MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2288, 23 October 1914, Page 9

MOTORS & MOTORING

[By Clutch.] Highway Accidents. The subject of accidents upon the public highways, always an interesting one, is just" now receiviug much attention in America. Of course, any kind of locomotion, whether by land or sea, or in the air, has its peculiar dangers, but as the public highway is so intimately and continuously connected with every one's life, accidents upon it receivo a larger share of attention than mishaps at sea or collisions on tho railways or any other form of accident not conneoted with the highway. The public mind in this matter is largely guided by tho amount of prominence given to accidents; and just now all over the world motor-car accidents excite it more than any other kind, and, therefore, receive greater prominence. Mr. Mitchell May, Secretary of State for New York, in discussing the subject last month said:—"To begin with, every good driver upon the road, whether of horses or motor-cars, should thoroughly grasp the fundamental fact that the pedestrian has in some places greater rights, in others an equal, and in still others an inferior right on the roads in relation to wheeled traffic, and he is supposed to take- reasonable care of himself and to see that he does not recklessly incur dangers to himself and others. In this country we often laugh at the fact that in France a man may be prosecuted for being in the road and being knocked down by a passing vehi-. cle. This, of course, is an extreme case upon the other side of; the question. "There are dangers which the motorcar driver incurs every time ho drives along a highway, which are not in the naturo of common ones.' As generally understood, common dangers, for instance, include the chance of collision with other vehicles at cross roads, of skidding on a slippery pavement, and many other well-known risks which vary according to tho traffic, the condition of tho road, and weather, and many other circumstances whioh need not be considered here. Tho driver of a motorcar, however, who aspires to , a clean recard in the matter of accidents, has to b'e more than ordinarily alert. He has to exercise in a special degree the quality of forethought and train himself, to calculate beforehand, what is likely to happen under certain circumstances which' may, at first sight, appear unlikely. Children Causa Accidents. -"A danger to which veh'ioles meeting and overtuidng are especially liable occurs when small children are holding upan the rear end of wagons. Talking uti the top of their voices, theso young iolks have often lost sight of the l'acl that other vehicles may be overtaking aiid passing them., A boy perhaps drops his cap and suddenly relinquishes his hold to recover it. At that moment, perhaps, another vehicle is passing, and before anything can bo done or without any blame being attributable to the driver, the lad is knocked down, and injured. Of course, in such a case the fault lies primarily with the child, who acted, in '■ a most reckless manner. But motorists must treat children in all cases as irresponsible .' and careless. When children's feet are seen underneath, a vehicle to which they are clinging utmost caution should be exorcised, and either an extra wide space allowed when passing or the motor-car slowed down to such an extent that'an instant t,top can be made."Accidents are reported,from time to time as happening to deaf, old, and infirm people, who, while out walking, probably in the middle of the road, have not been able to hear the warning of horses' hoofs or /the- motor horns; in such cases they are often run over and perhaps killed. These are accidents hard to avoid because one cannot prosumo that every pedestrian is deaf. Those whose hearing or eyesight is impaired are always an incalculable danger on the highway, not only to themselves but to others. . More lives may be endangorod in trying to avoid an accident at the last moment than would be involved if the. risk of collision with the one deaf person was incurred. "The fact is that in these days of rapid and constant locomotion the highway has become a very dangerous place for those not in possession of their full faculties in every sense. For nearly sixty years past, that is, from about 1840 to 1895, the main highways were moro and more deserted, the railways' taking the whole of the long and a great portion of the short-distance traffic. -Now, however, the use of the road is being and'it'is just as dangerous to allow infirm and deaf people to stray- about upon the highways as it would be to allow them to walk in the vicinity of the railroad tracks. Ignorance of Rules of the Road. . ' "As regards tho general public, the widespread ignorance and apathy .as to the rules of tho road is one of the most unsatisfactory features manifested on our highways to-day. When one motorist encounters, as he will inevitably do, nearly one-third of the vehicular traffic upon the wrong side of the road, he must not'allow, himself to, become irritated _ at the apparently deliberate perversity of the average driver of slow vehicles. Theso drivers dp not know or care. As a remedy for this almost universal, breaking of the rules of the raod, there is a reform which is not only desirable, but practical. The rules of the road and the dangers of the traffic should be taught in every elementary school in the country. There are probably no children under the age of ten or twelve years, and comparatively few grown-ups, who could give an intelligent answer.to the questions as to how to cross a road, on which side to drive or walk or where to look for special danger. A dozen or 60 simple rules illustrated by plain diagrams would in a very few lessons convey to the mind of the average school child an imprint upon his memory for life, the_ best way of avoiding the undoubtedly increasing dangers of the street and of main and cross roads alike." Military Motor Cycles. Interesting information as to the type of motor-cycle required by the British War Office is given in the "Motor Qjcle." Tho writer says: ''The only machines suitable are 3$ h.p. singlecylinder machines, of well-tried and approved make. They must have variable gears and 26iu. wheels. Horizontally opposed twins of 2-f h.p. and 3$- h.p. are tho twin-cylinder type favoured. Applicants .with machines' outside this category should still fill in this form, as it is useful in compiling a register of motor cyclists ready to serve. • Having completed this form, motor cyclists will bo asked to attend, at their, own expense (paragraph 7, War Offico Order, June 19, 1913), at Fulham House, Putney Bridge, w'hero they and their machines can bo inspected and official waiting list forms filled up." Hindi and Tins. i Many cars'on the road require new brake shoe linings every 2000 miles; I actually niet ono car last month (says a writer in a recent issue of the "Autocar"), which wants new linings every 600 miles, and I myself wore out a brand new set between London and Edinburgh on a chassis of another make. After two or three re-linings I made the bold experiment of scrapping the standard' woven wirc-and asbestos linings in favour of plain copper facings, and I, find that thoy work , and wear well. They need very careful shaping, nnd benefit by an occasional drop of oil, through helmets mounted' in tho drum faces for the purpose, but they have so i'w run atJOO miles without per-

