1933-07-18 — Page 2

COMMON CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS

How You Can Help To Reduce The Number Of Road Deaths

London The figures published by the Research Departmest of the National Safety First Association relating to road accidents and their

causes have created a stir.

As was to be expected meter cars and motor cycles figure prominent ly in the returns, which show that during the six months July to De cember, 1969, the number of per sons killed was 3129. Included in that total are no fewer than 621

fatalities at road junctions and 270 on bends..

If these facts do not make many, car owners and drivers think furi ously nothing could produce that eflect.

Dangerous Days and Hours Speaking generally, the most dangerous hours of the day ar those just after sunset, and the most dangerous day is Saturday. I suppose that the reason for the sunset deaths is that motorists do not readily adjust themselves to the dangers of lengthening sha dows and that the week-end feel ing is responsible for the rushing and crushing which is to be ob- served every Saturday "afternoon, which is apparently responsible for many deaths.

A little less hurry would · pro- bably make all the difference. More consideration for other "road users would result in a diminution of the appalling daily fatality figure of 16, with an additional, 500 ac cidents involving physical injury. The principal cause of accidents to adults is due to walking across the road. I shall not say that they do so without exercising due care any more than I shall say that motorists are responsible for knocking them down deliberately.

Most of 19

}

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, JULY 18, 1933

SPARKS

FROM THE PLUGS

many

to

cannot but conclude that motor cyclists simply ask for it. Only the other day I had swerve violently in order to escap? a head-on crash with cyclist who was simply "blinding

motor: ahead while looking round and talking to his girl passenger on the pillion.

12

looking down towards the off-side Why do motor cyclists keep on of the rear wheel or turning their

TRANSMISSIONS

POPULARITY OF EASY-

CHANGE DESIGNS

skilled driver,

MOTOR NOTES FROM

GREAT BRITAIN

BRITISH CARS IN DUTCH

CONCOURS

In the Concurs d'Elegance just held by the Royal Dutch Autome- bile Club at Zandvoort, a Humber Snipe Saloon and a Hillman four some coupe were successful in their spective classes. There were alto- gether 220 competitors

of

was'i

ear

BRITISH CARS IN AUSTRALIA"

NEARLY HALF THE TOTAL . Recent figures of registrations of new cars in Victoria, Australia, re- veal that 48.4 per cent, of the total official statistics tabulate the cars in were of British manufacture. The

On various occasions in the past;

the same thing applies. Much as I always desire to criticise s reference has been made to the

because I believe that to be the interest which is being displayed

best way of helping manufacturers generally in easy-change transmis

towards the average motorist's sions. At the present time it is

ideal, quite frankly I left the erical sequence, and show that more than ever apparent that such

Humber Snipe after a 530 mile run list, and occupy second place in the Humber Hillman head the British transmissions will, in the future,

puzzled to discover a legitimate general list. The total number of come into general use, and that the

eauss for complaint," sliding pinion gear box which has

writes a different makes figuring altogether motor ribe in a Calcutta. news is 37. shortly be regarded as obsolete. MAGNETIC (?) ATTRACTION | better cars reigned supreme for so long may

paper. "I am convinced that few

At the Royal Show recently held rica, as well as in Englad, inven- commenced to operate in Palestine Humber Snipe is a straightforward ally good, bu: Pasily the most out- Both on the Continent Aud in Ame-1

are" made and most in Sydney it is reported that the When a fleet of smart new 'buses probably none at the price. The motorcar exhibita were exception tors and engineers are engaged in on the route between Haifa, Jeru-i capable as I found of 50 standing was that of Messrs John ting and perfecting gear boxes salem and Jaffa, no inconsiderable capable, mareover, of keeping its butors for Humber, Hillman and m.ph. ce a good dry, road and MeGrath, Ltd., the N.S.W. distri or other transmissions which either amount change gear automatically or can caused. Not unnaturally the pub- over a very extended period Commer, who had no less than 50

heart-burning be changed quite easily by the unlie patronised the new vehicles to of time. The steering is beautifully vehicles on view. Latest news indi. heads towards their passenger li

the older ones true, and the combination of excel-cates that results were very gratify the detriment of The action

In this connection great credit and, as is foolish

in the is undoubtedly due to the Wilson puts it, the new buses proved so perfect balance to the vehicle even treme, yet one sees

a correspondent tactfully scientifically built frame gives a

lent suspension and a

well-set, ing. 'them at it ay hour of the day.

self-changing box, and to the Arm- attractive that a number of collint its highest speed. It is a car of strong Siddeley Company for rear sions What of Lady Drivers? lising its merits and sponsoring it the owners of the popular new fleet

"occurred."

