BRAKES AND LIGHTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21868, 2 August 1934, Page 16

BRAKES AND LIGHTS

REGULAR INSPECTION SYSTEM TO BE ADOPTED The position with regard to the testing of brakes and lights under the regulations of the Motor Vehicles Act is engaging the attention of motorists. The adjustment of headlights of motor vehicles requires constant attention if they are to be kept in an efficient condition to prevent dazzle and consequent danger to other road users. The vigorous polishing of a lamp when the holding nuts are not securely tightened, moving the stationary car by pushing against the lamps, road shocks or bumps on the mudguards are all things which can alter adjustment of the lamps. The Automobile Association will at all times render free service to members of the association in adjusting their lights, but as patrols cannot be everywhere at the samo time, a number of garages with the necessary facilities will be recommended, and, if necessary. mechanics will be instructed in the correct procedure. Motorists, however. will be required to pay a small sum to the garage proprietor for the adjustment of their lights under this arrangement. With regard to brakes, the association does not intend to xidjust brakes, as any reliable garage is competent to carry out this work. It is understood that the road test that may be imposed by traffic inspectors will be a simple one, and in the majority of cases will probably consist of the inspector being taken for a short ride in the car to watch the application of the brakes. A reasonable standard of safety will be required. The Automobile Association, in co-operation with the Transport Department, has prepared a sample form of certificate and its patrols will issue these certificates in the future when lights are to Ikj adjusted. The same type of certificate is recommended for use by garages for headlight and brake testing. It will not be compulsory to (Wry a certificate, but should a motorist be stopped by a traffic inspector, the production of a recently-issued certificate would under ordinary circumstances permit the motorist to proceed without examination or delay. " GET YOU HOME " SERVICE The "Get You Home" service, which is shortly to be inaugurated by the Automobile Association, has now advanced a further stage, an advertisement appearing in this issue calling for application from garages willing to extend the service to members and wishing to be enrolled as appointed "Get You Home" garages. A list of appointed garages and details of the various benefits available under the scheme will be available in the near future. The service is not intended to replace ordinary garage work but is designed to render assistance to a member whose car may have broken down on a public road and whose owner is not capable of restarting it in order that it may proceed to a repair garage. The " Get You Home " service will accomplish this for the member. His car will be either restarted or towed to the nearest garage, after which the member tfill be required to pay the ordinary garage rates for any repairs he may authorise. A limit of 15 miles for free service will be imposed and should a member require "the garage to travel more than 15 miles, then the member must be prepared to pay for the extra distance but on account of the proximity of garages, there will be only a few roads in the Auckland Province where the free service will not apply. The majority of breakdowns do not necessitate to.wing and therefore the prompt arrival of a qualified mechanic will be of inestimable value to road users. Beforo Christmas there will be a chain of "Get You Home" garages from Kaitaia in the North right through to Wellington and a similar service is being arranged by the southern associations throughout Canterbury and Otago. A feature of the Auckland service is that it will provide in a measure for service to members after the usual garage hours. It will also cater for the conveyance of passengers and luggage from a disabled car to the member's home or to the garage, whichever happens to be nearer. The question of liability in regard to accidents covered by insurance is also receiving attention under the " Get You Home " scheme. The enrolment of garages is proceeding and it is contemplated applications will close within the next couple of weeks, after which no further appointment will be made for 12 months. NOTES Tariffs on British motor-cars imported into the United States were lowered from 33 1-3 per cent to between 10 per cent and 25 per cent, according to classification on the signing recently of the reciprocal tariff bill by President Koosevelt. In view of the 25 per cent reduction in horse-power tax which is promised in England for January 1, 1935, British motorists will shortly take an increased interest in larger engines, which, in most cases, can be run ""with only a slight increase in the cost of fuel and oil.

According to reports by an Automobile Association patrol, further improvements have been made to the section of the Te Kuiti-Taumarunui highway which has been reconstructed, and which in the vicinity of Mapiu gave trouble recently. The new work is now almost entirely metalled.

Tyre pressures have a large bearing upon skidding; if they are very soft there is a greater tendency to skid when cornering, particularly on a loosesurfaced road, although where the surfaces are slimy the reverse is rather the case, owing to the increased area in which the tread of the tyres makes contact with the road.