Advice for Lady Motorists from 1909

Advice on how to drive a car back in the early 1900s was largely directed at men, as they were the ideal automobile customer. They were also the only folks to become chauffeurs. But, as with bicycles, there was a small (but growing) number of women who wanted in on the action as well. For them there was this handy book published in 1909 entitled The Woman and the Car by British driver and journalist, Dorothy Levitt. This volume was intended to give all kinds of practical advice about driving cars, from a woman to other women. Despite this, the advice at times does seem rather patronizing as one major theme of the book is to not let one’s emotions overwhelm you when something inevitably goes awry with either the car or your driving skills. Even today many drivers have issues keeping their cool while on the road, so perhaps this is a universal problem. Read some of the interesting tips for lady drivers below.

Wear a Scarf

Be sure to wear a scarf to protect your throat and keep from getting a cold. Back then cars were largely open to the elements, leaving the driver and passengers exposed to all kinds of temperatures. At the time mail order catalogs had entire sections dedicated to keeping warm in cars because these goods had already been sold for carriages for decades. Lap blankets (also called lap robes) were sold to keep lady passengers warm, but women driving was a whole new arena. And, it would be rather hard to drive with a blanket over your feet. So the next best thing would be to wear a good scarf around your neck! A leather or fur cap was also suggested.

Don’t Wear Rings

Levitt advises that one not wear rings while driving as they may hurt when you hold the wheel. This was before power steering so perhaps she had a point. Not only this but she writes that driving in your precious rings may loosen the stones. She also advises against bracelets and frilly collars, too.

Practice Learning on Country Roads

This still holds true today for student drivers of any gender. Practicing on back roads and gravel roads meant there was less traffic to startle the driver. Today though we have the advantage of huge parking lots in which to practice driving if needed.

Carry a Mirror with You

It was not strictly for touching up one’s hair or makeup. Before rearview mirrors were a thing backing up and seeing behind you was rather a difficult task. Fewer cars on the road meant this was less of an issue, though it was still quite a problem. Women were suggested to bring a small hand mirror with them driving so they might use it to see behind them if needed.

Carry a Revolver with You for Safety

Should trouble arise the lady motorist would need to defend herself. Levitt recommended something with little kick back. If you didn’t want to carry a gun, a dog was a second choice to take on one’s drives.

Don’t Cry If Your Car Breaks Down

It is tempting to get upset when something goes wrong, but Levitt advised for ladies to keep calm and laugh rather than cry over car troubles. Most repairs could be handled by a woman, save for that of changing a burst tire as “not one woman in a thousand would want to ruin her hands in this way.”

Check the Spark Plugs

And battery connections, carburetor, and gas levels. And do it often to make sure to head off problems before they start. An important thing to note here is that early drivers had to be mechanics as well, since cars were prone to all manner of problems that needed constant cajoling to sort out. Checking before leaving was a way to lessen side-of-the-road problems.

Tip Your Garage Attendant or Valet

In those days these professions offered full cleaning and fueling or mechanic services overnight, well worth a few extra pennies. The author was under the impression that your vehicle will suffer if your tips to the valets and service staff are not generous and frequent.

Join a Ladies Motoring Club

Ladies motoring clubs were founded on both sides of the Atlantic to help educate women on the proper maintenance and upkeep of cars. Considering that there was not the industry for periodicals about cars that would spring up later, clubs were some of the few places that women could get this much-needed resource. They also had discounts on hotel rooms and garages- all things that a traveling lady would need to make use of on her journeys.

Never Let Anyone Else Drive Your Car

This last one is a doozy. Levitt says in her book that she never let anyone else driver her car: “I have made it a rule never to allow any one to drive my own little car — and this is a rule that every one will find useful.” This allowed her to better understand when a new noise of problem comes up what might have caused it. She goes so far to say that say that a stranger at the wheel might even cause the car to become out of tune!