MECHANICAL SIGNALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20366, 21 September 1929, Page 12 (Supplement)

MECHANICAL SIGNALS.

WEEDING OUT GADGETS.

Specifications have just been laid down by the Motor Vehiclo Appliances Committee of tho Transport Department for mechanical devices intended to obviato hand signalling. Scores of devices havo been patented in New Zealand and Auckland has been a rather prolific contributor. Nino out of ten of these inventions are not worth fitting, and a number of motorists have been fondly nursing contrivances which might just as well be tucked out of sight in tho workshop and forgotten. The swivelling hand is the most popular with thoso who mako a hobby of theso extras, and it is just as well that motorists who are bent on buying o'no of the many already on tho market should know what it should achievo if it is to bo recognised by law as a substitute for hand signals. Tho Transport Department has laid down special conditions regarding omnibus signals, hut tho following are its recommendations for essential qualities in direction, indicators for cars:—

1. Every direction-indicator shall bo fitted in position on tho off-sido of the vehicle adjacent to tho driver, where he can conveniently operate tho same, and observe its movements when seated and facing forward. See, however, Clause 6. 2. It shall bo capable of clearly indicating to road users either forward of, or towards tho right-rear of tho vehiclo, a turn of 90 degrees to the right, also an intermediate or partial turn in that direction, and shall lie capable also of clearly indicating to a traffic officer standing on tho roadway in front of tho vehicle, or to tho driver of an approaching vehicle, • similar turns to the left. 3. All mechanical direction-indicators shall bo effectively illuminated for uso at night. A distinctive colour, other than red or green, may be a characteristic feature of the indicator when illuminated, but this is not essential. 4. Tho neutral position of tho indicator proper (i.e., tho position of tho actual pointer when the vehiclo is travelling straight ahead) should bo in lino ahead, and if not in line ahead, tho indicator proper shall, when in neutral position, bo hidden from tho view of traffic by being housed or obscured in some similar way. 5. A direction-indicator may bo constructed to give a " stop " signal provided the signal closely corresponds to the regulation hand-signal indicating " stop," and provided an automatic stop signal is also provided at tho rear, in terms of Clause 7. 6. An additional approved directionindicator may be fitted to the rear of n motor-vehicle provided an approved one is fitted to the front of such vehicle. 7. In terms of tho Motor-vehicle Regulations, 1928, an automatic " stop " signalling device must bo fitted at the rear of the vehiclo before any mechanical direction-indicator fitted to the may be used. Tho automatic " stop '« signalling device may be incorporated in, or form part of, a second direction-indi-cator fitted at the rear of the vehiclo, in terms of Clause 6. 8. Every indicator shall be designed and constructed with a view to efficiency, dependability, and good wearing qualities.

A PARKING RESTRICTION.

Tho city council has refused tho Auckland Automobile Association's suggestion that tho prohibition on parking in Bowen Avenue should bo removed. The parking areas in the vicinity of High Street and Victoria Street East aro already congested before the business of the city really starts, and there is no reasonable scopo for overflow later in tho day. The traffic department does not suggest that parking in Bowen Avenue would cause any nuisance to traffic movement, but objection is made on tho ground of interference with the outlook from Albert Park. Ono hopes-that the council will be as particular in dealing with unsightly hoardings on the highways.

POWER IN A DROP.

Through Iho medium of an efficient engine a single drop of benzine will drive a motor-car, weighing nearly a ton and a-half, over more than a foot of highway. This example of the marvellous power developed in tho modern motor-car was figured out by Werner Fetz, research engineer, after completing a 3000-mile trip in an Oldsmobile. "Car owners talk a-good deal about tho mileage their cars mako per gallon of benzine," Mr. Fetz said. " I doubt, however, that tho majority of them re-alise what their statements involve. Wo may discuss tho billions of pounds spent during the war, or tho hundreds of light years a star is away from us, but since we cannot visnaliso such figures they have absolutely no meaning. " It is tho same with benzino miieafre. Take, for example, a car which avei'»*es 17.8 miles per gallon, and see what iois consumption of fuel actually moans after wo have reduced these figures so that wo can grasp them more easily. " Seventeen and eight-tenths miles represents 93,984 ft., and one gallon of benzine contains 60,602 drops. Consequently, it requires 0.73 drops of benzine to move this car one foot.

"To comprehend tho full significance of this fact look at the size and weight of the car and tho engine, tho threequarter drop of benzine, and one foot of the road. One cannot help but be amazed at such marvellous machine performance, utilising tho energy stored up in such a tiny speck of benzine."