SAFETY ON THE ROAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21086, 21 January 1932, Page 10

SAFETY ON THE ROAD.

EFFICIENCY OF BRAKES. CITY'S PLAN NOT FAVOURED. EDUCATIONAL WEEK SUGGESTED. Tho suggestion of the City Council that, in order to obtain greater safety on the roads, motorists should bo compelled, prior to the annual registration of their vehicles, to furnish certificates guaranteeing the efficiency of their brakes, was viewed with disfavour by the council of the Auckland Automobile Association last evening. It was decided to recommend the City Council to try a system of inspection instead, with a view to impressing motorists with the importance of keeping their brakes in a state of efficient adjustment. The association's service committee expressed the view that the problem was already competently dealt with by the regulations under tho Motor Vehicles Act, 1924, which require that every brake must be maintained at all times in good working order, and forbids tho operation of a motor vehicle not possessing the requisite brakes. Under regulation 2. section 3, police officers and traffic inspectors aro authorised to inspect at any time tho brakes or any other part of a motor vehicle with a view to ascertaining whether they comply with tho regulations. Members pointed out that under a compulsory system involving tho uso of an annual certificate, no assurance would be forthcoming that tho brakes would bo kept in a perfect condition of adjustment for a year. It was decided to notify the chief traffic officer of tho City Council that in tho opinion of tho association ho already possesses full authority to deal with inefficient brakes. At tho same time tho association offered to supply a patrol to work in conjunction with a traffic officer of the City Council on a section of road over a period of one week. Motorists could bo stopped and brakes could quickly tested for efficiency. Tho object of the test would be to indicato to motorists tho necessity of regularly hav : ing their brakes tested and adjusted to a stalo of efficiency. Under the association's scheme no motorist would be prosecuted, as the test was intended as educational propaganda and motorists would be given the opportunity of having their brakes adjusted according to tho requirements of the motor regulations. The lest would bo of the saiuo nature as the test on headlights conducted conjointly by the association and tho City Council last year.