1930-01-04 — Page 8

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, MOTORING SUPPLEMENT.

WHAT IS DANGEROUS DRIVING?

Vital Problems for the Motorist Under New Legislation.

PUBLIC AND OFFICIAL MENTALITY.

J

Within a year or so it is quite stopped for a considerable period. probable that the motorist on Brit-At all events there will be auto- ish' roads will be governed by a matic suspension

of the licence now set of traffic laws. Long for at least six months, and; of before that time he will be given course, in the case of the paid opportunity to study those laws in driver this will mean losing his

Bave that of dangerous driving is mainlyn case of fact. There must be some prof that he was under the Influence of alcohol or drugs, or that he was travelling at some high figure of speed past a algn which bore, the legend "Dend alow," or such-like wording.

an

parties, each with control of thoir speeds and movements, and accident happens only if each so directs his speed and movement that they both tend to occupy the same point at the same moment.

THE

SATURDAY, JANUARY

1980

EFFICIENT MODERN, CAR

10,000 Miles Without a Spanner!

rag in use, the propeller shart ani- versal joints will have been olled or groaned and cleaned; and in clean, Ing, any unusual play will be brought to light. In removing dried mud from the brake - góar, any wohkness in the cables or rods will be seen at once.

Cloanliness of engine and chassis is not only the safest guarantee against breakdown on the road; 16);

avoiding big repair bills. The "stitch in timo" proverb is par

the making, and it may be possiblojob and with a bad prospect of natural question for most people unit as well as the fast-moving will restore chromium plating to allgineers to do" on a long voyage! The the work of a monient to wind a

mator

or

unit.

L:

And if we have these difficulties

saved..

༢་

Pedestrians crossing the road form by far the largest propor- tion of trafte fatalities, and if A Conflict of Opinion. their deaths were entirely the But a policeman may charge him fault of drivers, then the most re- with dangerous driving, and the prehensible form of dangerous

Once upon a time the average the platter is clean, but the in- in the most reliable method of circumstances and grounds on driving, and that which should be which this charge, is based may punished most severely by law, owner-driver had to spend five or side

six hours every week in hosing not appear to the driver, nor to would be that which brought about down and leathering bodywork; Sworn Enemy of Efficiency. ticularly applicable to car mainten“ another hour or more had to be Dirt is not only objectionable in ance. When cleaning under the But when we realise that in devoted to the radiator, headlamps Itself: it is the sworn any expert driver, to be reckless, bodily injury to human beings. negligent or dangerous driving.

enemy of bonhet, one cannot help seeing, for Here we have not so must actual collision there are usually and other bright parts, both inside emciency. The onging-room of a example, an electric wire with the conflict of fact as

a conflict of two parties to the affair, we see and outside the car. To-day, the fast passenger linor is not kept insulation showing signs of wear as opinion.

the immense importance of taking cellulose-finished body can be thor- bright and shining because there it rounds a bend or passes over an In the circumstances the most into account the contributory roughly cleaned in half-an-hour, is nothing else for the junior en-edge of the bodywork. It is only

sponsibility

of the slow-moving whilst a rub with a damp cloth) to ask is: "What is dangerous

remarkable cleanliness of the piece of insulation tape round" the for him to demand safeguards, obtaining another.

driving?"

the glory of showroom brilliance.marine engine is brought about by damaged part, pending the should he deem them necessary. Everybody is agreed that the

So far the law has never defined in apportioning blame or responsi

Once upon a time the carburetter the necessity for efficiency. Many replacement of the whole wirò at As an individual he will have little road hog must be eliminated, and power or ability in this respect, we must put the safety of the it, and the Royal Commission and bility in actual cases of serious had to be dismantled and cleaned motorista are totally unaware of a a convenient time; but unless but if he joins a motoring organi- public before all other considers the Draft Road Traffic Bill make accident it is equally certain that every few weeks, or the motorist defect until the engine shows signs cleanliness below the bodywork is zation he can exert very con-tions. But so serious are the new no attempt to define it.

