MECHANICAL SIGNALS.

Matamata Record, Volume XIII, Issue 1104, 10 March 1930, Page 5

MECHANICAL SIGNALS.

.‘SOME NEW REGULATIONS. r 'Spec have just been laid t Jw3bwn by the Motor Vehicle AppliP ences Committee of the Transport * iDepartment for mechanical devices 1 intended to obviate hand signalling. s .Scores of devices have been patented r : in New Zealand, and even Canterbury has been a prolific contributor. 11 fNine cut of ten or these inventions s rare not worth fitting, and a number a *of motorists have been fondly nurs- h r ing contrivances which might, just as v wvell be tucked out of sight in the . . and'forgotten. v 13 , lThe''swiveiling hand is the most popular with those who make a hobby of •these extras, arid it is just as well that motorists-who are bent on buying one j of the many already on the market .should know what it should achieve if it is.to -be recognised by law as a substitute for hand signals. The Transport Department has laid down special conditions for essential qualities in direction indicators for cars: — Every direction indicator shall be fitted in position on the off-side of the vehicle’ adjacent to the driver, where he < •can conveniently operate the same, aiul I •observe its movements when seated and i facing forward. See, however, clause ; *6. ; 2. It shall‘be capable of clearly indi- . •eating to road users cither forward of, •or towards the right-rear of the vehicle, , a turn of 90 degrees to the right, also J ;an’’intermediate or partial turn in that * .direction, and shall be capable also of clearly indicating to a traffic officer standing on the roadway in front of the vehicle, or to the driver of an approaching vehicle, similar turns to the left. 3. All mechanical direction indicators ; -shall be effectively illuminated for use ;at night. A distinctive colour, other . than red or gepen, may be a characteristic feature of the indicator when illuminated, but this is not essential. •, 4. The neutral position of the indicator proper (i.e., the position of the actual pointer when the vehicle- is trarveiling straight ahead) should be in line ahead, and if not in line ahead, ' ■the indicator proper shall, when-neutral position be hidden from the view of -traffic -by being housed or obscured in .-some similar way. "5. A direction indicator may be constructed to give a “stop” signal provided the signal closely corresponds to ■the regulaton hand signal indicating •‘‘stop,’' nnd provided an automatic? ■ stop signal is also provided at the rear, in terms of clause 7. G. An add’tional approved direction indicator may be fitted to the rear of a anotor vehicle provided an approved one is fitted to the front of vehicle. 7. In terms of che Motor Vehicle-Re-gulations, 1928. an automatic “stop” device must be fitted at the of the vehicle, before any mechani«cal direction indicator fitted to the vehiclb may be used. The automatic * stop gnalling device may be incor- ; jporatecTOi, or form part of, a second •direction indicator fitted at the rear of the vehicle, in terms of clause 6. 8. Every indicator shall be designed and constructed with a view to efficiency, dependability and good wearing