FITNESS WARRANTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 108, 3 November 1942, Page 4

FITNESS WARRANTS

INTERESTING FIGURES

Figures of some interest to motorists were contained in a letter from the Transport Department which was before the council of the Automobile Association (Wellington) last evening, when the question of warrants of fitness was under discussion. The North Island Motor Union some time ago decided to ask the Government to make the warrants necessary only every twelve months or every 5000 miles, whichever was the earlier, and the Department's figures, were given in the reply. This revealed the following' percentage of faulty brakes and steering respectively in motor vehicles, about 90 per . cent, of them orivately-owned cars, tested during May, June. July, and August, 1942:— 73, 33; 72. 28: 70 31: 68, 36. The averages for the four-monthly oeriod were 71 per cent, and 32 per cent, respectively, and the comment was made that in the Department's annual report for 1939 the comparative figures were 24 per cent, and 9 per cent.

Coasting was mentioned by members of the council as a primary cause of faulty brakes, and it was pointed out that the practice, while common throughout the country, was, dangerous and a breach- of the regulations. On the question of. the accuracy of the percentages, the .secretary (Mr. W. A. Sutherland) said that every garage was required to make a monthly, return-of testing. It was agreed that the North Island Motor Union should be furnished with all the relevant information in the council's possession.