BRAKE INSPECTION

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 36, 11 August 1934, Page 13

BRAKE INSPECTION

DOUBT ABOUT METHODS j

SIX MONTHS' EXEMPTION

'•'Whilst commending tho effort to either induce or compel motorists to; '■soo that the braking system of their ; vehicles is .efficient, the methods adopted; aro open to criticism," a. ■ visiting motorist writes. "Driving , along! Lambtou Quay this week :i . certain i motorist was stopped by a traffic inspector who requested tho production : of his brakes cortiiicato. Tho driver . stated that although the brakes of his ; car Avoro in first-class order he did not | possess n certificate to that effect. Ho was thon requested to proceed to the ■ locality where brake-testing facilities | woro availablo and havo tho -brakes i tested. In this case the brakes were • so efficient that the official passenger j observer got a 'close-up' vie>v of the I windscreen. He then received the j necessary certificate and was informed that ho would receive a screen sticker which would ensure that for a period of sis months that car wpuld be exempt from the attention of traffic inspectors.

"This js the weak spot. Brakes may function perfectly today, but in a month's time they may be hopelessly inefficient, therefore the whirlwind type of inspection cannot be satisfactory.

"The system adopted in Toronto is probably one of the best in practice. Traffic inspectors there are instructed that every day they must stop and test the brakes of, say, six cars. The result of this\ is that motorists never know when their machines 'will bo subjected to the official brako tost and, consequently, pay stricter attention to that essential for safe driving, good brakes."