MOTORDOM

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 October 1932, Page 9

MOTORDOM

NEWS OF THE ROAD

(By

“Gearbox”)

EMERGENCY STARTER An analysis of motoring accidents would probably show that a surprisingly large number are caused by the accidental stalling of the motor through faulty driving in difficult circumstances, states an exchange. Anyone who has watched a driver of limited experience knows how easily he will stall the engine by attempting to move out of a dangerous position in top- gear while the car is running very slowly, and thus throw the whole responsibility of avoiding an accident on the driver of the other vehicle concerned. If the other vehicle happens? to be a train or train an accident in these circumstances is often inevitable. Probably improvement in the running of modern engines has contributed to this danger. The engine normally runs so quietly that it may often stop without the knowledge of the driver. A new device being fitted to many American cars promises materially to ■ reduce the dangers of a “dead” engine in emergencies. This is an automatic switch. for the starting of the engine. It is so constructed that as soon as the ignition switch, which is of the usual lock type, is turned on, an electro-magnet is brought into operation to* work the starter switch. As soon as the engine fires and begins to run under its own power, this magnet is disconnected, and the starting mechanism is released, but should the engine stop while the ignition switch is still turned on the starter is' operated again immediately and the .engine restarted. Apart from the added safety which the employment of'the instrument assures, it simplifies the operation of driving, as the engine starts as soon as it is switched on. Moreover, the possibility of the ignition switch being left on accidentally, and thus discharging the battery or burning out the coil, is eliminated, because the driver’s attention would be directed to the fact that the switch was on by the fact that the engine was running.' CARE OF THE TYRES

Every clay thousands of pounds an thrown away by motorists, and a fur ther huge sum is added to their run ning costs, through neglect of thei: tyres. A motor vehicle only function; in proportion to the time, care, am inspection given to it, but how manj motorists include tyre inspection un der this heading? It is dangerous tc run an engine short of oil, but hov many realise it is equally dangerous to run their tyres short of air? Be neath the rubber tread on a tyre is a carcase of cotton, built up to cam a definite load. The sidewalls of this carcase are so constructed as to fie: l ; without fracturing the cotton. The tyre pressure recommended for any vehicle is such that a motorist can take advantage of this flexing without causing damage to the tyres, but should this pressure be maintained at a higher or lower level than that recommended, the. motorist lays himself open to serious trouble at a later date, the interval of time being controlled by the degree of oyer* or under inflation. In an under-inflated tyre, thb flexing of the sidewall sets up friction, which causes heat. Rubber is a bad conductor of heat and cotton loses its flexing qualities with increased temperature. The result is that either the cotton cords will fracture, or the rubber will separate from the cotton, thus weakening the sidewalls of the tyre, possibly causing complete collapse at a very early stage in its life. An over-inflated tyre compels the tread to assume an incorrect contour, which does not allow the full tread width of the tyre to come into contact with the road surface, so the tyre load is carried by only a portion of the actual tread. That portion is over-loaded, and in consequence, generates excessive heat. Immediately underneath the tread is a section of what is known as “cushion”; in other words, a layer of rubber around its circumference, which is • softei’ than the outside tread. This acts as a shock absorber. Should the tyre be over-inflated; the shock will be absorbed by a small percentage of that cushion, and the benefits which should be obtained are not only eliminated, but the shock and heat are transmitted to the carcase of the tyre, which deteriorates rapidly. Pressure, however, whilst a very important factor, is not everything to be considered when caring for tyres. Few motorists appear to appreciate that it is possible to wear the tread completely off any tyre in an extraordinarily low mileage, should the wheels of the vehicle be running out of alignment. You cannot see in many cases when looking at a vehicle, whether or not the wheels are running in line, and it is necessary to have them checked by your service agent should you wish to obtain from your tyres the maximum life built into them by the manufacturer. There is also a further condition which requires consideration, that is, cuts in tyres. Should a tyre receive a cut which penetrates the tread rubber, and exposes the carcase, this cut or hole forms a passage for all foreign matter, including water, into the carcase. The greatest enemy of all is water. In running on wet roads, the injury becomes filled with water, and the cotton in the carcase soaks up some of this water like blotting paper. This eventually causes the wet cotton to separate from the rubber, and soon a section of the tyre has no resistance to the internal air pressure, beyond the rubber forming the tread or sidewall. This often results in a blister, and eventually causes a burst,'which ruins both tyre and tube. A little time spent on inspecting the tyres on your car will be amply repaid by the. fact that it will be possible to obtain maximum ‘life’ from them. The following arc the major points, which, when checked, will go a long way towards achieving this end:-—-1. Remove all tyres periodically. 2. Inspect rims for truth, removing rust and giving a coating of stock black or similar solution. 3. Inspect the inside of the covers for pieces of foreign matter or small fractures of the carcase, due to concussion bruises incurred during running; 4. Inspect the treads for small cuts, embedded flints, and the like. 5. Inspect the tubes for porosity. rust marks, damaged or leaky valves, loose particles, etc. (1. Refit the tyres, and inflate to correct, pressure. 7. Test 'wheel alignment and steering connection, in order to ascertain whether any excessive play is to be traced heI tween the steering wheel and in the movement of the wheel on the bub. ’ Your dealer will quote you a small

