THE WONDERFUL MOTOR CAR.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19314, 15 October 1932, Page 12

THE WONDERFUL MOTOR CAR.

One of the wonders of the motor car is the speed at which its moving parts work and the distances they travel. In the average car, when on top gear, the engine makes about six revolutions for every turn of the wheels. At twenty miles an hour it is revolving 1500 times a minute, or 90,000 times an hour. In a journey of a hundred miles it makes 450,000 complete turns. This is assuming that the whole journey is made on top gear. Actually a considerable part of it will de done on lower gears, so that on the average every 100 miles traversed by the car means half a million revolutions of the engine. There are thousands upon thousands of cars at work to-day which have 50,000 miles or more to their credit. Their engines have registered no fewer than 250,000,000 revolutions apiece. Yet they are still in working order and show no signs of wear.

MOTORING OFFENCES. The Automobile Association has just completed an analysis, on a percentage basis, of the figures published in the Home Office Return of Motoring Offences (England and Wales) for 1931. By this means an interesting insight is given into the most common causes of prosecution, and it is made quite clear that the vast majority of proceedings instituted by the police were in respect of minor technicalities having little or no bearing on the question of public safety. The A.A. analysis reveals that of the 339,144 cases reported, 19.14 per cent., or nearly one-fifth of the total were in connection with lighting, whilst 10.701 per cent, were for obstruction. Driving licence offenders come next with 9.166 per cent., careless driving 8 per cent., whilst excessive noise is fifth on the list with 7.704 per cent. The fact that the prosecutions for manslaughter and causing bodily harm constitute .019 per cent, and .007 per cent, respectively, definitely refutes the allegations so frequently made against motorists by prejudiced parties. This also applies to the number of cases dealt with for driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs, and reckless driving—.62B per cent, and 3.867 per cent. Generally the official statistics bear out the contention of the Automobile Association that since the Road Traffic Act abolished the 20 mile speed limit the standard of driving has consistently improved, although the speed of traffic generally has increased.

Making a Habit of It. Smith had just bought a new car, and although he had had only one lesson in driving, he ventured out the first evening for a trial run. He was proceeding gingerly down a country lane when, on rounding a corner, he suddenly encountered two men walking in the opposite direction. There was no time for him to draw up, and, although one of the men got clear, the other was knocked into the hedge. Smith was nearly fifty yards farther along the lane before he managed to bring his car to a standstill, and, thinking he would get back to the injured man most quickly by means of the car, he reversed his engine and backed up the lane. Unfortunately he overshot the mark again, and this time the second man, who was bending over h(s injured comrade, was hurled to the groundAgain Smith went past some distance before he managed to stop, and again he started forward to drive up to the

However, just as his oar was approaching the spot for the third time, he heard one man shout to the other, as he dragged himself painfully but hurriedly through a gap in the hedge “For Heaven’s sake, come on! He’s alter us again!”