DAILY TESTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 170, 20 July 1936, Page 8

DAILY TESTS.

MOTOR VEHICLES.

"JUNK AND CONTRAPTIONS."

PRESENT REGULATIONS,

The announcement by the Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semple, that examiners of motor vehicles were being appointed and that there would be a general cleaning up of vehicles which came within I lie category of ■•junk," will mean that the examiners will have just that little extra authority which traffic officers of local bodies do not at present possess.

Under the existing Motor Vehicles Act, 1924, and its subsequent amendments in 1933, traffic officers have fairly wide powers and though little publicity is given to the work of inspecting vehicles, they are very active in this avenue of their many duties. Every day in Auckland drivers of motor vehicles — the kind ill'. Semple probably refers to when he uses the term '•'contraptions" — are being stopped by traffic officers who make tests of the brakes, clutch, and oxamiue the engine. If the officer decides there are any faults he orders the owner to have the necessary repairs effected, and if he so desires can -require the surrender of the number plate, which means '.hat the vehicle cannot be lawfully used 011 the roads until the ollicer is satisfied everything is in safe working order.

At one time in brake testing it was necessary for traffic officers to select a level stretch of road and measure out approximately 240 feet. A car would be started and when the regulation speed of 20 miles an hour had been reached the brake would be applied when the spot marking the last 40ft was reached. At 20 miles an hour the regulations require a driver to pull up his vehicle 011 a hand brake within 75ft, and 011 a foot brake within 40ft.

Now, with the aid of an instrument known as the decelerator. there is 110 necessity for officers to measure out distances. The instrument, which is easily attached to a car, shows the speed at which a car is travelling and the distance taken in coming to a stop after the brakes have been applied.

The manager of one of Auckland's prominent motoring businesses, which employs a large staff in the repairs department, stated this morning that while there would 110 doubt be found vehicles in the city which should not be on the roads, he did not think the number would be large. It was in the country districts where Mr. Semple's examiners would find the "junk" and "contraptions." Any motorist could now have his brakes and lights tested for a small fee and the garage proprietor would issue a certificate setting out that the test had beeu made.