MOTOR NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 142, 18 May 1936, Page 8

MOTOR NOTES

Said the Manchester County Coroner recently; “I very much question if these crossings, ornamented as they are by symbols of the fire god, Baal, have ever saved a life.” Belishu pedestrian beacons were in question. According to an amusing story told by Mr Hore-Belisha, the British Minister for Transport, a driving test examiner asked two applicants what they would do if a signal showed red and green at the same time. “Write to the Ministry,” one replied. “Sign the pledge,” said the other. . Twenty-two lengths of road in the London traffic area will be freed from the 30 miles an hour speed limit under a new order. They are mostly important traffic routes, and include three seotions of the London-Norwich road and two of the London-Soiithend load. Eighteen lengths of road, mostly of Class 2, will be restricted under the same order. . Motorists who protest against the lack of visibility of their cars sometimes nullify part of the justice of their complaint by being responsible for the condition. A great deal or vision to the rear of many a car is sacrificed as a result of allowing the rear view mirror to become smudgy and lotting several layers of dirt remain on the window at the back of the body. Both should be wiped off at least once a week. At *i conference of tlio American bocicty of Automotive Engineers vanoils predictions were made as to the cars of the future. It was thought that engines would be at the rear. The entire side of a body (including wheel enclosure) would be stamped out of a single steel sheet. Mechanics will be able to cut out damaged parts of the steel body and weld in new sections. A professor of Stanford University, U.S.A., says that the tear-drop theory of design for cars is exploded by the fact that a falling drop of liquid loses its tear-drop shape and becomes spherical! He thinks that the car of the future had better look to the whale for its streamline effects. An Ottawa inventor claims that a new carburettor, which lie has devised will revoltionisc motoring. Petrol fumes only, instead of petrol, will be used, he says, with the result of 200 miles on a gallon of fuel. PREVENTING SPEEDING. Preventing speeding is considerably more in the interest of safety than \ punishing speeders after they have been caught, in the opinion of Mr Alfred Reeves, vice-president of the United States Automobile Manufacturers’ Association. “If speed tends to increase accidents then it is highly important to do everything possible to discourage rather than to encourage speed,” he declares. “Motor-cycle patrol officers should be equipped with nickel-plated machines and should be dressed in ‘loud, unmistakable uniforms,’ and should be right out in plain sight on all streets and highways, instead of hiding up side roads, in the hope of catching violators. “This business of encouraging speed, then arresting the speeding driver, is just like watching bandits go into a bank and kill the watchman and then arresting them when they come out. You never hear a motor-cycle behind you, or see a motor-cycle cop on the highway, that you do not involuntarily cut down your speed. Neither does any other driver.” SAFETY FIRST. NECESSITY OF “SEEING.”. “One of the most important necessities in the safe operation of a motor vehicle, or any vehicle for that matter. on a public highway is proper visibility,” says a safety message of the Canterbury Automobile Association. “The paramount necessity of ‘seeing’ was pointed out by the Minister for Transport, Hon. R. Semple, in his review of the fatal accidents of last year,- and in dealing with the number of accidents which occur in the late afternoon or early evening. To see properly, of course, one must have satisfactory eyesight, hut this message does not presume to deal with optical standards. “It does draw attention, however, to the obvious duty which rests on all motorists of ensuring that their standard of eyesight is not lessened by failure to ensure that at all times tlio windscreen, windows, and rear view mirror are kept so that they are functioning to their fullest efficiency. A coat of dust on the windscreen or a film of rain drops, militates against proper visibility and at the same time aggravates trouble through dazzling headlights The windscreen should always be kept clear and clean.

“An efficient windscreen wiper, or two if possible, is essential to safety. All windows of the car should be kept clear, and clean so that traffic to the sides is always visible, and a

1 dean rear view mirror, frequently consulted, assists the driver in sliowing proper* courtesy to following tiaffic. . . ~ “The days are getting shorter, the early evenings are murkier, and it is the duty of all drivers to whom safety means anything, to see that no risks are taken through lack of visibility.”