NOTES FOR MOTORISTS.

Thames Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 17680, 3 September 1929, Page 6

NOTES FOR MOTORISTS.

Viewing with alarm the haphazard adjustment of motor headlights, the A.A.A. lias decided to test lamps for any member without charge. The adjustments will have to be made in the evening, and motorists can. male© arrangements at the information bureau.

TECHNICAL SERVICE. There has been a growing demand on the services of the A.A.A. technical adviser. During the last four months the engineer investigated eight complaints regarding overcharges for re pairs, and in three of these it was recommended that the position should he referred to the association’s solicdtoi. In the same period 11 members were advised on insurance matters and 10 were given recommendations regarding the purchase of new ea,rs. The engineer inspected five patent devices and a number of motorists wore instructed regarding mechanical faults in their cars.

THE OFF-SIDE RULE,

TRAMS EXEMPTED.

Tli® motor organisations da not approve of the exemption of tramoars from tlie requirements of the off-side rule. The A.A,A. recently comniunicuietl with the Ministry of Transport on tlie point, and a reply has. been received indicating thucfi'ains are specifically excluded by the definition of a motor vehicle under the Motor Vehicles Act. They commissioner also states that reasons, for special treatment for trams atm that they are limited to their tracks and cany probably twelve I times as many people as a motor-car. The right-of-way i s accordingly given to the tram.

At. the meeting of the council of the A.A.A. this week it was stated that some Auckland tram drivers adopted a very helpful attitude, giving dear signals to motorists before making a move. It was resolved to refer the exemption of tramcars to * the annual meeting of the North Island Motor Union to be held in Auckland next Friday.

NEW A.A.A BADGES. The A.A.A. has chosen a design for a new badge to be issued to owners of trucks, buses, service car s or taxis. The' badge is similar to the familiar metal oar badge, with the fihree A.’s, but it bears the lettering “Commercial Badge.”

A MOTORIST’S PRAYER. “Teach us to drive through life without skidding into other people’s business. Preserve our brake linings, that we may stop before we go too far. Help u s to hear the knocks in our own motors and dose our ears to the clashing of other people’s gears. Keep alcohol in our radiators and out of our stomachs. Absolve us fi’om the mania of trying to pass the other automobile on a narrow road. Open our eyes to the traffic signs and keep our feet on the brakes.” IMAGINATION IN DRIVING. ENSURES OBSERVATION OF “SAFETY FIRST.” Imagination has a great deal to do with the art of driving. Where this faculty is developed and brought into habitual play so that its exercise is

Seme Interesting Items.

almost unconscious, “safety first” will also b© observed. For example, no driver with any mental vision will overtake another vehicle ©n a corner unless lie can see clearly that the way is free, not only up to the turn or bend, but beyond it. This, of course, is only possible where the road is open or where there is a very low hedge or wall. The careless’ or unimaginative driver, depending only on physical vision, will pass otr attempt to pass on a corner.

Tlie good driver—and to be good ,he must have an appreciation of the feelings and convenience of others—will never indulge in this practice ■ for which the severest penalties, including 1 suspension of licence, should he inflicted, irrespective of whether on accident ensues or not, says a motoring correspondent in the “London Times.” He will foresee the possibility of a car approaching on the other side or the corner, of the way being partly blocked by other forms of traffic, or of the “other man’s” doing the wrong tiling. Stopping, ■on a comer, where it ®a.n be avoided, is equally dangerous.

OBVIATING RATTLES AND SQUEAKg.

; Few things annoy one so much as a rattle or a squeak 5 very often a particularly elusive rattle may be cured by a little attention given to the doors It will usually be found that the doors are fitted with rubber buffers and that by continual use these have become flattened. It is not always necessary to them, for by fitting a smcjU piece erf paper or tin nehind the rubber the trouble «an sometimes be cured. At the same time attention should be given to the door locks, for if a few drops of oil are used occasionally at these points squeaks will disappear as if by magic. Unless tools are pocked well with rag, or in special containers, they will cause a tremendous amount of rattling. It should also .be remembered that if tools are used on the road they should be packed away carefully again. Loose floorboards are another common 'Source pf rattle; it, is, a. very good plan to tack a strip of felt or rubber to the edges so that in thp event ©f their rubbing against one another they will nc(b give rise to squeaks. If felt is not available, try lightly greasing the edges of the boards. By placing a piece (of felt cut to the correct size under the floor mats a. feeling of comfort is given to the feet, and engine vibration will be prevented from reaching the passengers. This has the extra advantage of, keeping the feet warm in winter and cool in summer.

There’s one idea in connection with the glass used so generously in today’s motor cars that every one should know, namely, that it is not so prone to breakage, as in the instance of slamming a door, if the glass is all the way up or all the way down. In a half-way position the glass is supported on only three sides and when a hard force is applied the unsupported side is susceptible to breakage.

When a car collided with a stationary car which was being cranked, in Hobart, Tasmania, the owner of the latter was killed. At the inquest the coroner said that the fact that deceased was guilty of negligence in allowing his car to be stationary on the tread with the tail light out was ini? material if the other driver, by negligence, contributed to the death of deceased. The driver wa s committed for trial. \