BRAKES AND LIGHTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18579, 13 December 1934, Page 9

BRAKES AND LIGHTS

■ RESULTS OP TESTS OFFICIAL FIGURES The opinion that, roads are now definitely safer as a result, of the recent check-up on brakes and lights of motor vehicles is expressed* in a .report issues! by the Transport Department, wliidi also points out that tne importance of adequate brakes and suitable lights cannot W too''strongly stressed. Jn the first place, the report states, it',was significant that the majority of motorists looked on the brake tests as a new regulation, in spite of the fact that • strict. tests had 1 been provided for in—the • motor- vehicle regulations for the past, six years. As a means of education, and of impressing on the motorist his individual responsibility in regard to the fitness of his own vehicle, .the check up was invaluable. Reports frpm ' traffic officers indicated that almost .invariably motorists are most desirous of complying with all reasonable,- requirements for safety. In fact, as soon as they, were aware of their responsibilities, many thousands of motorists, wholly on their own initiative, “had their brakes and lights overhauled and adjusted at garages. Although a number of returns are still outstanding, sufficient information is now to hand to indicate the conditions prevailing before the test was commenced., , . -, The returns from 191 garages show that 20i057 motor cars were examined,, and that, of these 14,284 required adjustment; -while of 2386 commercial vehicles 1 examined, 1732 had defective brakes.

The returns from traffic officers show that 38,210 vehicles were actually stopped by inspectors, andi of these 24,343 carried certificates from various garages. Of the 15,149 motor vehicles which were tested on the road, 5878 or 38.8 per cent, were found to be defective. The. returns from the same 191 garages show that of the 17,129 motor cars examined for adjustment of lights, 12,006 were found to require attention, while of the 2052 commercial vehicles examined, 1477 were faulty. That is, of 19,181 motor vehicles examined, 13,483 or 70.3 per cent, failed to comply with, the regulations.