SAFETY FIRST

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 26, 20 November 1930, Page 6

SAFETY FIRST

Traffic oonditions in the neighbourhood of all the great cities of the world are now becoming so congested that superefficient brakes are of primary importance. ICotor car manufacturers have real ised this, ana modern cars are all fitted with four-wheel braking systems which give the driver the ability to pull up in an emergency, in remarkable short distances. So far, motor cycle design has hardly kept pace with this development of four-wheel brakes on ears,-but notable exceptions are some of the 1930 models which are fitted with inter-connected brakes of very large diameter. Application of a single brake pedal, conveniently placed cluse to the offside footrest, provides the maximum braking power on both front and rear wheels, thus giving these aachinerf a decelerating .power superior to that of even the best ears. Careful tests have shown that the braking effect is so great that it gives a coefficient of friction between the tyre and the road of more than unity. This sounds I impossible at first sight, but it is due to the interlocking effect of a pneumatic tyre with the relatively rough road serriee.-