MOTOR BRAKES ON ICEBOUND ROADS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18233, 18 November 1924, Page 12

MOTOR BRAKES ON ICEBOUND ROADS.

In a description of a recent test of the now 21 lijp. Lanchester car on frostbound roads, 'given in the "Autocar," a statement is made which, if, as no doubt it is, fully justified by the facts, will tio more to hasten the adoption of four-wheel brakes, than all their other advantages combined. It is that when a portion of road downhill was struck that had become a sheet of ice, the independent rear wheel brakes were first applied to check speed. The car immediately began to slew round. The four-wheel brakes were then tried, and immediately steadied the ear, stopped the rear swing, and brought the car to a halt in a few feet. Then the performance, which had been unexpected, was repeated, with the same result. As we have' said, if that be a characteristic of all four-wheel brakes, no further demonstration of their value can be desired, for we know of nothing that could bo half so convincing. No motorist who lias once experienced the hopelessness of being in charge of a car over which he has no steering control ever will risk a repetition, and any fitting which robs such a situation of its terrors will be welcomed, whatever may be the trouble involved in maintaining efficiency —and we cannot be any party to minimising this, because unless such trouble be accepted as part and parcel of the device it may. render worse than illusory all the safeguard implied in it.