SAFETY FIRST

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 148, 26 June 1925, Page 15

SAFETY FIRST

The motorist, when driving through busy thoroughfares, has always to keep his eye "skinned" for pedestrians (especially children), cyclists, and horße-: drawn vehicles, i The following rules, issued by the_ British National Safety First Association, would, if followed by those for whose guidance they were, drawn up, greatly assist in reducing the number of accidents:— .For Children.—Always use the footpath if you can, and cross the road at a. refuge, if there is one. ■■ ."■ . Always: look both ways before you cross a road, or before you pass in front of, or behind, a standing vehicle. Never steal rides on vehicles. Never play such dangerous games as 'Last Across" or "Touch Mudguards.'' ■V Never throw things at drivers or passengers. . . ■-- ' Never chase your hoop, ball, or-play-mate into the roadway. ' .; For • Pedestrians.—Bewaro of banana skins, pavement lights, or anything which may cause you to slip or trip. . If walking with others, do not scatter in different directions. Don't obscure your vision by reading a; paper or when carrying an open umbrella, especially when crossing a, road. On greasy roads allow more time, as vehicles may skid. '!' ''•■'■ Do not.■walk too close to the kerb It is better to stand still if in doubt ■what to do. ;For Cyclists.—Eide in a straight line, without swerving,or wobbling. .: Avoid cutting across traffic. ' Always see that your brakes are efficient. -...;; Yours is the ■ most silent and mobile vehicle on the road—don't misuse these qualities, for it is; also the most fragile

; Comparing the number of automobiles In. x u.se in the United .g^g o f America with; the amount of "money in circulation; the United States Treasury Department finds that the growth in the per- ] ceritage of .motor-cars to population is j gaming much faster than the.per capita amount of, money owned. In April 1925 there was £955,230,428 cash in the nation, making; each person's share £8 8s: •! The .ratio of automobiles is one vehicle for each 6.3 persons. < The gain in the nation's cash "on hand" during* the past' ten years has . been but about 5 per cent, compared with a gain in the nunv ber. of automobiles of approximately 750 per cent, in the past decade.

The figures relating to the export of motor-bicycles from the United. States indicate that, the American motor-cycle manufacturer is losing the grip on the oversea markets which he was able to secure during the war. Last year the number of machines exported from America amounted to 16.859, as compared with 22,116 in the previous 'year. It is not that there is any falling off in tha demand for motor-cycles. It is entirely due to the British manufacturers recovering their markets. The exports of motor-cycles from Great Britain during .1924 were almost double those of the pre-

vious year. It is interesting to note that Australia has approximately 50,000 motor-cyclists, New Zealand 11,475, whilst Great Britain has 457,298, TJ.S A 139,668, Germany 118,000, France 102,416, Africa 100,000, Belgium 25,000 and India 18,000.

Car production has made a notable advance at Home during the past two years, and it now looks as if the British car is again coming into its own. In 1922 the value of 1 British cars made was £20,000,000, and despite greatly reduced prices in 1924 the figures totalled £36,000,000. In 1924 cars made numbered 40,000, as against this in 1923, the output was: Private cars 67,334, commercial vehicles 22,348, whilst the 1924 totals were 102,248 cars, and 31,350 commercial vehicles. . ■

Over 100 individual makes of motorcars are produced in the United States. Ihirteen of them are made by big manufacturers, and the rest are made by assemblers who purchase parts from parts manufacturers. There are 150 makes in England and 125 in France, but not one of these manufacturers has plant facilities equal to those of any one of the 12 leading American manufacturers.

The busiest spot in London* for vehicular traffic is Hyde Park Corner, where 60,000 vehicles per day pass by. Trafalgar _ square ranks' second with 50,000 vehicles per day, and the junction of Blackfriars Bridge with New Bridte street see's '36,000 vehicles per day. There seems.to be general agreement that the most dangerous' crossing is that of Hyde Park corner. . .

The use of spring steel as a shock-ab-sorbing medium has become so universal in the motor -world that the possibilities of other materials has "been to a great extent lost sight of. Steel's most formidable rival,in this sphere is rubber, which, in its best form, is capable of absorbing no less than 4500ft-lb per lb of energy per lb of rubber, as against 350ft-lb per lb for the best quality steel—a ratio- of approximately 13 to 1: This large weight advantage was the primary reason for the almost universal adoption of rubber cord for under-carriage springs by aeronautical engineers. . " ' . ■ It is noticeable that the yellow taxicabs utilise rubber blocks as absorbers of vibration, whilst some English manufacturers of motor-cycle saddles are now incorpora ting rubber in the springing. With a' view to • more comfort, no doubt as times goes on rubher will play a more important part in motor-car body suspension between the chassis and frame'of 'the bodywork.