MOTORING WORLD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 182, 3 July 1937, Page 7

MOTORING WORLD

NOTES. Of cars stopped at random in America it was found that 5 per cent, contained what might he a dangerous concentration of carbon monoxide gas, and ,30 per cent, contained some trace of it. Accidents or temporary illness in which this gas might play a part could bo materially reduced if all motor vehicles were provided with an adequate ventdation system. Artificial colours have been used for concrete roads, but a new departure is to colour the granite shippings as used by road makers for non-skid roads. The colourings used are red, white, blue, green, yellow, brown and black. It is claimed that the most severe weather, chemical action, and attrition will not remove the brilliant coiouis.

Eric Fernihough, the British motor cyclist, established new w,orld records at Budapest recently for the solo flying mile, the side car flying mile, the solo flying kilometre and the side car Hying kilometre. The British Minister for transport was asked recently whether ho would consider the revival of the law of deodand, and its application to the motor ear owner proved guilty causing death by negligent driving. The Minister said ho had no such power. Until 1816, when the law was abolished, any personal chattel that was the cause of human death was confiscated to tho Crown to be applied to some pious use. A huge new racing car is being built for A. B. Jenkins, the American driver, who is to attempt to beat the world record of 301 miles an hour set up by Sir Malcolm Campbell.

NIGHT DRIVING

OBSERVING ROAD COURTESIES,

Two things—the early arrival of darkness during the winter months, and the congested traffic —make it more important than ever that motorists should pay some attention to road courtesies, which are possible by considerate use of the headlights. The difficulties and dangers of night driving are too well known to need emphasis, but it is timely to point out some of tlie ways by which individual motorists ca.u mitigate these problems by paying attention to the lighting equipment of their cars, and exercising common sense in its use. Every motorist is familiar with the ear whose lamps are “cock-eyed” —one lamp, perhaps, pointing slightly upwards and to the right, the ideal position for its beam to catch approaching drivers squarely in the eyes. It is one of the first duties of every car owner to make suro that his headlamps are straight, and that the beams are focussed correctly. If every motorist were to do this ono of the greatest dangers of the rOad.s would be removed. AVOIDING DAZZLE.

There is a moral obligation on a driver to consider the effect of his headlamps on the eyes of motorists approaching from the opposite direction, and it is not out of place to appeal to motorists to make fuller use of the headlight dippers with which their cars are equipped. The dipper does not reduce the intensity of the light; it only directs it downwards, in a manner to change tho direction of the beam and reduce its length, and in most cases provides enough illumination to drive at least at 25-30 m.p.li. When it is realised that the headlamps of a modern <vir provide sufficient light for a yj>eed of about 55 i11.p.h., it should he obvious that such a beam will be dazzling to other motorists. It is, therefore, not only courtesy, but a precautionary measure, to dip the lights as soon as another car approaches. . The best thing to do when a pair of blazing headlamps approach one is sometimes difficult to decide. Experience, however, has shown that possibly the safest course is to slacken speed, pull in to the left as closely as possible, and studiously avoid looking at the other lights bv watching the lefthand kerb or road edge. Most experienced motorists follow this practice, and although it would not bo correct to say- that thev have thereby freed themselves from the dazzle nuisance, they do not suffer to the extent of tho more inexperienced.

LONGER TYRE WEAR. As tyres represent, apart from the car itself, possibly tlie heaviest single motoring expense, it is worth going •to a little trouble to see that the greatest possible mileage is obtained irom them. When a car is used extensively the tyre pressure should he checked regularly once a week, not forgetting the spare which may be found to have leaked itself practically flat when the time conies to use it. . Heel and toe wear on the treads ot the tyres is another thing worth watching, and in order to keep it even, change the wheels about periodical!} so that the direction of rotation of each tyre will be reversed.

MAKE SIGNALS CLEARLY. It is surprising to note the number of motor vehicle drivers who consider it unnecessary to give the ordinary “stop” signal'when travelling in heavy traffic. The general attitude seems to be that drivers should watch the movement of traffic so carefully that they should always be prepared for the vehicle ahead stopping, and therefore the usual signal becomes unnecessary. "While thero is undoubtedly a certain amount of sense in this contention, it also is true that many people do not think ahead, and place a blind faith in the man in front giving the customary signal whenever he intends to stop. Hence, the large number of front to tail collisions winch occur. Actually, of course, motor car drivers are obliged by police regulations to give notice of their intentions at all times. Not only must the “stop” signal he given | meticulously, but also, due attention j "bo Id be paid to the signal laid down, for use when turning right. The hand must be extended as far as possible so that there will be no chance of a following driver failing to sec it. CARE OF THE TYRES. Punctures may often be avoided by ■X little care on the part of owners. When the wheels have been removed " nLI Y; _ ‘f aR well, before ref<ir to examine the tyres Sd with a pair of long-nosed pliers, o ex lore any cuts that may . appear £ f tread,’ f STouml embedded in thereover, but not certain punctures will removed in i l<? aioultd. • i - difficult task of *' ret night. lighting experiment. An interesting in street j,. ~ n large scale is about to ! lighting °” , a “trg t own in the Midjbe inst 't u , , H .j iere it is proposed | lauds England, '^f erflllv sh; 'n be U . ‘liminated by mcreary vapour lamps

giving the usual bluish light, and that the crossings and corners shall be indicated by sodium lamps, which give an orange coloured light. As a result of previous experiments, the p-i' London, took up the matter with the Ministry suggesting that if the Ministry approved of the principle of indicating danger points by street lighting of contrasting colours a standard method should be adopted throughout the country. The London Club lias stated that careful consideration should be given the matter, since the combination of strongly contrasting colours is apt to be confusing from the point of yiew of illumination. A Departmental Committee of Street Lighting is now making special inquiries in England regarding the proposed scheme, with a view of ascertaining its practical value for both lighting the streets and giving the motorist warning signs.