HEAVY MOTOR VEHICLES.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20563, 3 June 1932, Page 6

HEAVY MOTOR VEHICLES.

NEW REGULATIONS. CITY ROADS NOT YET CLASSIFIED. Regulations consolidating motor-lorry regulations made under the Public "Works Act. cainc into operation on June Ist, but do not seem to be generallv understood. In order to make the position clearer, tliev are reprinted below. The following table shows revised maximum speeds for varying goods, vehicles, and weights, as compared with those, previously in operation, the vehicle weight he ins; giv.-n in tons:—

The following table shows maximum speeds for passenger-carrying vehicles, vehicle weight in tons: —

Road Classification. The Main Highways Board hus power to classify main highways under the control of a local body which has failed to make such a classification, after being requested to do so by the Board. Provision has been made to classify roads into five classes and signs notifying the class .are to be erected for fhe convenience of the drivers concerned. So far, however, the Christchurch City Council has not carried out such work, with the result that no one possessing a heavy traffic license can bo expected to know if he is travelling faster than allowed under the regulations. Following are the revised maximum weights for specified classes of roads, the previous weights being shown in parentheses: — First-class roads —Two-axled vehicles 10 tons; multi-axled vehicles. 1.3 tony (10 tons and 1.3 tons). Second-class roads —Eight tons and 12 tons (eight tons and 10 tons). Third-class roads —Six and a half tons and 10 tons (.six and a half tons and 10 tons). Fourth-class roads —Four uud a half tons and six and a half tons (four and a half tons and six and a half tons). Fifth-class roads—Three tons and four ami a half tons (two and a half tons and four and a half tons"). New Plates. Those who take out licenses this year for heavy traffic vehicles are, in addition to the numbvr-platcs, being issued with a .smaller' plate bearing a letter which indicates the weight in respect of which the fee is paid. The (■'overall,cut number-plate is prefixed by Cue letter It and starting from 2 tons, tin; vehicles are charged a higher rate for every half-ton. The fee for vehicles of from 2 to 2} tons, on which the letter A is used, is 2s. while for vehicles of 10 tons, on which the letter Q is used, is £75. The smaller plate has to be affixed at the right of and just below the Government mark, both in front and at the rear of the vehicle.

BUYING USED CARS, j POTENTIAL MILEAGE COUNTS, j In buying a used car, ii is the service in thq vehicle that is bought. That is, it is the unused miles that the vehicle is still capable of giving with satisfaction which the buyer secures. Tin's boiiilc no. the deciding factor should be the mileage that the vehicle luis covered. Obviously the treatment that the c-ati has received will luive a big offset 011 the mileage still left, and this is a difrieult matter to value. Every motorist knows of cases of cars of tiie same make and approximate mileage that after a year in one man's hands will look and perform almost like new, whilst a sister car in the hands of a careless and less wellinformed owner will look a wreck, and require extensive mechanical repairs as well. So that it is well to remember that our potential mileage can lit dissipated more rapidly by carelessness and neglect than by legitimat? use as shown by the speedometer. The first consideration is to decide upon the potential mileage that was in the car when it was new. The reputation of the manufacturer is a big factor in this, but the majority of cars of the [iast few years were originally pood for about 1(X),000 miles. Having decided this point, and it being found the car has covered between 20.000 and 30,000 miles, it shows a balance left of about 70,000. A careful examination of the car shows that it has been fairly well cared for and reasonably carefully driven, but minor faults are apparent-, - and for these a mileage deduction must be made. Supposing that we allow 10,000 miles for these, we still have about (50,000 piteuti-il miles of service, and it is the service wo expect to met that is being bought. An examination of second-haml prices reveals to prospective buyers (hat figures are bn-'xl more on {he year of manufacture of the car than upon the mileage it has done, or, within reasonable limits, upon its condition. Most second-band cars come on the market through the desire of owners to change the make or type, and rarely through the fact that they have outlived their usefulness. In view of these considerations, prospective purchasers of" second-hand <'ars should consider their, intended purchase from the point 'of view of unused miles and not year of manufacture. Some interior rear view minors suffer l'rom tlie disadvantage that they are fixed too high to give a long range view. The result is that a ear drawing up behind or about to pass is not seen soon enough. Matters can generally be improved if tlie mirror is lowered about two inches, and this can be done by remounting it on stout brass extension strips. Stout brass is essential, for ■mringy brass will allow the mirror to ■ ibrate unduly, blurring the reflection "nd making accurate observation impossible. Have vou anvthing to sell —Do you wish to buy? ff so ft smill advertisement in the classified section of The Press will be mil you need. I'J words Is. three insertions 2s Cd. —l>

! 'ro.-ent Reused maximum mum. Tons. in.p.h. m.p.h. 2 to 2 J 2i ■J.) 2-1 to 3* .. 21.0 25 «S t 0 -1 ■ ■ .. 10.-i 2") ■1to •"> .. 1 20 ~> to 0 V .. 10.8 20 (31 tn 7 .. 10.S ! .i.7 To 10 . . l-l.-l 1."

Pnw.nt ievi.HHi UKVAI"Weight. mum. }i\um. Tons. m.p.h. m.p.h. 2 to 21- . . 30 - j 75 2* 'to 3 27 ;'»o to 31 . . 27 :i0 ,U to 4.t • * .. 24 ;;n U to 5 . . 2 1 25 ;1 to Ci 21 '-'-j (H to 7 . . 21 20 7~to 10 . . W 20