THE MOTORIST

Northern Advocate, 13 October 1934, Page 6

THE MOTORIST

VOLUNTEER SERVICE. AN ENGLISH SYSTEM. OPERATING IN MERSEYSIDE. This very interesting article appeared in aan English motoring journal. Do you-«.know what the H.N.V.M.S. is? No? Well, let me explain how some very useful vrork is being carried on, quietly and efficiently, by owner-drivers on Merseyside. If a hospital patient suddenly becomes so ill that he may not live until morning, the matron, sister-in-charge, telephones a member of the Hospital Night Volunteer Motor Service, who calls for the patient’s nearest relative and brings him or her to the hospital as quickly as possible. The Hospital Night Volunteer Motor Service operates only between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., when there is neither bus nor tram available, and is staffed by owner-drivers who place themselves and their cars at the disposal of Merseyside hospitals. Members undertake duty for ohe month at a time; and during that month they may have anything from three to thirty calls. In most cases it is a race against death: can the relative be found and brought to the hospital before the end? A delay of five minutes may make all the difference. ■ One H.N.V. M.S, member, with the help of his wife, has organised a system which reduces delay to a minimum. As soon as the telephone bell awakens them, he jumps up, takes a nbte of the name and address of the relative, refers to a street guide and then a map, and jots down the quickest' route; meanwhile his wife has dressed and gone to the garage. Then he dons flannels and a pullover, by which time his wife has brought round the car, and off they go with torch and notes, to find the relatives’ house.

Some people are difficult to waken; others require a quarter of an hour to dress, but sooner or later the relative is ready, and in a few sminutes has, arrived at the hospital ward. Sometimes a patient—perhaps admitted as the result of an accident — unwittingly gives a wrong or incomplete address.. This makes things very difficult for the H.N.V.M.S. member. Streets and roads are completely deserted during the wee sma’ hours, so that there is no one to direct a stranger on his errand of mercy. Town plans and street guides enable a member to find unaided any address in the older parts of the town or suburbs, but there are many new housing areas which do not yet appear in the official publications. As the result of an incomplete address, one H.N.V.M.S. member had to interrupt the slumbers of three honest householders between 2.50 and 3.10 one morning. Another time the address proved to'be that of a house which had stood empty for yfears—so it was stated by a man next door who had been awakened by the member’s repeated knocking and bellringing. There seemed no option but to telephone the hospital and ask for the address, but he had omitted to bring any coppers. Pressing the “Emergency Call” button he asked for an emergency call to the hospital, but the original address was all the hospital authorities had in their records. By a visit to the local police station the address was corrected.

THE RIGHT-HAND DOOR. SOURCE OF DANGER. ASSOCIATION’S WARNING. “The Christchurch City Council has taken cognisance of the danger caused by the habit which some careless motorists have of opening motor car doors on the traffic side without due regard for following traffic,” says the latest safety first message of the Canterbury Automobile Association. “At intervals this association has drawn attention to such carelessness and at last, the council has been obliged to pass a by-law dealing with the matter. It should not be necessary to pass such a by-law, but the number of complaints made against motorists amply justifies the action taken. “Sheer thoughtlessness and lack of courtesy lead motorists to forget that cyclists and other road users are entitled to some consideration. Obviously, it is extremely dangerous suddenly to fling open a door on the traffic side of a car right in the track of cyclists or motor car drivers. Suddenly confronted by a door wide open in his path, a cyclist may be forced to swerve dangerously into collision with another cyclist or a vehicle. There have been instances of cyclists being knocked off their bicycles through hitting open doors. Far too many motorists have been in the habit of opening a door and then backing out on to the roadway without giving any consideration to traffic. “When motorists stop cars by the roadside they should pull up close in to the left hand side and then, after having made sure that no danger is being caused to other traffic, open the door with due care.” By permission of the Lord Great Chamberlain, the Coal Utilisation Council organised in Old Palace Yard, Westminster, London, a demonstration of road vehicles propelled by some derivative of British coal. The demonstration lasted from 11 a.m. till 3 p.m. on each day.

