignition source off as a method? I don’t know how this would apply to the T.

Along with a written policy maybe some signage?

Thank you for the replies guys.
It’s much appreciated and there are certainly good points there.
Alan in Western Australia

Be prepared for the unexpected. Leave space in front of you. Know how to blow your horn and the brake and how to swerve to avoid problems without causing a worse one. You still can't predict what others will do. It's kind of like having a deer run across in front of you.
Norm