LETHAL GAS IN CARS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30603, 20 November 1964, Page 10

LETHAL GAS IN CARS

Tests In City Next Week Christchurch motorists who wish to check their vehicles for carbon monoxide leakages will be able to do so on Saturday, November 28. Members of the Christchurch Metropolitan Hoad Safety Committee decided to hold tests on that day at Walker’s Service Stallion, Riccarton road, between 10 a m. and 3 p.m. The chairman of the committee (Mr N. H. Browne) said that two sets of gas detectors had been made available for the tests, one from Blenheim and the other from the Health Department in Christchurch. Before November 28 leaflets setting out the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning would be distributed by the committee from service stations and nerhans the vehicle testing stations. Mr Browne said the tests were voluntary. No motorist would be stopped just to take a test. Transport Department officers would be in the area of the service station to explain about the fests and where necessary assist with traffic control. The meeting was told that many persons had the impression that carbon monoxi 'c poisoning was a fault of old cars only. This was not so. In California, where on one re cent occasion 1007 vehicles were tested, 30 were found to be in a highly dangerous condition, and these were not old cars. Testing would not take more than five minutes, said Mr Browne. The car windows would be closed and the engine allowed to run for a brief period. A tube would be inserted into the car through a partly lowered window, and air drawn out. Crystals in a gas detector capsule would change colour according to the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. The two sets will be operated throughout the day by members of the road safety committee working in twohour shifts.