MECHANICAL AIDS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 313, 7 November 1929, Page 7

MECHANICAL AIDS.

DERECTION INDICATORS. What is Recommended. The Motor Vehicle Appliances Committee of the Transport Department has laid down specifications for mechanical hand signals. The following are the department’s recommendations for essen- | tial qualities in car direction indi- [ cators:— 1. Every direction indicator shall be fitted in position on the off side of the vehicle adjacent to the driver, where he can conveniently operate the same and observe its movements when seated and facing forward. See, however, clause 6. 2. It shall be capable of clearly indicating to road users, either forward of, or towards the right rear of the vehicle, a turn of 90 degrees to the right, also an intermediate or partial turn in that direction, and shall be capable also of clearly indicating to a traffic officer standing on the road in front of the vehicle, or to the driver of an approaching vehicle, similar turns to the left. All mechanical direction indicators shall be effectively illuminated for use at night. A distinctive colour, ■ other than red or green, may be a characteristic feature of the indicator when illuminated, but this is | not essential.

4. The neutral position of the indicator—i.e., the position of the actual pointer when the vehicle is travelling straight ahead—should be in line ahead, and if not in line ahead the indicator proper shall, when in neutral position, be hidden from the view of traffic by being housed or obscured in some similar way, 5. A direction indicator may be constructed to give a “ stop ” signal provided the signal closely corresponds to the regulation hand signal indicating “ stop,” and provided an automatic stop sigf.al is also provided at the rear in terms of clause 7. 6. An ad-Htional direction indicator may be fitted to the rear of a motor vehicle provided an approved one is fitted to the front of such vehicle. 7. In terms of the Motor Vehicle Regulations, 1928, an automatic ! “ stop ” signalling device must be 1 fitted at the rear of the vehicle before ' any mechanical direction indicator . fitted to the vehicle may be used, j The automatic “ stop ” signalling de- j vice may be incorporated in, or form | part of, a second direction indicator i fitted at the rear of the vehicle, in terms of clause 6. 8. Every indicator shall be designed and constructed with a view to efficiency, dependability and good wearing qualities.