MOTORDOM

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 March 1939, Page 9

MOTORDOM

NEWS OF, THE ROAD

(By

“Gearbox”)

TYRE CONDITION. VITAL SAFETY' FACTOR. It there is one part of a motor-car s equipment which, above evciy ung Use, demands constant watchfulness and care, Jt is the lyres. In these days, JU miles an hour on the open lead is regarded as quite a moucsl cruising speed, but a tyro failure at that pace can be disastrous it the cneumstauccs uro such that the dnvei finds himself without sufficient room in which to manoeuvre his lurching

car. . . Unlcrtunately, there are , tar too many people who, for considerations oi cost, are prepared to take a chance on iault.V tyres, while there are many mcic who, throng!) ignorance, unwillingly drive on equipment liable to fail at any moment. This factor of ignorance was graphically revealed to a motorist icccntlv. Circumstances arose which made it necessary for him to lit a new cover to a wheel himself instead of following the more usual practice of leaving this task to the people fiom whom the tyre is purchased. '1 his motorist proposed to follow the usual course oi. putting into the new cover the old tube, which alieudy had been used in two previous covers. Most people do not know that a tube stretches to a considerable extent in sei vice, and eventually becomes too big for the cover. 'llien, it naturally becomes wrinkled in places because of the necessity for Utting itself into a space too small for it. r l hese wrinkles, caused by constant friction, rub against each other and eventually rub a hole in the tube, or so weaken it that it blows out. This was about to occur in the case under discussion. The owner, on examining the tube, found traces of these wrinkles and also one place worn very thin, learning thereby the lesson that an inner tube must not be used in too many covers.

Precisely for this reason, tyre manufacturers advise that new tubes should always be used with new covers. Motorists, however, have been inclined to scoff at such advice as propaganda designed to sell more goods. Nevertheless, the point is one worth watching, and an old tube should be examined very carefully before it is put into a new tyre, and thrown away if there are any signs of such wrinkles. Tubes, however, cost so little by comparison with the peace el' mind new ones can give the owner, that “new covers, new tubes” seems a good motto to follow. fl here also is the important question of retreads. The process of retreading has been developed highly in i ecent years, and when the work is carried out by a reputable tirm, excellent additional service can be obtained from a cover.

Here, again, it is vitally important for the owner to be sure of his old cover. If there are any faults in the casing, bruises or cuts, then it is not woith doing, because there is always thc chance of it breaking down at the weak point, rippini the tube, or simply blowing out. In other words, no cover should be retreaded unless it is literally perfect. A cover with a cord carcass, which has previously been repaired simply is not good enough. h inally, for the benefit of drivers of limited experience, a blow-out at speed when the car is on a straight read, is not to be feared nearly as greatly as some people believe. The main necessities are a cool head, the capacity to man-handle the car to kep it upright, and hold the wild skid in check, and sufficient self-restraint to leave the brakes severely alone until, at least the car has slowed well down under the retarding influence ci the engine.

RIGHT-HAND RULE. MAGISTRATE’S COMMENT. “The right-hand rule does not depend tor its interpretation on who is first on an intersection, but is concerned primarily with the possibility I Cl a collision if both continued,’’ said Mr 11. P. Lawry, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court, Palmerston North when delivering reserved judgment in a claim tor damages case arising out ci a collision at the intersection of lleretaunga and Featherston Streets Palmerston North. In evidence defendant, said he tried to get across the intersection in front ex plaintiff, who had not reached' the intersection, the judgment stated. He thought be had the right of way because he was on the intersection first. It was also contended by defendant that plaintiff should have seen him earlier, but with that the magistrate could not agree, as the driver of each vehicle was entitled to proceed more or less on the assumption that the driver of the other vehicle would observe the rules regulating traffic on streets. ’1 he magistrate quoted Mr Justice Callan as saying that the opportunity a driver had for acquainting himself with the situation on his left depended on the preoccupations which the state of the traffic on his right and f’.ont created for him. However, if having attended to these primary duties he was thoroughly able to acquaint himself with the state of traffic on Ids left and to avoid any traffic which ought to be avoiding him and was not taking steps to do so, then, as a. prudent motorist, he ought to | take that degree of care for his own I safety and the safety of thers.

The judgment further stated that the only "act of negligence preferred against plaintiff was his failure to look to the left, but the magistrate, could not agree with the contention in view of the opinions expressed in higher courts on that point. Judgment was given lor plaintiff. Leave to appeal was granted.

| A I SEELL SYSTEM. ‘ PLA’IIAS FOR LEARNERS. At a meeting of the Wanganui Motor Cyclo Club, held to discuss the problem oi making motor-cycling safer, a suggestion was made that a special plate lor beginners, carrying the Jettci “L” lot learner, should be issued immediately thc motor-cycle vas bought anu the rider had been tested on load code and elementary knowledge of the machine, the plate to be carried for from three to six mouths during which the rider would have a 45 m.p.h. speed restriction; also that he be subjected to a total pronioition of pillion-riding. 'this picposal is on the right lines, and, indeed, it would be a good idea if the system in force in the Uld Country, by which any person learning to drive anj motor vehicle, is obliged to carry the letter "L” on the front and rear ol thc machine wcic adopted in New Zealand. The system has much in its lavou.r. It assists the learner, uccause, by giving clear warning that lie is a learner, other motorists naturally tend to treat him with greater consideration, if not always from a kindly ana sympathetic feeling, then, at least, for the sake of their own safety. Most motorists, when overtaking or passing an “L” driver, give him as much of the road as possible. In fact, such is the consideration shown learners, that some motorists have put the “L's” back on their cars after having passed their test. They found that thc “L” had ensured them so much greater forbearance from other road users.

