THE UBIQUITOUS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 16, 29 October 1938, Page 5

THE ÜBIQUITOUS

POSERS FOR PATROLS. SOME TALL ORDERS GIVEN. “Can you trace my wife, who is motoring in the. Lake District, and break it to her that our house has been burnt down.” A road patrol faced with this request might not unreasonably think that there are times when motorists can be a nuisance. So, also, might think one of his colleagues, who was stopped by a man who had just left home on the start of a motor tour, and asked to go to the motorist’s home to ascertain whether his wife’s suspicion that she had left the gasstove alight . was well-founded, says the London “Times.”

A somewhat “tall order” to the Automobile Association was the request for a list of the laundries in France and Germany, with their charges. This was equalled by the demand of the person who wanted the history and addresses of all the haunted houses in England, with itineraries by road to each. From a member in Germany came the inquiry: “Is it safe to motor in England unarmed?” Someone in Ceylon wanted an anti-rheumatism ring, and someone else in central Africa a dart hoard, so he could “teach the local residents the good old English game of darts.” What of the serious request: “Are passports necessary for a visit to Scotland?” or the equally grave question from an American motorist: “Is ti possible to buy petrol in Scotland?” Another dip into the correspondence bag produced the following: “What is the strength of the current of the Rhine at Godesberg?” “Is Rugby played at Heidelberg?” “Should, I wear a sun helmet in the Canary Islands?” “What is the Republic of Andorra, noted for?” “My dog has biscuits; are these obtainable in France ” “Can you tell us the name of the place in Sussex where the. famous pork sausages are made?” “What is the name of the best ladies’ hairdresser in Liverpool?” “What is the best route from Finchley to Dent, Yorkshire, in the event of war being declared?”

One enterprising promoter of a youths’ boxing club asked for a copy of the A.A. road safety poster bearing the words ‘‘Give more —take less,” to display in his gymnasium. A (presumably) disillusioned wife wrote: “Can you assist in tracing my husband, , a- chauffeur, living somewhere in London P’ ’ The association says that it is able to answer 98 per cent, of the posers put to it. It has not stated whether this question is among the remaining 2 per cent. BRITISH 1939 MODELS. WILL BE READY THIS MONTH. MANY WILL NOT BE ALTERED. British motor manufacturers have their 1939 models ready for showing the public at the annual motor exhibition at Earl’s Court- in October. One of the leading English periodicals devoted to motoring says that many of the existing models will he continued unaltered except for minor modification and improvements. However, it says, greater attention is being paid to powlev-to-weight ratios (a welcome improvement) and to more economical operation. The inference is that British manufacturers are realising the _ great importance of performance, particularly in the matter of acceleration. The journal also states that a number of entirely new models, without being unconventional, will incorporate the latest ideas in suspension, power production, and coadh'work lines. In short, the offerings of British manufacturers for 1939 are likely to bo the most attractive to the overseas market? ever produced.

42 MILLION MOTORS. A PRELIMINARY SURVEY A preliminary survey of the world's motor vehicle registrations at the close of 1937 reveals a. total of 42,400,(10?-, according to statistics issued by tliv Automobile Manufacturers' Association of America. In 1932 there were 30,850,000 motor vehicles registered throughout the world; therefore an increase of 11,550,000 is shown over the past live years. America leads all other countries with 70 per cent, of the world’s registrations, comprising 25,400,000 cars and 4,250,000 commercial vehicles. During last year American motor vehicle users paid approximately £316.000,000 in taxation, which is about 15 per cent, of all taxes, Federal, State and local, levied in that country. Taxes on petrol imposed by all authorities in America yielded more than £190,000,000. Russian Car. Strongly reminiscent of American practice, and produced in the enormous Stalin Motor Works, the Z.I.S. is Soviet Russia’s contribution to the automobiles of the world. The first or these cars to lie shipped to Engl ana arrived in London early in August for use at the Russian embassy. Catching Them Young. At a number of schools in America instruction in driving is included in the curriculum. A now rule is being added, however, to the effect that a doctor’s certificate must- be produced as evidence of the scholar’s physical fitness- to drive,

DIRECTOR INDICATOR. AN INTERESTING EXPERIMENT. TESTS O.V THE HIGHWAY. An interesting experiment is. being conducted in the United States with roadside reflectors built on a now principle, for the purpose of helping drivers to pick out the path of a road at night time. The first tests are being made on a length of highway ol 85 miles, between the cities of Lansing and Detroit. The reflectors are made from a material • known as Incite methyl methacrylite, recently developed by one of the largest chemical laboratories- in the Unitel States. This is a plastic which is water clear, flexible, and non-shat-tering. It can be moulded to any shape very accurately and is claimed to possess permanent transparency. The reflectors are mounted on pedestals on each -side of the road at intervals of 100 ft. As a car approaches the light from the headlights is reflected back very clearly from those pedestals, so that the sides of the road are well indicated. Drivers have found the reflectors particularly valuable on corners.

It is also said, however, that other unexpected benefits have resulted from the use of the reflectors. They relieved eye strain, penetrated tog, and, strangely enough, seemed to reduce the glare from oncoming cars. American traffic authorities are watching the experiments with the new device with the greatest interest, because in that country, GO per cent, of all accidents occur at night, although only one-third of all driving is done at night. It is said that tlie reflective properties of Lucito are 10 times.greater than those of glass.

“Motorists aged between 19 and H although at the peak of their driving skill, are the most dangerous drivers on America’s roads. They cover much loss mileage than middle-aged dibeis, yet- tliev kill three-times as many people.” _ Dr. Harry M. Johnson, of the U.S, Highway Research Board.