A MOTORING CAUSERIE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19221, 9 January 1926, Page 12 (Supplement)

A MOTORING CAUSERIE.

(l)Y OUIt BRITISH CORRESPONDIEKT.) New Motoring Bill. If the forecast of business at the autumn session of Parliament is correct, the Government is about to introduce a bill to deal with a few urgent matters, but has, apparently, made up its mind that time cannot bo given for a comprehensive measure. This piece-meal way of legislating will not find favour with motorists who, already, are asking why, with a Ministry of Transport established since 1919, it has not been practicable to codify the patch-work motor laws in one comprehensive statute. It is not that this ,step would bo too controversial to secure support. On the contrary the whole gamut lias been run through by a committee representative of all interests, and the findings of this body are a complete basis on which to work. The bill about to be introduced deals with the following four points:—(l) The creation of new licensing authorities, probably on a county basis. (2) The introduction of new restrictions on t lie issue of licenses to prevent them being obtained by people suffering from serious disability. (3) More effective control of the construction of motor vehicles. (4) Compulsory insurance of cars against third party risks in the interests of the public. Bays on Narrow Koads. In the search for some means out of the difficulty that arises when cars are stopped for adjustment on narrow roads with a consequent risk to other traffic, some surveyors in Britain are forming "bays" at intervals for the use standing cars. Thus, though it may not be possible on the score of expense or topography to widen a whole road, the effect of its narrowness can be mitigated in this way. On a busy road of restricted width, the stoppage of a single car for a mere quar-ter-hour will cause the traffic to bank up and produce in sequence all the conditions that go to make accidents. Level Crossing Signals. , Under the auspices of the Touring Club of Franco experiments have recently been made with a new method of signalling at ungated level crossings. The device provides moans for giving an audible signal, a gong during the clay and a red light at night. This light is caused to "blink" by the train at its approach, and becomes fixed red when the crossing is reached. Theiseffort to find a practical signal is a serious one in France, where appalling accidents are reported overy month. SCOTTISH EXHIBITION. INCREASED BRITISH EXPORTS. Following on the British Olynnpia, of October, the Scottish Motor Exhibition opened in Edinburgh on November 13. Triere were 79 different makes represented, and of these 46 wore British productions. Twenty-three were Continental origin, and there were 10 American makes. A pleasing feature of the exhibition is that several British firms were fihowing chasses designed after consideration of colonial demands. #\Vhile it is appreciated that almost any British car will "make good" overseas, these "Dominion" models Rfe particularly attractive since they have a power performance nearly equalling that of American cars, together with that superior workmanship which characterises bo many . English automobiles. The sales of two famous makes of British Cars in Auckland,'lately, that there is going to be a marked increase in English cars during 1926. Board of Trade returns reveal a steady increase in Britain's overseas motor trade. For the nine months ended September 30. 1924, the export values were £4,518,956 and in 1925 they were £6,787,841, an increase of about two and ; a-quarter millions. Inasmuch as the.,:» 1925 figure is. more than four millions greater than that for 1923, there is. every reason why the motor manufacturer shouid consider his prospects good. In every.way the British car is getting more suitable for overseas conditions, and at the same time theSo conditions are becoming more appropriate to the use of the economical moderatepowered 'vehicle. i • NORTH ISLAND GUIDE. Very comprehensive information for the motor tourist is contained in the 1926 edition of the Motor Year Book and North Island Road Guide, just issued by the Wellington Automobile Club. Although & portion of the bonk is devoted to information regarding by-laws and the environs of Wellington, there is much general information covering the whole Worth Island. In conjunction with a score of maps, routes from Wellington to the North Cape are adequately described. An interesting section of the book deals with legal -precautions in case of accident, and traffic signals approved by the North Island Motor Union are given in diagram. Shipping and railway freights for cars are listed, and motor camping is exhaustively described with a variety of yaluable hints to novices. L INGONSIDERATE DRIVING. Instances of inconsiderate or incompetent driving were evident on the Helensville road last Sunday. A large number of motorists were proceeding toward Muriwai Beach, and it was noticeable how many hung on. to the crown of the road and either hindered the progress of overtaking traffic or caused approaching vehicles to run off the., roadside to pass. The cornering on some of the narrow (stretches was dangerously clumsy. It. is this lack of judgment as to where the left hand wheels are running which makes so many town drivers a menace on country roads. Some drivers can nevor estimate how much roadway they leave to spare for the left hand wheels, and they refuse to yield from the crown of the road. The motorist who is so unfortunate as to meet one of these bad drivers has either to run his outside ■wheels off the road, step and wait, or run the risk of passing with a few inches of latitude-. « It would be interesting for drivers to place a mark on the road and try driving t'ae left hand wheels along it. Many would find themselves over a foot out in their reckoning.,