Of course, most drivers arc not like that. The majority regard the “L’s” as a badge of inferiority, and are glad to get them off their cars. Therefore, io most learners the “L” is an incentive to pass the test as quickly as possible, and that is a point in favour of the systtni.

The Wanganui proposals go further than the British regulations. In Britain, anyone can get a provisional or learner’s license, for a motor car or motor-cycle, by the payment of a lee of 5/-. The applicant has to sign ?. declaration, stating that, so far as ae knows, lie has no physical disability rendering him unlit to drive a motor-car or lide a motor cycle, but, as this has not to be backed by a medical certificate, or declared before a J.P., it is merely a matter of form. The applicant is not tested on his knowledge of the road code, neither has he to prove that he has an elementary knowledge of the machine he proposes to drive. A provisional license lasts for three months. At the end of that period, it the driver has not passed his test, he can renew the license for another three months, on the payment of a further 5/-. A provisional license can, in fact, be renewed an indefinite number of times. There is no obligation on a motorist to pass the test within a certain period. Of course, so long as he has not passed, he has to renew his license every three months, carry “L” plates, and always have a certificated driver on the seat alongside him.

An ”L” driver is not debarred from having passengers in his car, other flian the certificated driver, and lie is not subject to any special speed restrictions.

The “L” regulations apply to all forms of commercial vehicles, as well is to privately owned. An uiicertilijated bus driver is not, of course, permitted to drive a bus with passengers aboard. He has to practise in an amply bus; but a learner may drive x lorry or delivery van in the ordinary course of’ business, provided lie is accompanied by a certificated driver. TAXES ON MOTORISTS

HUGE AUSTRALIAN FIGURES. Probably no industry in Australia can show such a substantial and sustained increase in sales volume and value during the past six years as the automobile industry; nor has the secondary industry in the Commonwealth proved such a revenue producer for the respective Governments, Federal and State. Since the depression years, 1932-1933, the sales of new cars alone have increased more than fivefold', the actual figures being 10.775 units in 1932 and 58,201 in 1938. The up grade in sales for the intermediate years were 15,711 in 1933. 28.138 in 1931, 40.124 in 1935, 48,793 in 1936 and 58,061 in 1937. It is computed that the . buyers of 165.058 new cars in the last three years alone have paid tile Commonwealth over 12 2,750,000 in sales tax. 12 5.000,000 in petrol tax. and to the State Governments over J 21.500.000 in registration fees. A contribution in the region of £9,250,000 by Australian purchasers of new cars during the last three years reveals to what extent this section of the motoring community has and is contributing towards the welfare of the nation. In addition, heavy contributions were collected from the buyers of the 64,246 new commercial vehicles, sold in Australia in the same period. Owing to their more extended use in serving primary and secondary industries their heavier consumption of petrol and higher registration fees, the purchaseis Gt these business units con|.rilute<). well over 12 1.560.000 in sales ta>. during the three years’ term.

On these conservative figures it i>> shown that the buyers of new car.; and commercial vehicles In Australia in 1936-7-8 contributed some £14.750.000 in taxes, an average ol nearly £5,000,000 a .'ear, a liguie that is so huge that one is justified in asking “Can such a heavy levy lie maintained without jeopardisng the future of one of the Commonwealth's greatest secondary industries?"

TALKING TO TILE DRIVER. RESPONSIBILITY OF PASSENGERS "11 moie passengers in motorvehicles; realised the responsibility of the- drivers there would be less talking to the drivers, particularly in thoroughfares where there is busy traffic,” says a message of the Automobile Association (Canterbury). "ft is absolute!?- essehtia! that a driver should concentrate- on the serious business of watching with

alert cyo the roadway ahead, anticipating danger and ready for any emergency. If passengers talk to him, and he engages in talk or argument with them, he risks developing a condition of inattention. He may, just lor the fraction of a second, be caught off his guard, but it may be sufficient to cause a mark on a hitherto clean driving slate. Not only should passengers refrain from talking to the driver, but they should also use discretion in talking among themselves lest their talking should tend to distract the driver’s attention at some critical moment in traffic. Passengers should learn to appreciate the difficulties of driving, and try to assist the driver in the manner indicated. it is an easy matter to be talked into an accident; it is not so easy te talk one’s way out of an accident. , “11 jon arc a safe driver sec that your passengers do nothing to distract your attention from 3 our full-time job. . “If you are a safe passenger play the part ot assisting the diivei as suggested."

APPLIED ARITHMETIC. COST OF OWNING A CAR. In the March issue of ‘‘National Education,” the journal of the N.Z. Educational Institute, a teacher gives details of a lesson he set his class, as part of an effort to relate school arithmetic Io the financial facts of life. One o* the problems the children were set was, “What does it cost to own a car?’ Children decided on make and horse-power of car they wished lo deal with, and were organise;l into groups, each group concentia’ing on one type of car. A few days were allowed for the collection of relevant iniormation, e.g., first cost, probable annual mileage, insurance rates, legistration tees, tyre, oil and pet: ol costs, etc., from servicemen, mechanics, postal officials, and insurance agents. Class and group discussions were held and lists made of all p: t'ja.blc items of expenditure, including depreciation and interest on capital invested, and repairs. The brighter members of the groups attacked the ni'..o difficult calculations and the f. lo'.r'-'r flic easier ones. The results jr.|mi pg tots.l eo”t per mile and v. : c ki- co. I —nro’.od surprisingly ae-cu-.ito and ~a:& information not usual! - / supplied by the arc-rage ear 1 salesman.