Almost any action can be dan-In cases of alleged dangerous driv. was certain to be held up on the of distress or until it stops altos habit, it is possible to drive for alderable power, and he can have penalties for "dangerous" driving

ing, where no person is injured road by a choked jet; nowadays, gether. "Defects in a marine hundreds of miles in blasful Ignor expert guidance.

that we must reduce to a minimum gerous or not dangerous according or endangered, there are much an efficient petrol alter is fitted in engine are discovered and rectified ance and then there may be a The greatest change in the pro- the chance of a miscarriage of a the person who carries it out bigger factors of doubt, unless in the supply system and a car can be immediately, and are not allowed short, the electrical equipment Every vehicle at avery speed is a those very clear-cut but extreme-driven for 10,000 or more miles to develop to an extent which would seriously damaged or the car catch posed legislation is that the speed justice.

The situation is made more potential danger. Bring an average Itmit shall be abolished for motor-

Gas: Mysterious Hondaches cary and motor-cycles, and that serious by a provision in the re- Policeman into a railway station ly rare cases where a man delibe- without putting a spanner on the interfere with the progress of the on are...

rately breaks the accepted rules carburetter. Air cleaners and oliveasel. A fault in a clean engine control of this trame be exercised commendations of the Royal Com-and let him observe an exprese and customs of safe traffle and 1930 cars, so that it is not essential may take an experienced motorista car

filters are standardized on many is easily found and put right; it

A car will run 'Indefinitely with person charged dashing through. He could quite literally terrorizea other persons under the dangerous driving mission that clouse and under a new set of with a minor offence under reasonably conclude that this was who are using the rond in n rea-o decarbonize so frequently nor to hours to discover a fault in a dirty a loose nut or blown naket on the change the oil so often as in the engine, and in the process dirt is exhaust manifold. The slight in Failing to abserve a road sign" most dangerous to the public, for sonable manner. Obviously we minor offences to be known

past..

spread generously over the whole crease in engine noise may not be "Falling to observe a rond sign." is still liable to be treated as hav-if the engine left the ralle it want to prevent accidents rather These time-saving and Inbour-tool kit, It finds Its way into noticeable but the exhaust gasca The dangerous driving, clause ing committed an offence under would certainly have lined many than mele out heavy punishment saving finishes and equipment have delicate components such as the will pass into the interior of the car

people. And there have been for accidents which might have will most likely follow very close the dangerous driving clause.

This is a most undesirable state cases where engines did run off een avoided if the law were more resulted in a saving of at least six magneto and the dynamo, and the and cause mysterious headachea

the rails so that the danger is by definite. ly the existing clause:

hours per week. What does the unfortunato motorist's suit, over-and even sickness; but it. of affairs. A motorist may The "If any person drives

the engine be cleaned regular summoned on minor charge, means imaginary,

So far 1, have only touched upon owner-driver do with, the time cont and gloves may be ruined, vehicle on a road recklessly

Clean collars and shirts are worn.lv. a loose nut will be dis- We can have one motor with ecidents in what one may term think lightly of the matter, and negligently, or at a speed or in then on his case coming up for bad brakes coming up to a corner two dimensions. We can have One would imagine that, relieved more because one is uncomfortable covered at once, or the marks manner which is dangerous to the public, having regard to all the hearing he may learn that the cross at under 20 miles them in three or more dimensions, of the burden of exterior cleaning, with solled clothes than becausa one of escaping hot gases will be circumstances of the case, includ-prosecution, or the magistrates, an hour and just contriving to Through the action, of the road motorists would emulate the clean wishes to impress other people. visibio and a new gasket fitted be ing the nature, condition and use consider his offence, to be really pull up in time to avert a collision. authority in making roads that ines of a railway engine, or of On the other hand, the car with a fore the driver begins to feel off- passenger dirty or muddy body is just na colour and without incurring Be Another car with good brakes can ran become slippery. a vehicle the engine-room in n of the road, and the amount of that of dangerous driving. traffic which is actually at the fore he knows it he may be head-travel at miles an hour ander may skid in swerving or braking liner-but one would be wide of comfortable and many be just as doctor's bills.

and efficient or more ao-as the car to avoid" another vehicle which the mark!Lift the bonnet

In cleaning the chassis, nut time, or which might reasonablyg for prison. Obviously he is the same conditions and have a be expected to be. on the rond, at great advantage in pre-larger margin of safety and stop-may have had to alter its speed floorboards of almost any owner with a spotless exterior. Unless he shall be guilty of an offenceparing his defence if a new and power. But set an average or course by reason of the action driven motor-car. Look at the ally, the engine is perfectly clean, the may be found missing from a steer

graver charge can be based on an onlooker or policeman to judge af some other person who may be dirty appearance of the engine and daily hosing and polishing afing pin: It can be replaced for offenen which was at

without the owner- Brat con- these two cars and invariably they using the raad in quite a reason, urrounding components, and brake bodywork is sheer snobbery; and few pence, but if the car la sidered to be a mlier one. will say that the faster car was able manner. A whole train of rods, gearbox and battery container in any case, the knowledge that he driven,

more dangerous than the slower. causes may go to the making of caked with dried mud and grease; has impressed people with his being aware of the absence of the

