THE NEW ROAD ACT.
QUESTION OF COMPULSORY INSURANCE.
A remarkable flaw has been dia severed in the Road Traffic Acty although the ink is hardly dry qu the Statute book, and the section concerned does not operate potil January 1.
Mr. J. R: Remer scored a'kuocess in the House of Commons when, by a majority of 144, he was given leave to introduce a Bill to remedy the defect.
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1930.
MOTOR NOTES.
an accident. The other was the owner of a motor-ear who had ser eral accidents, in none of which he was to blame, two of them being enused by other vehicles crashing into his molor-car while, it was standing in a garage.
NOTES FROM EVERYWHERE.
A BIG CATCH.
"Under what is called the knock. Mr. for-knock system, anid Remer, the cost of a claim is
Not so very long ago R. Le debited by his company to this Guinness and Bernard Rubin were man's insurance record. Under my cruising, in the fariner's ynct, off Bill the insurance company will be
SPEEDMÉN WRITERS,
J: SË Wright, the Englishman who now holds the world's fastest motor
prone as possible; Honne-was not quite quick onough in getting down to this position, with the result that as his machine gathered speed he was unable to erouch down, and the
head right back.
10 M.P.H. MORE IF YOU CARRY- A HORSE!
Speaking of the speed limitations imposed by law upon good-onrrying vehicles, Mr. Q. le M. Gosselin told the Institution of Automobile En- gineers last week that, although the: speed limit is ordinarity 20 mp.h.. vehicles constructed to carry a horas. are permitted to travel at 30 m.p.h. In the discussion which followed, The new Traffe Act has been hailed with something akin to joyrenrke The Motor, Sir John
cial Motor believes that this joy will
A POTENTIAL CRIMINAL.
eveling speed record, and Ernest terrific wind pressure forced his in some quarters, but The CommerThornycroft remarked that very
Henne, the German rider from whom he won the honour, both con tributo articles to recent tenues of Motor Cycling.
be shortlived, In fact, in its small. Shetland ponies could, be opinion, we have jumped from the obtained, and he thought that de- frying pan into the fire, particular-
clo.
may be refused insurance if he has compelled to accept the application the African coast, writes."Conover 150 m.p.h., gives this vivid ac- 1 einl 'Motor, concerning the cost of differentiation between speeds of uimals could be carried!
The Act requires a motorist to possess a vertinante of insurance against third-party risk, but Mr. Remer pointed out that a motorist a record of accidents, even although he was not responsible for any of then.
The resuls is he said, "that the directors of an insurance com- pany are left to decide whether a man shall be allowed to drive a motor-car or not. If the motorist is refused by one company the first question he is asked by another company is, Have you ever been His record is then refused ? known, and the second company will
Mr. Remer won his point by 244 almost certainly refuse him also."
votes to 100, The Bill is supported "Knock for Knock."
by Major Lloyd George and other He gave two cases where insur-Liberals, as well as by Conserva- ance had been refused. One was a tivps. It was introduced and read a motor-cyclist who was a victim in first, tirse.
of my motor driver who has not act in The Motor." One day they been convicted for reckless, careless, caught an alligator that broke all records in its class. An expert, or dangeroua driving."
Charles Williams opposed specially called in, judged it to be Mr. Remer on the ground that it 200 or 300 years old.
When the beast was skinned an was too early to start amending the Rond Traffic Act pieceincal, He re-astonishing spectacle met wheir eyes. commended that the operation of In some recess in the monster's the Act should be studied for a con- anatomy were found the skeleton of siderable period and a complete a native woman and a whole heap amending Bill be introduced inter of jewellery, Among the latter was if found necessary.
a particularly rare stone which so nalive woman had been known to possess for at least a century. It would appear to have been a case of chronic indigestion over a long period!
The WISE BIRD
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A FINE POINT,
Wright, whose record time was
count of an unpleasant experience during one of his attempts at Cork. Hu anys
DON'T OVERLOAD YOUR VEHICLES!
Amongst the numerous queries which are received by The Commer. running rand-transport vehicles there are many which clearly in dicate that users are consistently overloading their vehicles, not in error, but as if it were quite the proper thing to do. A man will write to state that he is buying a 20-cwt. vehicle to carry two tons, or even more; another wants to know the probable running costs of four-tonner upon which he in- tends to carry six tons
On cas of my journeys a nasty incident occurred, and I really have to tharik George Reynolds, one of the timekeepers, for his prompt action, for an accident might easily have occurred but for his presence of mind. Just as I was approaching the timing strip on which Mr. Rey nolds was working, a banner adver-
So prevalent has the habit become tising petrol fell down across the rond. Mr. Reynolds had cely 14 that only a short time ago the lead- conde in which to realize that it ing makers of solids and cushion had fallen and to shift it. He aban- tyres announced that they had becu doned his timing apparatus and forced to modify their terms con- shouted to a colleague across the cerning allowances upon alleged tyres, which, in road to lift the banner. They jump-unsatisfactory ed ca to the top of some low walls actual fact, could only have failed bordering the course and held the through this practice of overload- fallen banner high enough for me
ing. to ride through underneath.
It is one strongly to be con- doubtedly their promptitude saved, demned from every point of view. my life, although I knew nothing ft tamers. the designer of new chaasis in that he cannot cut about it at the time, I enn only see objects about 100 consequently, puts up the main- "When I am travelling quickly wright, it causes rapid wear of the vehicle as well as of the tyres and, yards ahead, and anything nearer tenance costs, it is not good for the is just a blur. I certainly never ronds and it sometimes renders the saw the banner, although the time guilty party liable to prosecution. keepers were holding it just above. This liability will probably increase my head."