THE ONLY WAY. | ACCIDENT PREVENTION. A DUTY ON EVERYONE. ' For some time past the public has been concerned about the enormous number of accidents that occur daily on the roads, writes an English motorist. Let us remember, he says, when we talk about the public that in reality we mean ourselves. We are rightly appalled at the figures, which mean fatality and injury. He contrasts road conditions with railways in regard to safety of opera-* tion. Railwayman join the railway: service as boys and are brought up in strict traditions; their livelihood and the well-being of their families depend upon their falling into line with the rules and methods of their company. Compare this with conditions on the road. Every Tom, Dick and Harry, Molly and Sue, has a car, a motor cycle, or a humble push bicycle. A vast, heterogeneous collection of people express the sense of freedom which money can give them by seeing as much as possible in as short a time as possible. You cannot enshroud these people with restrictions—there are far too many now. You cannot sack them for a breach as would the railway company. The attempts to reduce the toll of the roads by Act of Parliament or Standing Order are but poor palliatives—they have very little result, as has been. seen. So really we are thrown back on the only remedy, which is the endeavour to get people, whether pedestrians or motorists, to be a little less selfish and thoughtless. For ‘ these are actually the main reasons for accident. It may take years and it may mean that special measures of publicity and education will have to be adopted, but it is the only way. Every motorist has seen acts of thoughtlessness and selfishness that make for accident, and in his heart knows the truth. ' Perhaps the feature that should give most hope is that the higher proportion of mishaps is due to thoughtlessness rather than selfishness, although the latter is more terrible to observe. The cure is plain. When you can get road users to understand the crime of thoughtlessness and the risk involved in selfishness, which includes reckless speed, impatience, rivalry, taking risks, and a whole host of other things, then the job will be in some measure done. It can be done, and it will have to be done sooner or later.

FUEL RESEARCH. UNIQUE EXPERIMENTS. One of the most interesting investigations into the anti-knock characteristics of petrol ever held in the history of motoring is now being conducted in the United States. Forty experts, comprising some of the most experienced and highly trained men associated with the petrol industry of the world are, with fifteen 1934 model cars, carrying out a long series of tests. To ascertain their anti-knock qualities on the road in different cars, sixteen grades of petrol, of which seven are commercial products, are to be tested in each of the fifteen cars. Five mechanics “tune up” each car. before it starts work, and whilst undergoing their road tests the cars are continually to be tested to see that their mechanical condition, the ignition and timing system, and all other variables are not changed appreciably. The object of this preliminary trial is to ensure a definite and certain mechanical efficiency before the vehicles are taken on to the road, so as to obtain reliable data, from which conclusions can be finally drawn. It is considered that the results of these tests will be very far-reaching in their effect on both the automobile and petrol industries. For three or four weeks these cars, representative of American, British and French makes, are being driven up and down a long, stiff hill, under certain specified conditions, which are conducive to engine knock. The. driver, a thoroughly experienced technologist in motor fuels, and at least two observers, record the details of every variation in the car’s operation, temperature, speed, spark advance, and the knock produced by the fuel, if any knock is caused by the extremely severe conditions employed in the driving tests. All cars are tested with the standard ignition setting recommended by the manufacturer, and so maintained until all fuels have been tried In each car. The purpose of the tests is to compare the road performances with the different petrols, from low grade up to aviation fuel, in each car, to determine if the results found by laboratory fuel tests agree with those which obtain when the vehicles are subjected to hard driving on the road. The leading oil companies and automobile manufacturers of the world are closely associated with this international investigation. Because of the number of highway accident deaths between Toronto and Montreal due to lack of first-aid facilities, emergency stations have been opened through the combined efforts of the Red Cross, St. John Ambulance Association, and the Ontario Motor League. These posts have been established at regular intervals along the highway with qualified attendants in charge. This is said to be the first step in building similar stations along all main highways in Ontario.

SLOW DRIVERS. NOT ALWAYS SAFEST. While the fast driver usually comes in for criticism when dangerous driving is discussed, the slow driver is often the cause of accidents. High speeds, of course, are exceedingly dangerous in certain circumstances; but a slow driver with the habit of hugging the crown of the road frequently forces faster-moving vehicles into trouble, for all motorists have not the time and the inclination to dawdle along at a comparatively slow pace. On certain American highways the slow drivers became such a menace to safety that it was found necessary to introduce minimum speed limits. There is a tendency on the part of slow drivers to consider that because ’of the slow speed at which they travel there is no danger, but it is not an uncommon sight to see slow drivers cutting corners, and, if another car approaches from the opposite direction, the slow driver is often unable to accelerate quickly enough to recover his correct position on the road. Again, the slow driver will often rely on his horn to a greater extent than a fast driver, and when braking will fail to give the correct signal, as he feels, because of the slow speed, there is little danger to traffic in the rear. Slow drivers should remember that slow speed is not the only factor of safety. There are all the other road courtesies and regulations to observe, and he should remember that failure to carry them out may be the cause of an accident. TRAFFIC LIGHTS. AUTOMATIC CONTROL. The policeman who directs traffic is gradually being replaced by automatic signals in the main thoroughfares of London. The system was first tried in Oxford Street, where lights are installed at each corner. The lights are controlled from a central point, and the frequency of the stoppages, to allow for the cross-stream of traffic, are diminished or increased, according to the time of the day and the heaviness of the traffic. In other parts of London the authorities are gradually introducing the automatic electric control. Some ten yards before each crossing •is a rib of thick rubber running a'cross the street. Each vehicle which i crosses this makes a registration on an electric apparatus, and when a sufficient number have crossed a certain device changes the green light to amber and then to red. Trafalgar Square, which needed a large number of policemen pn point duty, is now controlled by the automatic light system. Though the system costs a good deal for upkeep, the cost is nothing like the cost of wages to a small army of constables.