coptiblo wear, nnd there is still plenty of adjustment left. Even in the best-managed workshops accidents will happen, and though they may not -be serious in themselves, yet, if neglected, dangerous complications may follow. It is, therefore, advisable to. have at hand a few simple remedies, and know now to apply them. Burns or scalds are best treated with ft mixture consisting of linseed oil and lime water in equal proportions. The mixture is known as Carron oil, as it was' first used at the Carron Ironworks. If the burn has resulted in a raw surface on the skin, a dressing of boracio ointment or a very strong solution of washing soda should be applied (an old-fashioned and somewhat painful treatment). On no account should cold water or cold metals be placed on the burned spot. Bruises, where the skin has not been broken, may be relieved by the use of arnica lotion. To reduce the tendency to sivell, the bruised part should be raised so that there is less encouragement for the blood to flow towards it. Small cuts only need to have the bleeding stopped by holding under the cold water tap, and then a piece of court plaster applied in order to draw the edges together and to keep out dirt. Lacerated wounds are more serious. They require to be dressed with a piece of luit soaked in weak carbolic aoid about oiie in sixty and covered with a piece of oil silk in order to keep them moist. On a new oar everything is likely to be stiff until it ia "nm in " and Buck parts as gearbox and back 'axle- may run hot through excessive friction until a. few hundred miles have been covered. It is as well to keep an eye on such parts during the initial run, as it may be found that when the heat generated has caused the lubricant to run thin a certain amount of leakage will take place, and at the end of the run this Bhould be made good by the addition of further grease or oil.. This is essential, as a shortage of lubricant will mean greater heat developed, and it might even result in a' seizure or partial seizure. Once the parts have been run in •and are working without undue friction or, heat there should be no trouble through loss of lubricant, as the joints jvill be proof against thick grease working through, even if thin oil leaks to some extent. Here and There. Legal lighting up time for motorcars and motor-cycles:—To-day, 6.31 p.m.; next Friday, 6.41 p.m.; , ■ The French Automobile Club has undertaken the organisation of the transport service for the French Red Cross Society, the, Association . of French Women, and the Union of French Women, all of whioh' are undertaking good I work in connection with the tending 'of French wounded 6oldiers. Two Belgian aviators forced to come down in hostile country through engine trouble succeeded in getting back to their lines, but were obliged to abandon their machine. A raid on a powerful motor-car with a Maxim gun was successful in recapturing their aeroplane, and the car carried it. to safety. There is now no motor indiio try on the Continent. Car-making has come to a standstill. The nations have ceased to be centres of industry, and no one knows when work will bo resumed. Several English works have ah but closed down, and tor various reasons the output of the others is very conservative. One of the most curious wayfarers' guides-in England is tne one at Bromley, Kent, ' on the London-Hastings Uoad. It is a signpost surmounted by a striking biplane in miniature while on 'tho three priuoipal arms are models of a racing car, a monoplane, and a "motor bicycle, under which appears the word 6, "To Brooklands." A comuion.griovance against tho ordinary guide post is that it only directs the traveller to the next village. This complaint cannot bo urg-_ ■od against the Bromley post, which indicates the way to John-o'-Groat's, Land's End, and Paris I It is estimated that at least 2500 motorists will travel by road to tho San Francisco Exhibition next year, owing to the tremendous development in the use of the motor, the light car, and cycle-car.' For years motorists in England have suffered at the' hands of'the police, on account of traps, alleged noise, and other charges. To-Jay, side by side, drinking at the same bar, feeding at the-same table, motorists and police are "all out" for their country's welfare. There is not a trap on tho road now. Tho black list is dead, and tho cut-out' regulation is a name rather than a law, and if tho war has done no other good in England it ,has at least served to combino motorists and the authorities to such. an extent that it is highly improbable the old trapping prosecution will ever be renewed. _ Germans and Austrians in England are not allowed to use motor-cars or motor-cycles during the currency of the War.