TROOPS ON ROAD AT NIGHT

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23414, 22 August 1941, Page 6

TROOPS ON ROAD AT NIGHT

SAFETY MEASURES

DISCUSSED

hurricane lamps and SLEEVELETS

After carrying out tests m ccvoper*. tion with the military authorities, th« Automobile Association, Canterbury, has made recommendations for the safeguarding of troops on the march on highways at night. Three different methods were investigated, and the as. gociation’s recommendations are in the following order of merit:— (1) Red hurricane lamps carried by men in the rear rank. (2) White arm-bands attached ffonj the elbow to the wrist. (3) White arm-band on the upper part of the arm, with cats-eye refiec. tor. Mr P. W. Johnston reported to the council of the association last even, ing on the result of the tests. The military authorities, he said, arranged a march at night along Cashel street, Rolleston avenue, and Armagh street. As the street lamps were not brilliant the dark spots on the highway gave a good opportunity for observation.

White Arm-band

The white arm-band from wrist to elbow was a close runner-up to tb« hurricane lamps, said Mr Johnston, - and might commend itself to the mili. tary authorities as, from a practical point of view, it might be easier to keep clean than a hurricane lamp to be kept, in working order and alight With two military officers, Mr Johnston also carried out tests with an ordinary torch with a red glass. He would not recommend this except fo? officers’ use, as it would be so easy for a soldier on the march inadvert, ently to touch the catch and turn the torch off. Mr Johnston described the elbow* to-wrist armlets as the “Carey arm-? lets,” as they had been supplied by Mr W. R. Carey. Mr Carey, however, amid laughter, pleaded that the armlets should be known as the “A.A. armlets” if they had to be given • name.

“Whom are we to approach to havt these methods adopted?" asked a member.

Mr Johnston; We have gone to some trouble to work out the best method of safeguarding the lines of troops on the roads. Surely military authorise* will not hesitate to put them into effect,

Supply of Armlets

Mr Carey said it would not be a very expensive matter foN the association to supply armlets. Mr Johnston; We want it to be universal.

He added that one advantage ofiha armlets was that the movement of the lower part of the arms, covered in white, attracted the eye of this road, user.

Mr R. Twyneham, in a general discussion, said khaki was one of the most difficult colours to see at night* and Mr Johnston suggested that when troops stopped at cross-roads someone equipped with white indieatori should be posted to warn traffic. - Mr C. J. Holsey pointed out that the military authorities already had an issue arm-band. It might be suggested that these be. -used in conjunction with the armlets. Mr Johnston: I would not be a party to that. It would mean combining something which we’have proved to be useful with something that is quite useless. It was decided to send the recommendations to the military authorities.