EASE OF CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 49, 26 August 1933, Page 23

EASE OF CONTROL

"The speed and density, of modern traffic make.it, necessary- that the driver should- be able.) to /give/constant and uh-distracted'attention.-to-,the road aheaijl; consequently,: :eUse 'of '.control has. become' almost imp'prtEhit'feature in nioto'rcar'de^sign. 'and 'one,/which" is. essential to.'conifor.t :and:.'safety,',' .'writes,'' The: Motor" in., an," editorial.' .''This is the. underlying, reason.for. the striking popularity of ■ mechanical . devices which1 facilitate,.driving,, such! as ,easy-;change transmissions',-'automatic clutches, servo

brakes, flexible engines, light steering, signals, and so forth. "There are, however, certain respects in which some modern cars fail to reach even so high a standard as was common a few years ago. For example, while everyone appreciates artistic lines, it 'is certainly retrogressive to sacrifice the scope of vision afforded to the driver in order, to secure a more elegant appearance.. Again, not . every coachbuilder gives proper attention to the importance of'slimming' parts such as windscreen pillars which create blind spots. As regards the chassis, certain designs might bo, criticised in respect of a lack of certainty in steering control at speed which makes it difficult, for example, to hold the car -close to the gutter when emergencies arise. "We commond these points to the consideration of the engineers who are now engaged upon the perfection of new models in preparation' for the October Show. Such a high standard is* being achieved in motor-car construction nowadays that faults which remain become more prominent by contrast."