!
Un
An intercaling point in conner tion with the Road Traffic Act in raised by The Light Car and Cycle, Races and trials of speed on a public highway are prohibited and heavy penalties, are provided for an infringement of this provision. This new offence appears to be quite unnecessary, because, if motorists engaged in speed trials were guilty of reckless, dangerous or careless driving they could be prosecuted for one of these offences; while, if they were not guilty of any of these offences, it socis ridiculous to sub- Henne, the German rider, also ject them to penalties as the public recalls an unpleasant moment dur can suffer no harm in those circum-ing his record attempt. To travel nt high speeds on & motorcycle, it. is necessary, of course, to adopt a riding position that is as nearly is required.
siances.
It is quite clear that the offence will be committed only when there is a race between, or a trial of speed between, two or more vehicles. Merely testing the speed of a num- |ber of cura will not be an offence it there is no clement of competition between them. An endurance test, in which the element of speed does not matter, will still be permissible.
WHEN TO CHANGE,
;
At this time of year I am often asked, writes "Focus" in The Light Car and Cyclear, whether it
is wise to make a change and this i have twelve full months! use of a new season's nadel before its successor comes along, or to wait for six months until the spring and forgo six months' usage of the enr before it becomes a year out of date. At one time there was al ways room for two opinions in the, nmtter, but nowadays I think, 'with cellulose fuish and chromiura plat- ing both universal, that the time to change is now,
Winter's worse as but little effect upon the finish of a present-day ear and, particularly for the man who motors a lot, the prospect of getting: through the winter months on new tyres, a battery in the pink of con- dition and saith the practical cer- tainty of escaping all roadside tinkering, is. to any the least, alluring. The man who buys: his new ear, now has the advantage, too, that whin Enster comes he has no Anxiety concerning delivery and his running-in worries have all been left behind.
THE OPENABLE' BODY.
There was a period when many ninnufacturers devoted their atten tion to and listed an all-weather hody among their models, and for a time it achieved a small measure of popularity, remarks The Motor. Gradually, however, it becerme oli- solete, chiefly on Recount of being. expensive to produce, and because it was next to impossible, when cheaply made, to prevent rattles occurring after a few months' us. In, those days, the all-weather body was simply a mass of jointa, for manufacturers had to arrange for all the pillars and framing to fold. Great progress, however, has been made with the openable type of body, and now we have some really. practica! designs that afford com- pleto immunity from the elements and yet enable the car to be trans- formed into an open schiel in a few seconds. These new designs do not differ structurally when closed, nor do they present an untidy an pearance when open. They differ, however, considerably in their pur pose. For instance, some can only he und fully open or closed, others provide for intermediary positions. Then, again, other designs simply. provide for means of opening a portion of the head by some form of sliding roof or openable top. Generally monking, however, de Telephone signers make the side structure a
what exendation be
ing the dropticad foursome coupt,
It can be said, however, that the openable body has made very great strides, and that it bids fair-and. deservedly one form or another" to be one of the most popular types of the future,
ly as regards the commercial vehi: signers of goods vehicles might well consider the project of fitting them The existing restrictions are being, with, small kennels, in which such
an excessive multiplied, there is various types of vehicle, and the
WANTED: BETTER HAND- motorist-whether he he private or
BRAKES FOR CARS. commercial-will be treated with increasing severity by the time dians of the law. Already distinct
Emphasizing the importance of difference in the attitude of the police towards drivers has been efficient hand brakes, & contributor noted. Many members of the Force in The Light Car and Cyclecar appont to have adopted a more says: It is all very well to
four-wheel-- autocratic manner aid to be wait- argue that modern ing, with a feeling of expectancy, breaking systems are so reliable. for the greater powers which will that the brake pedal is-nevér Tikely to fail to do its job unexpectedly, soon he conferred upon them.
We need bave no sympathy for but it must be remembered this road are occasionally guilty of small driver needs every ounce of break. the road hog, but many users of the occasions sometimes arise when errors of judgment, which may well ing power and suddenly finds that render them liable to heavy penal- the pedal goes right down to the ties. Freedom from previous trou-floorboards owing to the fact that ble with the authorities and a clean he has neglected the usual adjust licence should certainly be taken ment. Motorists who use their cars into consideration. Even the pre- largely in fat districts are most ent attitude of the courts seems to likely to be faced with this enrer be that it is only by good fortune that a driver has escaped from the clutches of the law. They give no consideration to his natural inclina- tion to abide by the regulations in force.
not
gency unless they are very careful about adjustments, because the need for a really quick pull-up seldo arises, and it is very easy to drive. for several days without realizing that full braking power is There is another important point available should it be needed. to which referetice was made resent-Were good hand brakes ly in The Commercial Motor. This universal fitting there would be is the practice of certain members much more incentive for drivers to in the near future, as the authorit of the police in bringing frivolous use them occasionally as service ties threaten more drastis action. Bummonses, which, when they are brakes, but, as it is, a man woo Much of the trouble is due to the dismissed, do not involve costa has to lean forward in his seat and excessive cutting of transport rates, against them, with the result that grope under the faein-board for, a and this is but one other proof that it is often less expensive for the gimcrack lever is scarcely some measure of rate stabilization person summoned to pay the fine couraged to do so more than he can
than to fight the case and win it.. | help.'
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