One should be conversant and cautious while handling any vehicle. We have been using Fiat Premier Padmini car since last two decades. The car has been running in fine condition. There is no rattling and denting in the car. Riding nearly 12 years in Delhi I have personally driven my car to Bhopal covering Agra, Gwalior, Jhansi, Orcha, Khajuraho, Sagar, Vidisa and Sanchi in the year 2000. From Orcha to Bhopal Via Khajurao, Sagar, Vidisha, the road condition was very bad.

A lot of vehicles overtook me and ultimately broke down for repairs on the road whereas my lovely car had given me no trouble during the journey covering nearly eleven hundred kilometres distance except changing one battery terminal. The car is very compact. If needed 7 heads can easily be accommodated for short distance travel. Luggage carrier is specious in comparison to those in other presently marketed new model small cars. Secret of maintaining my car in good condition for so many years is driving the same in controlled speed. I procured my driving licence in Kolkata (Then called Calcutta) in the year 1966. Since then I have been driving the car.

Those days it was very difficult to get the driving licence. For the new applicants, especially for the teenagers a minimum 5 to 6 months used to be spent in procuring a regular licence. First learner licence was issued on payment of a fee of Rs. 15.00. The validity period of the learning license was three months. This could have been renewed by paying Rs. 10.00. At the time of driving test, the Road Transport Authority (RTA) would disqualify the learner in trial and theoretical test at least for3 to 4 times.

Thereafter regular license was issued based on competence. A fee of Rs. 45.00 was charged for such purpose. Right from the beginning I was a very cautious driver. My first aim was to control the car and smooth driving whatever car comes to me. In my 42 years of driving, I have tried my best to follow the Indian Motor Vehicles Driving Rules. It helped me to drive in England also. One of the incidents in the past is still vivid in my memory.

In the year 1973 I was in Siliguri (North Bengal). One of my friends took me to Alipurduar in his Ambassador car. Alipurduar was 120 K.M away from Siliguri. The road was a combination of hilly and plane area. Though I was a good driver on Calcutta Street my friend had apprehension about my capabilities of driving on a hilly road. On our return journey from Alipurduar we started at 10 o'clock at night. After driving one hour my friend was feeling sleepy so he was reluctant to drive. Hesitatingly he asked me to drive but with caution.

I sat on the driving seat and enjoyed driving the car in hilly area at night. Sometimes it was crossing the tea garden areas, sometimes passing through deep forest, one-side hills and the other side river. The entire road was quite desolate. It was really a memorable journey. We reached Siliguri at 1 A.M. When I awakened my friend at the doorstep of his house he was surprised. Whenever one drives a car one should realize that it is running with some mechanism. If one applies pressure on the accelerator for speeding the vehicle no problem but slowly most of the body parts will be damaged internally due to rough and rash driving.

This will lead to rattling sound creating a continuous headache for the driver. A car is built up with nearly fourteen hundred parts and components .If one of the vital parts is spoiled due to rough driving the car may get damaged needing repairs. Considering this, one should drive the car carefully and smoothly with controlled speed resulting in saving a good quantity fuel, which is now a day's precious .One, should not be tensed during driving or overtaking. Slow and moderate driving will save the car from wear and tear of the engine, suspension, differential assembly and tyres Overtaking one may do, if need be, but not at the cost of life of one's own or co passengers or others.

Speed should be reduced as soon as animals are found to be loitering on nearby road or some oily substance or sand, fine stone chips are lying scattered on the road. If one goes on high speed on any oily or sandy materials, there is a possibility of turning the car 360 degree or may get topsy-turvy. Two wheelers may even slip down. One should be at least 3to 4 ft away from the road divider to avoid accident. In our country we have got a large number of car mechanics in every corner. They try to convince the car owners to do some extra repairs or replacement of spares which may not be needed.

If one has some knowledge about automobiles, the mechanic will not be in a position to befool the car owner. Every car owner should therefore acquire basic practical knowledge about car mechanism whenever they go to a garage for repairs of their car.

Some of these are: * Decarbonizing the Rotor and Distributor points, * Setting the Distributor and Spark plug points. * Changing of Cutout filaments. * Cleaning of fuel supply filter and carburetor jets, * Changing of Battery terminals. Wiper blades, Head light and side light bulbs to minimize their repairing expenditure. * Applying rubberized paint on foot deck and under side the car including the doors every alternate year before rainy season to minimize corrosion on the car: * Carrying essential tools and tackles like Pliers, Nose Pliers, Monkey Pliers, Screw Driver, Double ended spanner set, wheel wrench, wheel Jack, torch, Mattress and some duster or cotton waste.

In the morning before starting the car, one must check the following essential things: 1. Water or cooling agent in the car Radiator 2. Battery Terminals are properly tightened 3. Fan Belt 4. Brake fluid level, Braking action, and Brake light 5. Engine oil level 6. Tyres 7. Horn, Indicators and wipers and lights.