• ■ CANCER SCARE. INHALATION OF DUST. An English correspondent writes: *“The question of whether road dust is a cause of cancer, which was mentioned recently at an important health congress is one of vital importance to all motorists, : and I am glad to say that the matter was raised in the House of Commons in* order that an official statement on the rumour could be secured. Mr Reginald G. Clarry (Conservative M.P. for Newport, Mon.) asked the Minister of Health whether he had any evidence that cancer of the lung may be caused by dust from tarred roads and if there are any known fatal cases of lung cancer attributable to this cause. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health said that the relation between the inhalation of dust from tarred roads and cancer of the lung has not been established and it is, therefore, not possible to say whether any deaths from the disease can be attributed to this cause. Sir Francis Fremantle, who is a distinguished’ doctor and a former medical officer of health of Hertfordshire, pointed out that the number of deaths from cancer of the respiratory organs is only 90 per million as compared with 1500 per million from cancer generally. The original statement about the danger was made, not by a doctor, but by a distinguished metallurgist. These statements in the House of Commons show that motorists need not be alai'med by scare of this type.” SAVED BY THE HORN. The National Safety Council of America recently reported the case of a man who started his engine while the car was in’ a closed garage. Before he realised that anything was happening to him, he was overcome by carbon monoxide. He collapsed ii? the driver’s seat completely unconscious and, in a few moments,’ he would have been dead. But, when he collapsed, his head fell on the horn button at the top of the steering post. Members of the family heard the horn continuously sounding, rushed into the garage, dragged the man into the open air, and finally revived him. Brake rod connections, brake pedal spindle, and the articulations operating the cams inside the wheel should be remembered when greasing the car, otherwise wear and lost motion, which produce rattles and prevent smooth application of brakes, will result.

A GARAGE IN THE SKIES. Ambitious plans have been proposed for the World Exhibition, to be held in Paris in 1937. One of the spectacular schemes which is receiving serious consideration is the building of a gigantic tower which wilKhave a of 2100 feet, and has been designed by a famous French engineer. It will be more than twice the height of the Eiffel tower. There is to be an external spiral drive for cars, and it is intended to build the structure in reinforced concrete. According to the “Motor” (England) it will have a diameter at the base of 480 feet, diminishing to about 130 feet. At the 1500-feet level there will be a platform to which laden, cars can be driven, and above that another platform which can be approached by vehicles capable of exceptional hillclimbing. Garage space for a great number of cars and hotel accommodation are to be provided, and the upper parts of the structure will be- devoted to a meteorological station, scientific laboratory, rest, and sun treatment rooms, and places of amusement. The car track will be an exterior spiral ramp, and will be about three miles long, having a gradient of one in 12. This track may even be used for motor trials. There will’ be two tracks 21 feet wide. From a height of 1500 feet the cars will be taken to the 1800 feet level by a cable system, on special carriers which will have automatic brakes to prevent danger when turning. The only technical obstacle to the building of the tower consists in finding enough hard ground. It is 1 proposed to erect it on a hill at Suresnes in the south-west district of Paris.

FUEL OIL ADAPTER. Development of an “adapter” which converts a petrol-burhing engine into a fuel oil burner is announced by .a Detroit company.- The adapter, it is said, can be used on any type* of petrol engine and adds only;, five to seven pounds to its weight. A test of a converted six-cylinder motor ■ with! ; bore and stroke of 4 3-8 by 5J inches is said to have shown a decrease of 24.2 per cent, in fuel consumption when the engine was running full thrpttle on oil, without any change in carburettor adjustment, and a gain of six horse power. A constable giving evidence at a London police court: When I -asked the man if he was the owner of the car, he said, “I will be after I have paid 23 more instalments.” * • '* * '■ *" At a cost of £5700, a two-mile track solely for, pedal cyclists, is to be laid down along a section of Western Avenue, Acton, London, W. ( # ■» ' w; • ft When filling the radiator it is advisable to fill it slightly above the vent or overflow to ensure that it is not choked. If the ventpipe becomes blocked harm may be done to the radiator, for as the water becomes hot a pressure of steam .may cause the radiator to leak at its weakest point; It would hardly seem probable that the ventpipe should choke sufficiently to permit any pressure to be generated in the radiator, but the fact remains that they do choke occasionally in this manner if neglected, as sediment from the water and grit form a plug of cement-like hardness.