THE NEED OF EFFECTIVE TRAMWAY BRAKES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13296, 1 October 1906, Page 4

THE NEED OF EFFECTIVE TRAMWAY BRAKES.

One of the most unfortunate features connected with electric tramways (says the Pall M'all Gazette) is that while all such vehicles are fitted with brakes that are fully capable (under favourable conditions) of exerting ample control on the steepest gradients in ,the hands of competent men who are gifted with the quality of self-control, none of these valuable appliances constitute an infallible safeguard to the travelling public. The explanation is to be found in the old story that in trying circumstances some men will inevitably lose their heads, and do the wrong thing. Of course, there is always the possibility that brakes may be rendered more or less inoperative by greasy rails, or because they are not in proper working order. " Quite recently there has been a veritable epidemic of tramway accidents, which, even if they do not prove existing brakes to be inefficient, certainly illustrate conditions under which they become ineffective. We want apparatus, says the Engineering Review, so designed and arranged that it shall not be within the power of nervous men to take away the safeguard that is supposed to be afforded by braking mechanism. As for slippery tracks, and brakes in a doubtful state of efficiency, these are matters for which the tramway companies and authorities are directly responsible, and if we may judge from recent occurrences, it does not seem to be clearly established that the points in question always receive the amount of attention that they evidently require. Within the next few months we shall probably receive the Board of Trade reports upon most of the tramway accidents that have taken place recently, and it is to be hoped that these documents will receive the careful consideration of tramway owners, and also of those responsible for the framing of regulations governing the equipment and operation of electric tramways.