OVERLOADING.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 955, 27 December 1933, Page 11

OVERLOADING.

C.A.A. Warns Motorists of Danger. “ One of the principal dangers to be guarded against in the holiday and touring season is that of overloading the car,” says the Canterbury Automobile Association in its latest safetyfirst message. “ Motorists are liable at this time of the year to load their vehicles with passengers and luggage and make short or long trips, forgetful of the stresses placed on various parts of the motorvehicle, particularly the tyres, transmission, braking, springs t and steering. “ While it might be quite economical and very inconvenient to make one trip instead of two, it may so happen that this procedure may prove costly in the end. The ». ffect of flattening out the springs of a car with a heavy load is obvious enough, but a heavy load may make brakes quite useless and make cornering dangerous. Many passengers and much luggage, too, spoil visibility for the driver, and crowd him in his driving position. It is important, therefore, that motorists should avoid overloading the car for the sake of the mechanism itself. “ If a car carries a big load, then the driver should so regulate his speed that no undue risk is taken. With a heavy load there is always a danger of swaying on a corner, skidding, and general instability.”