SPEED ON THE ROADS

Southland Times, Issue 23538, 18 June 1938, Page 18

SPEED ON THE ROADS

ARE MODERN CARS TOO FAST?

TEMPTATIONS OF GREATER HORSE-POWER

A growing suspicion that cars generally are too fast for the men and women who use them, and that manufacturers would be better advised to devote their attention to providing greater economy, more comfort and better coachwork, instead of motors that give more horse-power for the same size, exists not only in New Zealand, but is gaining a large following abroad. With family cars capable of between 70 and 80 miles an hour, and quite 90 per cent, of drivers unable to control them safely at more than, say, 60, there seems ample justification for a plea that cars are fast enough, if not too fast, already, writes “Focus’ in The New Zealand Herald. Disregarding the super-cars of England, the Continent and the United States, models that can exceed 100 miles an hour in full touring trim, there are on the New Zealand market a dozen or more cars capable, as they stand and with full passenger load, of speeds approaching the. 80. Some owners make fabulous claims for their large American cars, holding that they can exceed 90, but test proves between 70 and 80 to be the maximum for most big cars retailed in the Dominion. New Zealand roads were not made for these speeds, and New Zealand drivels, nearly all of them, are wholly unable to control the speed that is released by the touch of the toe. Only a few years ago, 80 miles an hour was racing speed and 50 was fast for the road. Now 80 is regarded, quite incorrectly, as a road speed, merely because drivers have found themselves in possession of cars capable of this pace. . , , Critics of some of the faster stock cars offered for sale in New Zealand two or three years ago were emphatic that Hie lights, brakes and general stability of these cars were not in keeping with their speed. Manufacturers have produced even faster cars, which certainly handle better and have exemplary lights and brakes, but manufacturers make only the cars. Unfortunately, they cannot make the drivers too, and fit them with super-sensitive brains capable of transforming thought into action at the lightning pace necessary when driving at 70 or 80. It may be fairly pointed out that because a man has a car capable of 80, he has no need to use the. whole of the speed at his disposal. This is undeniably true, but unfortunately does not make due allowance for human nature. Anyone who doubts the speed at which some of the ordinary motorists of today travel, has only to post himself on any of the main highways near Auckland for half an hour to see for himself. He would quickly learn that some at least of the drivers who have cars capable of high speeds travel, if not at the maximum, at least far faster than they should. Meanwhile, while makers continue to turn out these extremely fast and most pleasant cars, owners would do well to realize that 50 is far faster than it sounds, and that in an emergency 70 may prove the direct cause of disaster.