Fortunately, sheer delight." In something like 1330 fatal a wholeheartedly, for the coming in were in cidents in which the

tó wide use of this preselective! efficient servicing arrangemente, 50 A position to maintain driving or riding was the contribu. gear change, which any person can that these little incidents were not tory cause the percentage of lady operate without noise or shock, has productive of serious delays on the drivers was 4.05.

undoubtedly focused attention up-route. The enterprising operatore I know that many people have on the need for an improvement are using Commer "Centurion" proclaimed the opinion that that over figure justifies the view that lady pinion box. As a result various Agencies, the Palestine distributors the old-fashioned sliding buses supplied by Messrs. Levant drivers are just as skilful as men, avenues are being explored in the for Commer Cars, Ltd. An exten- and perhaps even better, but an endeavour to evolve the ideal trans sive fleet is already in service, but less one knows the percentage of mission. Out of this general neti- additional vehicles have been found female drivers to men the figuresvity various promising designs are necessary and further orders are prove nothing at all."

coming to the fore, and are being now in hand at the Luton factory, dealt with week by week in these pages as details come to hand.

SIGNS OF RETURNING

PROSPERITY"

nanner

of

I should imagine that the per- centage of female drivers to men is considerably less than 4.65, but as I do not know I shall not point out what might be the obvious deduction.

A Serious Busine When one realises that over 6,000 people are killed on the roads every your one's senses receive a shock. Is there anything we mo torists can do to

reduce that dreadful totali

ESSENTIALS, NOT ACCESSORIES

CONCERNING THEFT PRE-

VENTION AND BUMPERS

So much has been heard during the past year or so about the "de- pression and financial stringency generally, that it might quite well. be thought, that the day of the large enr, fitted with luxury coachwork, had departed, perhaps for ever.

Happily, the real state of affairs

..

IS IT WORTH IT?

boast of the high average speeds Those motorists who delight to

distant points would do well to they have maintained between two study the following table.

even

they themselves will be aware of

Their passengers-perhaps the increase of comfort brought: about through dropping a high average even to the extent of $1. m.p.h. The appended ɓgures are the times for a run of 100 miles:

Aver,

Time h. m.

mi.p.h.

60

1:40

1 49

150

2 0

40

2 30

25

20

0 0

So the 60 m.p.h, man saves only

London candbuilders, Hooper & man. But the 25 m.p.b. man seves is very different. The well-known hine, minutes from the 5 m.p.h. Co., for insta are very busy whole hour from the man who set indeed; they are employing about his average at the old legal limit.

A correspondent to the Autocar from Manila writes the following First of all, we must realise that interesting letter:- driving a motor car is serious business, carrying with it a heavy of vital interest to all car owners, I am bringing forward two items enough to know that faults exist avoid carelessness, "swanking," or been neglected in car design in

have driven long responsibility. We must therefore which, in my opinion, seem to have two and a half times as many 'ands!

"showing off," use speed in its the UK. proper way, and at the proper time and in the proper place. We must never take our attention from. the road for a fraction of a second, or go to sleep mentally while at the wheel.

on both sides.

Question of Blame

Dodging traffic accounts for 13 per cent of road accidents, and stepping off the footpath 12 per cent. It would be difficult to blaine the motorist for these accidents, just as it would be impossible to saddle him with responsibility fox the 10 per cent. due to people com ing from behind or in front of stationary vehicles.

Among children the principal cause of accidents arises from dash ing into the road

after balls. Nearly 20 per cent. of the fatali- ties reported are due to this na- tural impulse, and there is little doubt that motor car drivers could reduce the number of such acci- dents by exercising more anticipa tion than many of their do,

Talking while at the wheel may or may not be responsible for many of these deathe, but I prefer not to talk, and therefore not to take the risk of running one of these children down. There is, as I wrote some time ago, too much gabbling at the wheels of cars..

Wise Precaution

When passing through streets of towns or villages it is wise to sa- sume that every time a ball boun- ces into the street that a boy' or girl will appear almost immediate- ly. The moral, therefore, is to look for the ball and avoid the child.

When a group of children ́sre playing at the edge of the foot path it is well to look out for the unexpected. Any one of them may jump at the other and then dash for safety into the street.

A remarkable, but not altogether surprising, feature of the returns

Į

pose to open a new factory in the as at this time last year, and pro"

near future. At the end of Febru-i Rolls-Royce chassis at their works. ary, there were no less than 55 for which bodies were in course of

construction.

in regards to the future when signs There is little room for pessimism of revival are as strong as these. SINGERS IN DEMAND

English cars that are inadequate My first point is the number of ly equipped for theft. Surely all cars can be fitted prevention of with ignition lock and door locks? My second point is about bum the pedestrian has not yet acquir- ticed, excepting some larger cars.

We must recognise the fact that

pers. The majority I have

no- ed is keen a road sense selves, and net accordingly,

as our appear to be for show purposes eyes must be kept open wide for

Our only. It is evident that they would the child who may dart from be

not stand up to a decent clout. hind a tram car, run from a close known make the rear bumper is by the greater numbers now seen on And the design! On one well popularity of Siager car, afforded Evidence of the greatly increased and across the pavement into the fitted flush with the petrol tank! the roads in all parts of the coun street, rush from his mother's side If bumpers are fitted, why not try, is confirmed by news that at for some unknown reason, or sud make them sturdy enough to with the Singer factories in Coventry denly step off the footpath from stand shocks, and really to pre- and Birmingham additional em sheer animal spirits.

teet the body?