inclusive charge for this service, a charge which will no doubt be saved over and over again by the extra tyre mileage achieved. Finally, test your pressures once every week. —Goodyear News.

WAR ON ACCIDENTS. AN AMERICAN PROGRAMME The National Safety Council of Chicago has recently made an analysis of motor vehicle 7 casualties and has proposed what it calls a “balanced programme for the reduction of traffic accidents.” The chief points, says Mr. D. Compton James, in “The Motor,” are ingeniously presented in the form of a diagram setting forth the

causes and results of accidents, together with the remedies recommended by the Council. Many American highways are reported as inadequate for modern traffic, lacking in safeguards and poorly equipped with signal sand lights. Cars frequently contribute to mishaps because of high power and speed, poor brakes and headlights, and bad condition. Drivers are stated to be often untrained and uncontrolled, inexperienced. indifferent to safety and heedless of the rights of others. Pedestrians are found to be careless and obstinate.

The remedies recommended are classified under engineering, education, and enforcement. Under engineering it is specified that streets, highways, and cars should be built to safety standards and that a traffic survey should be made in every community. Signals, signs, and regulations should be based on engineering study. Education includes the training of new drivers, dangerous drivers, pedestrians, children, traffic police, and commercial drivers. It is suggested that a safety organisation be established in every community. Enforcement provides for enforcible laws and people able to enforce them. The “Uniform Code” (similar’ to the English highway code), it is proposed, should be made enforcible. To accomplish the reduction of accidents, according to this programme, it will be necessary that the following agencies co-operate:—The States, the cities, Federal Government, schools, the automobile industry, insurance companies, transportation companies, employers, motor clubs, chambers of commerce, civic associations, veterans’ associations, women’s clubs, parent-teacher associations, etc. With regard to highways, it is pointed out that they can and should be made more nearly fool-proof. Modern engineeringstandards should be followed in providing proper width, crown, surface, curves, vision, shoulders, and guard rails for old as well as new highways and city streets. For heavy traffic four or six-lane highways, preferably with a centre strip, are adivised. In all new construction for heavy traffic, grade separations should be provided.. Pavements for pedestrian safety, it is pointed out, are needed not only in cities and towns, but also near them.

Motor vehicles, it is recommended, should be kept in safe condition by periodic inspection under requirements of State law. Vehicles which are so old or otherwise in condition to be unsafe should be retired from service. Designers of automobiles are urged to strive for better illumination, better vision for the driver, and conservation of the driver’s physical and mental energy. It is recommended that the safety of cars, rather than the speed, should be stressed in advertising.

It is proposed to weed out drivers who are “accident-prone” by reason of physical or mental defects, and to train those who are capable of improvement, the remainder being refused licenses. Lack of skill and carelessness should be met by training and discipline respectively. Employers are to be required to co-oper-ate by insisting on the careful training of all new drivers and the restraining of those ’who have had accidents.

Private drivers are largely selftaught. The majority have managed to adjust themselves to the increasing speed and strain of modern traffic. Some, however, have not, and their unsafe habits, of which they are often unaware, are one of the chief causes of accidents. Definite training in safe driving is urgently needed for this class.

EXAMINING DRIVERS Until the training of drives becomes more general, reliance is to be placed on pressure and control through law enforcement and public opinion. The best method of control, it is thought, is probably the institution of a proper driver’s license law which includes the examination of all new drivers. The most effective kind of discipline is stated to be the suspension or revocation of licenses. While necessity and experience are gradually teaching the adult, pedestrian to adjust himself to the conditions of the modern motor age, he still represents nearly half of the victims of motor accidents. There is obvious need, therefore, of continued public education and control of pedestrians as well as of further protection for them by engineering safeguards. The training of child pedestrians through schoolroom instruction and schoolboy patrols, it is recommended, should be continued and extended in every public,, parochial, and private school. The home training of preschool children should be seriously undertaken by parents, assisted by women's clubs and parent-teacher associations.

Finally, the report states that the application of these remedies to every highway, every vehicle, every driver, and every pedestrian in the United States, is a tremendous task requiring the co-operation of all.