The MOTOR

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 70, 19 September 1936, Page 28

The MOTOR

LIGHTING-UP TIMES

Sunday . 6.15 p.m. Monday 6.16 p.m. Tuesday 6.17 p.m. Wednesday 6.18 p.m. Thursday 6.19 p.m. Friday 6.20 p.m. Saturday 6.31 p.m. BRITISH INDUSTRY HAMPERING LAWS BACKWARDNESS IN ROADING Reviewing a statistical history of the British motor-car industry from the year 1903 onwards issued by the Society of British Motor Manufacturers, the "Manchester Guardian" says:—

From a purely domestic standpoint the salient conclusion of a technical nature is that in 1935 over 60 per cent, of the motor-cars manufactured and sold in this country were rated at 10 h.p. or less. The report does not dis-

cuss the desirability i of this emphasis on small cars, which is due to three main factors —the comparatively high cost of fuel in Great Britain; the deterrent effect of the horse-power taxation scale, and the fact that a comparatively small output (as contrasted with the United States) compels cars of the six-cylinder 20-h.p. type to be more highly priced here than in the United States. Given a free choice, few users would buy a small, cramped car of 7 to 10 h.p. with a limited top gear performance in preference to the typical American cheap car with a 20-h.p. engine, ample room for five passengers, and sufficient flexibility on top gear to render gear changes a rare occurrence in ordinary country. Our compulsory concentration on small cars is a genuine handicap in our export trade, for some of our overseas markets are not hampered, as we are, by dear fuel or heavy motor taxation; and our traders consequently experience serious difficulty in selling our small cars in competition with the roomier and more flexible American cars.

. When the horse-power tax was cut 25 per cent, in January, 1935, many private owners in this country found it possible to. accept the higher fuel consumption 'and heavier tax of the popular American car, and several British manufacturers hastily evolved vehicles of a similar type to compete in this new stratum of the market, and immediately secured gratifying sales. It therefore seems desirable that the Government should do all in its power to further the manufacture and sale of these larger cars. The Government cannot sacrifice revenue, for obvious reasons, and motor taxation certainly affords a rough-and-ready method of applying supertax to all incomes which show a margin above the necessities of life. But the continuance of the present system, under which motorists are compelled to buy and drive inferior vehicles and the industry is compelled to concentrate on the manufacture of cars which do; not fit the export market, is obviously undesirable.

The gravest feature of- the report is its emphasis on a steadily-increasing congestion of traffic. In 1909 the nation owned less than one power vehicle for every mile of road. Today the nation owns nearly/ sixty power vehicles for every mile of road in classes 1 and 2. . . . It has been suggested that the Government expects relief for the roads as soon as aviation reaches anticipated dimensions, and that such relief will be accelerated by the production of'such aeroplanes as the latest model autogiro, which can take the air by means of a vertical jump without any forward run at all and can land without using more than a few. yards to exhaust its forward impetus. The critics who expect the aeroplane to furnish the final solution of the road problem are shortsighted. It is true that under mass •production the cost of any type of aeroplane can ultimately be cut to perhaps a quarter of existing prices, but such a revolution would enhance rather than relieve our traffic problem. . . . The chief moral of this rather disturbing report is to confront us with a period in which the roads will be much more congested than they are at this moment and to generate extreme distrust, of a Government which displays neither imagination nor fdresight nor vigour in coping with urgent and formidable problems. ECONOMICAL RUNNING Science and engineering have made : it possible for modern cars to use twice ; as much of the energy contained in : petrol as did the cars of thirty years i ago. It is up to the motorist to do ; the few things that will enable him to take full advantage of these developments of science and engineering. ■• Worked out by General Motors and expressed in simple terms they are:— 1. Accelerate gently. Tramping on the accelerator allows more petrol into the cylinders than can be used. Keep the foot steady. 2. Holding the car in second gear 1 until it gets up to high speed may ■ easily double the petrol used in getting under way. 3. Always try to coast to a gradual stop. It costs money to rush up to a stop light and then jam on the brakes. 4. Keep the tyres properly inflated. Under-inflated tyres mean extra work for the engine, which means more petrol consumed. 5. Letting the engine idle for long periods while parked hastens the return for petrol. 6. Faulty spark plugs may waste, as much as 10 per cent, of the petrol. 7. Keep the car properly lubricated at all times. It is important to take care of crankcase lubrication properly, too. 8. For constant engine temperature, keep the radiator filled to the proper level. An overheated engine uses more petrol. 9. Petrol can be saved by having the engine tuned up at least every 1 5000 miles of driving. ~

y , BY "AUTO»."

FLOODLIT ROADS

AMERICAN ROADSIDES * THE AESTHETIC SIDE MAKING TRAVEL fLEASANT j An American says that more than half'the total motor travelling in that country is of a recreational nature. The roadsides should therefore be developed where possible to be better suited for this purpose. Whatever treatment of the roads or their borders tends to make highways more pleasant' to travel over will contribute to their recreational usefulness. . Good highway engineering is a prerequisite, but it is not enough; it must fee integrated with proper treatment of. borders. Among the ways of attaining additional use and beauty along the older 'roads are: Regradirig of cuts and fills; planting or thinning of trees, shrubs, and vinei; opening up scenic views and screening off unpleasant ones. In the case of exceptional views, enlargements of the pavement or parking places off the main road should be provided. Another feature common to parkway development which can be. ap-

