AutoGossip

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30145, 31 May 1963, Page 9

AutoGossip

Lea-Francis Cars, the Coventry firm which was closed last year, has issued designs of a new car. The car is to be known as the Fran.cesa and has several new suspension ideas. The chances of the car being built are not good unless a backer to provide about £50,000 can be found. * * V

The use of safety belts has increased greatly in the last few weeks and it is also noticeable that many more motorists are wearing their belts when travelling in the city. Nevertheless, many do not wear the belts. It is worth repeating the words of the district officer of the Transport Department (Mr D. L. Hogan), who said, “. . . they are not a lucky charm, they won’t help you unless you wear them.” Hundreds of persons are still being injured needlessly because they will not fit and wear safety belts. ¥ * ¥

; A computer is soon to be I tried in London to control ! traffic. Traffic engineers of • the Road Research Labora- • tory have been working on a ; large-scale scheme which ; they are now ready to test. ; The computer will assess I amounts of traffic and switch ■ on signs indicating diversions • to other traffic.

A number of heavy vehicles and buses around the city can often be seen to emit dense clouds of black smoke from ill - adjusted diesel engines. Operators should take care to see engines are properly maintained, for it is unpleasant for a motorist to be caught behind such a vehicle in a traffic stream, and unbumt diesel sometimes forms a streaky film over windscreens, cutting down visibility. ¥ ¥ ¥

It would be wrong to say operators •of heavy vehicles and diesels are the only offenders when it comes to the discharge of fumes. Many of the old cars in the city pour out dense clouds of smoke and fumes,. and must be a danger to their occupants as well as an annoyance to others. Some obviously lack mufflers also. ¥ ' ¥ ¥

In spite of appeals and warnings from traffic authorities and safety committees there are still large numbers of cars on the roads at night with badly-adjusted headlamps or with only one headlamp burning. Many older vehicles are very badly lit from the rear, and drivers of both old and new cars frequently wait far too long before switching on their lights. Darker-coloured cars in particular are very hard to see at dusk.