LIGHTING-UP TIMES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 49, 27 February 1937, Page 28

LIGHTING-UP TIMES

/ At the beginning of -the year mention was made in these columns of the establishment by the - city of Chicago of practice driving fields where people may learn to drive under professional instruction' without endangering the lives of others as often happens' when driving.is taught on the streets and highways.' Chicago has set up two such places, one for the general public and the other for students at the Lane Technical School. ■•: It was stated that the public area had woven within it a roadway three miles long providing hills; curves, y crossings, and; intersections, slippery surface, traffic control lights, railway crossing, etc., a highspeed section", besides'which are p"laces for practising turning; parking; starting on hills, night driving, and driving 'in fog. and rain. The reaction of drivers to the .various calls made upon them

are scientifically recorded,? and -the plan included a library-and lecture hall. Glare sensitivity- (the: effects of headlights on -the eyesight);is among the tests to which; the -pupil is "submitted. , ' ■■"' '"".'. ■ ~■■

• These schools', and also tests for drivers at the "Institute for Psychotechhics and Industrial Technics," which is part of the Technical High School in Berlin, are the subject of some interesting illustrations and a short article in a recent issue of the "Illustrated London News;" The Berlin tests are; used for determining the qualifications of young people who intend to become 'drivers, and for the analysis of accidents. In the Berlin, Institute the system of using dummy controls against traffic on a moving-picture screen is used in addition to other tests of a more scientific nature, one of which forms the sub j ect of illustration on this page. It is taken from among the London journal's selection of pictures, which include a motorist and tramway niotorman operating controls against the mov-ing-picture vision tests, depictions of the layout of the Chicago drivitig^chool grounds, and illustrated lectures at the Lane Technical High School. The classrooms are filled with dummy drivers' seats. Whenever the pupil makes a I mistake coloured bulbs light up to warn him and the instructor. Both Chicago schools have a complete array of testing apparatus. for- speed sensitivity, time of brake reactionv and other qualities which make -drivers safe or unsafe' and; about which' :they■' should know. Sixteen to twenty-one hours', instruction, it is-estimated in Chicago, should be enough to make a safe drivei of the average person.. •

Sunday ; 7.38 p.m; Monday .......... 7.36 p.m. Tuesday ....... „_. 7.35 p.m. Wednesday 7.33 p.m. Thursday 7.32 p.m. Friday ..... 7.30 p.m. Saturday 7.28 p.m.