Causes of Accidents

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 746, 20 August 1929, Page 6

Causes of Accidents

Tests for Brakes and Headlights IF the causes of motor accidents were recorded and analysed as they should be, faulty brakes and glaring headlights would be-found to be responsible for a very large number of serious accidents.

This is the opinion of the Motor Trade Association, as explained in the latest issue of “The Radiator.” The editorial further declares that this contention would be supported by all those best acquainted with motor transport matters. “There should be little difficulty in proving it, yet the authorities are apathetic, and no practical steps have bfeen taken to improve matters. “It is true that the motor regulations deal with both these matters, and while there is a difference of opinion regarding the efficiency of the regulations, it seems somewhat remarkable that no practical steps have been taken enforce the regulations and prove whether they are adequate or otherwise. “The energies of the police and local authorities appear to be restricted to harassing inoffensive motorists for minor breaches of bylaws, which may be necessary, but at the best are of little importance in respect of the safety of pedestrians or the motorists themselves. “The police may feel gratified in securing a conviction against a lady for leaving her car more than half-an-hour at the door of her hairdresser, or against a garage proprietor for using a car with a dealer’s plate for some purpose not stx’ictly connected with his business, but beyond harassing the motorists and enriching the State coffers, little real good Is done. “More important offences are ignored by the police and also the local authorities. It is seldom we hear of a prosecution for using a car with faulty brakes or glaring headlights, and then only when thrust under the notice of the authorities by an accident. The regulations deal with the brake question in a rather elaborate manner, and not only require brakes to be kept in order, but prescribe the types of brake which are permitted. This latter provision has made the regulations farcical, and it is perhaps a knowledge of this that has caused the authorities to practically ignore the matter. “So far as brakes are concerned, I

the difficulty might be successfully met if the regulations accepted the braking system of any reputable car manufacturer and threw upon the owner the onus of keeping the brakes efficient. “The reason for accidents caused by inefficient brakes is not usually faulty construction, but lack of care in maintaining them in an efficient state. “The braking system of almost any modern car is 100 per cent, efficient, but tbe most perfectly constructed system will not remain efficient if maintenance is neglected. We do not think that motorists are more neglectful than other people, but we think they expect too much in thinking that brakes will remain satisfactory without regular attention. Some owners are able to give this attention themselves, but in the majority of cases, this is impossible, and an expert has to be relied on. “It is not sufficient that the onus is thrown on the motorist to keep his brakes in good order, and to leave it to his judgment whether he is doing this. Brakes should be tested at intervals, and the owner notified of their condition. “It should be possible for responsible motor traders to test brakes and issue certificates of condition, and no licence should be issued, renewed or transferred, without a certificate showing that the brakes were efficient. The difficulties in carrying out such a scheme would be more than compensated for by the elimination of accidents due to faulty brakes. TESTING HEADLIGHTS “The headlight problem is much more difficult, but until the authorities show some interest in the matter, and motorists are given to understand that their headlights must be reasonably controlled, the danger from glaring headlights will increase. It might be possible to handle the question in the way suggested for brakes, and to refuse to register, relicence or transfer a car unless a certificate was produced from a competent source that the headlights were in accordance with the regulations.”