TESTING OF CARS

Southland Times, Issue 23166, 6 April 1937, Page 6

TESTING OF CARS

ANOMALIES LIKELY The majority of motorists have by now had their cars tested and been given certificates of fitness. Some, however, have not yet been able to have their cars tested because of the pressure of work at city garages; but as long as they can show that they have made an effort to have the testing done, they are not likely to be prosecuted. No cars have stickers attached as none is yet available. Many doubts about the regulations have been disposed of by the Commissioner of Transport. For instance, a suggestion that acetylene lamps were ruled out by the regulations has been denied. The commissioner says that if the lamps give the required strength of beam at the time of the examination there is no reason why the vehicle should not be given a certificate. For the rest of the six months before the next inspection it is the duty of the owner to ensure that the lamps meet the requirements. There remains, however, one point about which there is doubt. A car which has been issued with a certificate might, in the following week, be involved in an accident from which considerable damage arises. The question has been asked: Does the certificate continue to cover the vehicle? If it does not, it is stated to be conceivable that a motorist will be paying for a new certificate .every two or three weeks. If, on the other hand, the certificate does continue to cover the car, the vehicle may be in anything but a fit condition to be on the highway. •

It is generally agreed that until the regulations have been • in force for some months anomalies are likely to appear. In the meantime traffic officials will use their discretion when doubtful points arise.