A.A.A. ACTIVITIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20028, 18 August 1928, Page 10 (Supplement)

A.A.A. ACTIVITIES.

THE TOURING BUREAU. Since- (he A.A.A. moved into more ttpaeious offices a few'months ago, t lie demands on its services have increased noticeably, and a move has been made toward departmental organisation. The association is now ready for extension in any direction, and the departments: can he enlarged as membership increases, Although only a short time has elapsed since tho reorganisation,, it has been necessary to make four additions to the staff. The touring department has been most affected, and preparations arc well advanced for the touring season. Mr. A. S. Anderson, formerly cashier and inquiry clerk, has been appointed information officer. A new position, that of assistant service officer, has been created, Mr. J. Skow having received the appointment. He will assist the touring manager on outside organisation, and road man and guide 'work. An extra typist lias been engaged, and the patrol staff will be increased by two. It is the intention of the council of the 'A.A.A. that the patrols should visit the country districts more frequently. Bad road conditions and local requirements have rendered this impossible with the small inaugural patrol, but, as membership increases, it> will be the. policy of the A.A.A. to appoint one patrol for work in country districts for every 1000 members.

The new road maps and guides should be available early in October. Within about a fortnight, a handy map of parking areas and prohibited streets in Auckland will be issued. The association has just published a new map of the road approaches and tracks at the National Park. ' • • AT T-K AROIIA. A meeting of Tc Aroha motorists will be held- at Te Aroha 011 Thursday nest, August 23; at 8 p.m., when tfao touring manager of the A.A.A. will explain the extensions of the association's activities in (he matter of insurance, legal defence, technical information, and the patrol system. Suggestions will also be received for the : improvement of. service to local motorists. . ■ ■ , INTOXICATED " DRIVERS. Since the Criminal. Justice Act, 1925, came into force on Juno, 1,. 1926, in Great Britain, , there, have been 1160 cases before the 'coilrts of motor-

ists charged with being ljdrunk while in. charge of cars. A long article by the Rev. , Courtenay C. Weeks, M.R.C.S., L.R.G.P., Medical Secretary to the National Temperance League, giving an analysis of these and of the vipws of magistrates and judges on the question,, appears in the official organ of the Temperance Council. A summary of the analysis shows that 74 cases were dismissed entirely; 53 dismissed w 9n . the charge of drunkenness but dangerous driving; 15 discharged on "probation or bound over; 124 sentenced to varying terms'of imprisonment, and 894 fined.

SAFETY FACTORS. There is 'considerable difference of opinion as to what constitutes a safe average speed. It, is, of course, impossible to;- state what speed may be allowed as safe without knowing many details, such as the straightness or otherwise of the roads; the gradients; the quality of the surface and the width; also something about the maximum speed of the car: its powers of acceleration; the efficiency of the brakes; the skill of the driver; the length of the route; the ?mount of traffic etc. Two contradictory opinions by motorists of considerable experience were recently expressed on the subject. One of- thein does not object to a speed of; 50 m,p,h, on a suitable stretch of road, but maintains that a high average speed—say,. 30" m.'p.h.—over" a long distance must always entail dahgerous 'driving in certain places. The other maintains that a high average may be kept up over long distances provided that the car is well fitted for the job., That is to say. it must have an engine capable of" rapid acceleration and consequently high-powered; or else it must be a. sports car with a four-speed gear-box and driven by a man who knows how to use his gears to the best advantage and to get the utmost out of his engine. That these two opinions are somewhat at variance can hardly be denied, but. perhaps they are not so far apart as appears at first sight. Much depends pipori what the second motorist regards as ft high average speed. He does not commit himself to figures, but he points out that a much higher speed than is.available up-hill on a moderately-powered car is often perfectly safe apd may be reached in the type of car he mentions. Against this, however, it must be remembered that when ascending a hill there is always the chance of meeting a car., coming down at a,., considerable speed, and that although a car running at about 40 m.p.h. may be stopped on the level in less than 100 ft., tins cannot be done on a steep descent. When reckoning what is or is not a safe average speed the vagaries of other drivers mustalways be taken '■ into account. This is 1 important; bjat it is sometimes forgotten—and regretted.