MODERN MOTORING

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 9, 12 January 1926, Page 10

MODERN MOTORING

ttr SPARKWSLL

LIGHTING-TJP TIMES. To-day 7.44 p.m. Wednesday „ 7.44 p.m. Thursday 7.43 p.m. Friday \ 7.43 p.m. Saturday 7.43 p.m. Sunday 7.42 p.m. Monday 7.42 p.m. NOTES ON TRAFFIC FROM WISER LANDS. After a trip covering eight months, Mr. F. R. Jones, a well-known Christchurch motorist, speaks of what he has seen of interest to motorists generally. "Until we get complete control of pedestrians, cyclists and motorist..," said Mr. Jones, "we can never hope to have traffic control of the sensible kind in Christchurch. I arrived back on December 24, and the streets of this city, with their traffic, looked like a rabble. Pedestrians walk in all directions. The motorists are always blamed, and sometimes they are at fault, but the pedestrians and cyclists are by far the worst offenders. How is a policeman to control traffic if pedestrians and cyclists are not controlled? Traffic here stray's all over the roads. "And mind you," he said, "we don't know what traffic congestion is. When we do the authorities will face a big

handicap. Now is the time to educate the""public ' and. drivers; we have the opportunity of taking our lesson from the experience of older countries'. The U.S.A. leads the world in traffic control. With 17,000,000 cars to handle, the authorities bad to get down to it. It is five years since I was in America, jand in that'time the control bas improved vastly." I White lines on the roads as a safetyfirst element were remarkable for their efficiency in U.S.A.', and England was adopting the practice. The Automobile Association has experts available for the : assistance of any local body wishing, to white line its thoroughfares. On concrete, the Americans lay down a black line. At crossings and on corners the lines are a great help in controlling traffic. Mr. Jones was impressed with the conduct of traffic policemen in countries with more sense! When, a traffic policeman gives traffic the right of way he steps aside in the direction of the traffic he is holding, and thus gives more room. This commonsense move will be appreciated by drivers with a short. lock wishing t<> make a turn nearly right round a traffic policeman. The secret of the control is to get rid of traffic and not to hold it up. In America, by electrical devices, traffic is given a clear run over several blocks; in England one proceeds jerkily from corner to corner. White armlets are an essential on traffic policemen —and white gloves, too. In' England speed limits,are being abolished. ' One can send for a .licence in England, the licences being issued without a test. A child of 14 may ride a motor cycle and-a.youth of 17-may drive a car. The authorities are; being forced to conduct' business on better lines. Tlie Automobile Association of England, the finest.*organisation, of its kind in the world, is now erecting illuminated direction * designs. In U.S.A. the authorities educate the children as. tlie future adults to the problems of traffic control. They are taught how to cross the streets, and Mr. Jones thinks that the motorists of Xew Zealand should agitate for the .teaching of traffic rules in the schools. The ' control ;of " traffic ift congested cities overseas is better than it is in Christchurch, but France .displays lack of control; It is all tooting _ horns. 'and the rules of Mr. ______er£v;. Ffa^ieo had the cheapest taxis out of 11 countries. , One could fide 'around "for half an hour for sd. ''The brightest spot' in England today," said Mr. Jones, "is.the motor industry. There is not one person eligible for. employment in Birmingham or Coventry who is idle." AMERICA WARNS "HOGS." Accident insurance is a good thing io have without, the accident. A road hog roots up macadam with his nose, j ' ' • : - A circus is the place for clowning. Our roads are wide and smooth, but some drivers" are narrow, aud-rough. We have seven good hotels and one gaol. Take-your pick. Your grandfather lived to be -90 Localise .he-had sense,, and so did the horse. There is room for two hands on a wheel. Xp more and no less. Eifteen miles an hour.may.be a chill, but 50 is fever. . •— ",

■■'- J_y " _t_Jsßf_p vs.-" 1 ■•»_ NOTES IMB COMMENTS LOCAL And OENeRAU

ROAD COURTESY AND SPIRIT. The secretary of the . Automobile Association of London has sent out a circular on road courtesy, in the course of which it is stated:—A friendly spirit of "give and take" between cyclists and motor vehicle drivers will increase the safety of tho smaller vehicle and■■ will avoid unnecessary inconvenience and anxiety. Relations between drivers: of commercial and public service vehicles and other road users are being improved by the more general use of traffic signals and by observing the rule that slow traffic should keep to the left by always responding to audible warnings from overtaking vehicles and by giving way when it is right and "safe" to do so. If overtaking vehicles would unfailingly the "safety first" slogan, and never drive over to the right, especially at bends, without first making sure that other vehicles, or pedestrians, cannot be imperilled, we should be nearer the era of safer roads. *> When drivers of motor lorries and other heavy vehicle* pull up at roadside tea-houses, or to replenish water tanks, I would urge them to line up their vehicles so as to leave room for traffic in both directions. Better still, .preference should be given to those stopping places where "pulls off"' the road are provided.

A HOT.-.CHAWE CASE, The crank case. or. mo.tor base has much to do with the copling.bf.he -motor,:sup-> pigmenting the -cooling, flanges '■■ on" the cylinders. The heat frdin:the .ylinders is conducted to the the hot oil within", also.'tends -to', make the crank case watm." If L the crarnk case-geits hotter and liotfer after! each run, or is so" hot that the hand cannot-be held on it,. there is probably serious leakage past the piston rings. This should be seen to as soon as possible. Keep the outside of the crank case free of dirt and mud and oil, using waste gasoline or kerosene with a stiff brush.- You will thus assist in cooling.the motor, and in freeing it from the unpleasant smell of oil and grease "cooking" on the aluminium. STREAMLINE TOURERS. The streamlining of touring cars seems to have progressed as far as it can be carried without necessitating radical changes in body design. Continental manufacturers have been producing some remarkable-looking bodies in which the aim .seems to be the reduction of wind resistance at all costs. Appearance, convenience and economy have-been sacrificed for the sake of the apparent advantages of offering slim surfaces to" the wind. Even the closed sedan and coach models are pointed. fore and aft, giving the -appearance of a clumsy bluff-bowed boat. Boat-shaped bodies are -also favoured by several other automobile factories. There is no doubt that these creations are decidedly freakish to the English eye. The " Chenard-Walcker appeared recently in most unorthodox shapes. There \Vere no mudguards, the body being built out over the wheels. The front_ wheels, although inside 'the body, were free to turn on either .look .with adequate clearance. The' headlights were countersunk in the front panels. The arrangement. of. the streamlining of the' Rumpler and NorthLucas cars is facilitated by the mounting of the engine at the rear. This, of course, -cleared up some transmission and radiator problems. These' Continental designs are certainly successful in reducing the power losses due to wind resistance. The average touring car driver, will', however, be hardly.likely to» think the sacrifice of a handsome appearance is justified. • <f