plied to highway's is the'roadside picnic area. Ohio has a roadside law which authorises the State Highway Department to retain or acquire waste areas created by realignment, for use as wayside parks. Connecticut has already developed nearly 200. picnic spots adjacent to. the .'State highways, utilising in many cases abandoned sections of straightened roads. These places are furnished with picnic tables, waste containers, and, in some instances, fireplaces. The Federal Government has recently recognised the importance of roadside improvement. In a memorandum of June 30, 1933, to the district engineers of the Bureau of Public Roads, State highway departments were notified that not less, than onehalf of 1 per cent, of the sum allotted to each State would be reserved and I expended for such : purposes. This minimum requirement,was increased to 1 per cent, the following year and applies to all Federal' highway funds, including regular Federal aid appropria l tions to the States, but excluding grade crossing highway funds., ■■ Several organisations have been active in promoting the protection and improvement of roadsides, prominent among which are the National Roadside Council, the American Planning' and Civic Association, the American Society of Landscape . Architects, and many State-planning. Boards. HIGHWAY OF THE FUTURE Envisaging the highway of the future an American says it will be constructed on a wide right-of-way and abutting property owners willnot be permitted to; have frontages on it. It will be fenced off and access will be given only at. certain specific, intervals. There will be no intersections, roads passing under and'over, and only junctions being provided, with turning in the traffic direction only- There will be no crossing of the traffic stream. All cities, towns, and villages will be by-passed; but the places by-passed will be easily accessible from the highway. The road pavement will be centrally divided by an island sufficiently wide to prevent headlights interfering with traffic going the other way. Traffic lanes 12 feet wide will be laid down, the number of lanes in accordance with the width of the highway. Where avoidable there will be no sharp turns, and where sharp turns cannot be avoided the bends will be as wide as possible and "saucered", out. i.e., banked in accordance with the severity of the bend. In built-up sections the highways | will be so lit as to abolish any need" for headlights. Pedestrians will not be permitted to cross these highways. Overbridges or underpasses will be provided for them. Every few miles there will be service stations and rest houses owned by State or Municipality, and let to approved tenants. Everything will be planned with an eye to beauty and the roads,themselves will be in conformity j witn the kind of country they pass through.

Nearly £IOO,OOO is to be spent on improving the lighting of Birmingham's main thoroughfares. The scheme is the biggest of its kind yet attempted in this country and involves the provision of nearly 4000 mercury vapour discharge lamps. It effects also some 200 miles of road in the city—a quarter of Birmingham's total. When completed, the scheme .will cover all the arterial roads leading from the ■ city centre.

Another feature of the; scheme will be the provision ; of "graded" lighting along all the roads leading into arterial roads. The danger arising from turning out of a brilliantly illuminated road into one where a much lower standard of illumination is in use is well known to motorists.

Birmingham' will overcome this by employing the graded illumination for the first 100 yards along, all roads leading from main routes.

One of the longest motor roads in the world, covering approximately a distance of 1200 miles, is being built by the Italians along the Lybiari coast of the Mediterranean. It will be officially opened to motor traffic ,in October, of this year, after which motorists will be able to cover in a few days a distance which hitherto has only teen made by camels on a difficult, long, and tedious: journey.

After an extensive tour over German motor roads the Netherlands Minister of Roads and Waterways has announced that a similar scheme will shortly be undertaken in Holland, the plans to be finished by 1938.

! SOUTHLAND ASSOCIATION The annual report of the Automobile Association (Southland) shows an increase in membership from 2035 to 2826. It is hoped to reach 3000 by the end of the year. The association is busy renewing all road direction and warning signs throughout its district, 712 having been erected during the year,, following the adoption of the "arm" type of direction signs. Under -the "Get-you-home" service there are now 21 appointed road service garages in Southland. With a view to erecting its own building and ' establishing its own headquarters a. site has been, purchased and it will be the task of the incoming committee to attend* to details consequent upon the authorising of the erection of a suitable building. It is proposed to include a commodious and comfortable lounge and readingroom. TRAILERS IN! AMERICA ' The* building of trailers In America continues to advance. The industry is still mainly local but the automobile companies are standardising in the production of these' conveniences and already there, are over a score of plants with assembly lines. Detroit, the , centre of the motor industry, claims (the distinction of being the leader in the new development. Three trailer companies—and possibly more—will be exhibiting at the New York motor show this year. In 'general prices will be fr0m,450 to 900 dollars, but cheaper trailers, .down to ! 200 dollars are available. The medium-priced group is from 1000 to 1500 dollars and luxurious lines range up to 6000 dollars. It is only a matter of time, says one writer, until State Legislatures see the tax revenue possibilities in trailers, as they do in passenger cars and trucks, and licence fees are jacked up. At the same time, it is believed that restrictions will be placed on trailers as a safety measure. That is, trailer makers may be forced to put brakes lon their products and probably will 'have the size, of their vehicles l regu'lated. LAKE WAKATIPU ROAD Tlfe Automobile Association (Southland) takes the opportunity .presented by its annual report to refer to the (opening of the Kingston-Queenstown road, which took place'. officially .in April. For some years the association co-operated with tie Southland Progress League and other interested bodies in Southland in urging upon the authorities the desirability of this road connection being put through. "Already it has proved a boon and convenience to many-hun-dreds of motorists, and it is' certain Ihat in future holiday seasons. this road connection between Southland and Otago Central will be one of the most popular tourist routes in the Dominion.'.' A loose front spring U bolt, sagged or weak front springs, or any condition which affects front end -alignment, may cause the car to swerve when the brakes are applied. Dr. Miller McClintock, director of the Harvard Bureau of Street Traffic Research, said in a recent speech in Detroit that automobile production, is' limited by traffic congestion and not by' the ability of- the public' to buy cars.