These two essentials seem to be at the rate of 100 per day; at all ployees have recently been engaged ber of British car manufacturers. than 600 men were taken on. regarded as accessories by a num- events, in five days lately no fewer: but surely protection from theft stated, too, that during the last six and damage is a major considera-mouths the export figures relating to Singers were 200 per cent. above those of last year. In the Home market point of note is the in- ereasing demand for sports models, Singer cars by examples that are which is well met in the range, of

not merely fast and attractive in fort than the standard saloons and appearance but afford no less com.

Look to the Brakes brakes of the ear in perfect order, Above all, we must keep the Nothing less than 100 per cent, efficiency is good enough.

From now on let us have ons end in view while at the wheel, the reduction of the appalling number of fatalitieat on the high- way.

tion 7

RADIO ON THE ROAD

Just think what you would feel POPULARITY OF AMERICAN like if you ran anyone down, even

CAR DEVICE though you were not to blame. That alone should act as a deter

I was in a car built across the

It iR

rent when you feel inclined to take Atlantic recently, and on admiring other orthodox styles of bodywork.

unnecessary risks.

WATER IN BRAKES

The aves ige car brakes are badly affected by water, but one comes héross" cafes where water in the brakes actually improves perform ance. In two cases investigated the cars were of the aime small type, and the brake linings, too, were the me heing of a very well-known

the rather nice dashboard cupboard

complete with lock was informed THE LEYLAND LLAMA"

LOW-LOADER

is such a demand, the refinement of 92ft. Gin, and is capable of ex-

is that 69 per cent. of the acci-rand. So far as could be ascer if it is one-will no doubt be offered

dents dealt with occurred when there WA comparatively little traffic about. That fact seems to indicate that motorists and other road

it 1

Ineffective Lighting.

that this was intended to accom- modate a radio set, the roof being provided with a concealed aerial. One of the most interesting vehi- becoming very common, and quite a Limited, of recent years is the In America the radio-fitted car in eles introduced by Leyland Motors, number of cars with specially built Llama" low-loader, which has bodies are being fitted in the same been placed on the market to meet way on this aide.

a very definite need for a fast, low- towed by makers of cars at popular pearance. It has a gross-load capa Whether this practice will be fol-loading vehicle of handsome ap- prices remains to be seen. It there city of 160 cwts., a loading space ceptionally high speeds. It is de signed for the mounting of large articles as furniture, or for use

built on passenger vehicle lines, it

As the chassis is particularly suitable for the lat ter type of body, because of the long, low, rakish line which can be as it has been called. obtained. As an outdoor publicity In Britain.

medium it is invaluable, and this It is suggested that in Britain i meeting with such a cordial re

is one of the many reasons why it

ception.

ained, there was no reason at all as an extra in the first place. If the for these ears being an exception to public really want radio on their

ing systems.

:

in

The model in question has for

the general rule, and meanwhile the cars no doubt it will become with display van bodies of attrac matter appears a mystery.

standard fitment, but it is rather to tive appearance. users become more careless There is an impression that this be hoped that they will not. Some when the roads are quiet. Does is a more common trouble than how the open road and the beauties extra speed and perhaps chattering formerly, but probably the effect is of loch and mountain should not umong the passengers account for more pronounced owing to the more require to be supplemented by enn

general use of high-pressure wash ned music,

The pressure is sufficient to force) At night dazzle and ineffective the water into the drums despite lighting are said to be responsible any precautions of the makers, and the Ministry of Transport may have. for most of the accidents. Dazzle the better guarded the drums, the objections, but it is difficult to sce I bave dealt with recently; but the longer it takea the water to disap-on what grounds. It might as wellward control, but a norteal control latter I almost fear to mention, pear. The majority of cars after he urged that there should be no model of equally pleasing appear because on the last occasion

on washing have very ineffective brakes conversation in a car in caso the at-ance und large loading capacity is which I read a lecture to cyclists until the drums are dried out, a tension of the driver should be also available. about the ineffectiveness of rear process which it is advisable to diverted. It is rather to be hoped. reflectors I received shoals of accelerate by a light application of that radio on the road will prove no THE PUZZLED PUBLICIST abusive letters and postcards. But the brake while the car is running attraction for the majority of the fact remain,

It is ersential that brakes should be motorists, but if it has there is no Beven hundred and eighty-two teated immediately after washing. reason why the Ministry of Tran- becomes more and more difficult. The lot of the motoring journalist motor cycliste and passengers were The brakes may all be affected; or sport should interfere unless illed during the six months under some more than others, so that mid- limit the power of Joud speakers so discover points to criticise. In far to He finds it harder, and harder to review, as against 168 motor, car den use of the brake in an emer that they would not become a off India, just as in England the drivers and passengers, and one stead of better...

Duisance.

birth place of so many good para,

اسم

MOTOR RAIL COACHES HEAVY-OIL ENGINED CARS TO REPLACE STEAM TRAINS

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Leyland Motor Company for three Orders have been placed with the rail coaches capable of seating 40 Passengers, and with the Sentinel Wagon Company for three other" coaches with seating capacity for 70. These are capable of hauling madation to 150, a trailer car, increasing the accom-

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