RADIO ON THE ROAD

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 98, 22 October 1938, Page 28

RADIO ON THE ROAD

It is becoming increasingly evident, the popular roof aerials, and similar exterior types being visible evidence, that radio is accepted additional equipment on a well-found car, says the "Motor." Most of the leading British motor-car manufacturers will list car radio ■as a standard extra on 1939 models; and soon a car not so equipped will either be classified as one intended for purely utilitarian purposes, or inadequate for modern requirments

At one time there was considerable opposition to wireless reception while driving, some holding that it would be dangerous to listen and drive at the same time, and that the driver's attention to traffic would be diverted, others urging that the noise from loud-speakers in crowded thoroughfares would soon become a public nuisance. Both are fallacious arguments. Radio reception is actually a solace ■to a harassed driver, while it definitely discourages the competitive spirit on the road and the practice of trying to get in front of the car ahead. As for the noise nuisance, it is almost impossible in a street to hear a loud-speaker operating in a closed car unless it is so unbearably loud that it becomes a worse nuisance to the occupants. In America there are more than 5,000,000 sets in use.