MORE DESIRABLE THAN SPEED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 183, 1 May 1936, Page 15

MORE DESIRABLE THAN SPEED

Safety and Operating Economy “Safety and operating economy, in my opinion, have replaced power and speed as the qualities must desired by the public,” says an American ity.For many years prospective purchasers wanted to know how fast the various ears would travel. To-day, practically all cars are capable of greater speed than can be used safely by the average driver. He said he felt that manufacturers should not stress speed in their advertising. because it was only natural that when the high speed of his, car was brought constantly to the owners attention, and when speed rivalry was made a point of issue by'the various manufacturers, the ordinary driver could not resist the temptation to use this necessary but dangerous element on every possible occasion. “Power and flexibility are, after all, the essentials of the modern motor-car, and speed is the result, rather than the cause, of these essentials.” *He advocates concentration on improved braking, all-steel bodies, steel tops, wider tread, and lower centres of gravity. It is his opinion that motor manufacturers can perform a distinct public service by building safer and more economical cars, and, through their advertising, should stress the importance of these qualities to the public, thereby assisting in the campaign to reduce, road accidents.