HEAVY TRANSPORT

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3799, 24 August 1936, Page 7

HEAVY TRANSPORT

CONTROL IN AMERICA. FIRST STEP UNDER WAY. After long deliberation and consultation with representatives of various interests, the Federal Government of the United States of America is making its first authoritative entrance into the field of traffic safety. Draft regulations framed for the promotion of safety in the operation of inter-State buses and trucks are being submitted to the inter-State Commerce Commission. When finally adopted they will affect over 300,000 trucks, and members of the Motor Carriers Bureau are hoping that they will also be adopted by each individual State for traffic within the States. This, it is thought, would go far towards what America badly needs, uniformity in traffic regulation. The proposed regulations fall into four general classifications: Qualifications of drivers, the operation of vehicles, parts, and accessories necessary to safe operation, and accident reporting. The following is a summary of the regulations:— Drivers must have at least one year’s experience, including all seasons; must be physically and mentally fit'; must be at least 21 years old, unless employed when the regulations go into effect or one year prior to that date, but in no case may be under 18. > Carriers must submit information on each driver, including details as to experience and record, for the InterState Commerce Commission files. Reckless driving or driving while fatigued, ill, or under the influence of liquor, will be prohibited. Speed is limited to 45 miles an hour, which is deemed “reasonable and prudent.” All equipment and parts of r vehicle of importance from a safety standpoint must be personally inspected by the driver before the vehicle is taken out. Certain safety accessories, such as fire extinguisher, spare bulbs, red lantern and flag will be required. Vehicles moving in convoy must keep 200 feet apart. When approaching intersections where the grades are not separated (i.e., no overbridges) those transporting explosives, eta, must come to a full stop while others must slow down to ten miles an hour. Operation of vehicles with more than four lights of the character of headlights, spotlights, or auxiliary (fog or ditch) lights will be prohibited. On every truck or bus there must be at least two headlamps at the front, one red reflector on the side, at or near the rear; one red tail lamp, one red or yellow stop light and two red reflectors, ofie at each side, at the rear. Additional lights, indicating the size of the vehicle, will be required for vehicles eighty or more inches wide, or thirty or more feet long over all. Lighting requirements are also set up for truck tractors, semi-trailers, and trailers. All replacements of glass shall be made with safety glass. Specified distances in which vehicles must be able to stop are prescribed. At twenty miles an hour, the brakes of a truck must be such that they will stop it within thirtyfive feet, if all wheels have brakes, and within forty feet if all wheels do not have brakes. Combinations with brakes on all wheels must be able to stop in forty feet, and those not having brakes on all wheels in fifty feet. Two years after the regulations take effect, all inter-State common carriers will be required to have brakes on every wheel, except full trailers or semi-trailers if the gross weight does not exceed 3000 pounds, provided the gross weight of any full trailer without brakes shall not exceed 40 per cent, of the gross weight of the towing vehicle, and that the gross weight of any such semitrailer without brakes shall not exceed 40 per eent. of the gross weight on the axles of the towing vehicle when combined with the semi-trailer. Accidents involving death, personal injury requiring medical attention, or property damage amounting to 100 dollars or more must be reported to the I.C.C. If a person dies within thirty days after the accident the commission must be notified by telegraph, but if the victim dies after thirty days notification by writing will be sufficient. Forms issued by the commission must be used. There is a strict rule against the transportation of “hitch-hikers,” or any persons not employed in the actual operation of inter-State trucks and the handling of their cargoes, except in emergencies.

CHINESE MOTOR FACTORY. After a successful test of the first Chinese built motor car the Chinese Government has been asked by the provincial authorities to make a * grant of over a million pounds in "order to build a factory capable of producing 40 cars daily. The first motor car built in China by Chinese engineers cost £295, and took two years to complete.