This type of opinion, which so an accident.

hidden by a thick conting of dirt prosperity, or with desire to "do nut, the steering pin itself, and there is a multitude of slack nuts, the right thing," brings no lasting possibly other connexions, will often may be based on lack of two

Of course, we can reduce the loose connexions, wires ready to satisfaction to the true motorist. have to be renewed in time; and in cases

dangerous driving whole matter to utter almurdity by

nuy cane the driver is running against a man and thus deprive stopping all movement of trame. break and short, bearings starved General Instructions. serious risks through not taking" him of the right to drive for at Then there would be no accidents. joints which somehow continue to of grense or oil, and universal

advantage of the frequent Inspec- A clean exterior and a dirty tion of vital parts, an inspection no collisions, no dangerous driv function in spite of appalling neg-mechanism will never least six months,

arises.ing. offencen Another consideration

give con- which takes place automatically But working up from that ect. And as if this were known as "Falling to obThe public and official mentality negative basis we see that one enough, there is a metal shield be-propeller shaft may come adrift, or

not fidence, for at any moment, the as a result of cleanliness. an speed is very caridus. If one movement is introduced the eleneath the engine with #horrible the magneto drive. fall, or brake The never-ending' progress in, offences car travelling at 20 m.ph. runs ment of danger comes in. But it conglomeration half an inch deep rods or cables suari. In keeping car manufacture and finish has specified known on technical grounds, down a pedestrian and another does not follow by any means that and consisting of oil, grease, rusty the engine clean, the magneto presented the owner-driver with The curious thing is that on any car at 60 mph, runs down another the swiftest vehicles are the most water, road dust, dead inuects, and coupling will have been rubbed an extra six hours every week. * Second offence: Fine not offence except that of "dangerous pedestrian in similar circum- dangerous. A runaway horse grit from ronds newly tarred. The over, and any defect of slackness and the enthusiast will devote exceeding £100; or imprisonment driving" he will have a speciflcstances, the average opinion will 20 m.p.h. is infinitely more, dan-

| ̧upick-and-span exterior is hut a will be discovered immediately half this time in looking after antunatic charge brought against bin. For he that the driver moving at 50 gerous than a fast car, for the whited sepulchre; the nutside alternative; 2171 suspension of driving licence for example, he may be charged with mp.h, was behaving more

of With floorboards up and oflean and his ent. dan-simple reason that the car is con not less than six months.

heing drunk whilst in charge of gerously than the driver at 20|trolled Intelligently Thús under the new conditions a car, or that he has failed to m.ph..again no regard being | superior stopping power. Speed. a driver convicted of two alleged "slow down" on passing a cortajn taken of relative stopping powers of course, is an important factor, dangerous driving offences will road sign, er that his lamp has and other factors.

bnt it is very much misunderstood. have his motor driving career been out, etc., etc. Every ease Now, if á car 4.50m.p.31. and must be taken in relation with

reaches a point at a moment in Father faclorn. [which its course meets the course Thus we see the great danger of a pedestrian and causes a col- of putting into the hands of the Halon, it is obvious that If the police the power to prosecute nar had been travelling at 60|moterista Ander the proposed m.p.h. it would have passed that dangerous driving clause unless point before the pedestrian reach- very efficient safeguards are pro- ed it and thus no collision would vided to prevent a miscarriage of have taken place. So, too, if the justice or an error of judgment. speed had been 40 m.ph. the car Already the Automobile Associn- would, have reached the pointtien has suggested some very after the pedestrian had crossed valuable safeguards, and no doubt the Hue of approach. Thus the when the dangerous driving clause ngeident was determined by a cer- in its official form is set forth it tain critical apced on the part of | will receive further, attention. each moving object.

Safeguards.

11

Drastic Penalties,

10

The pollee have powers to-day No prosecute under this clause, but

Four Main Charges. Under the new proposals the the vital difference is that under motorist has to face four main the new legislation the penalties, sets of charges: will be much more drastic. The

- proposals put forward by the Royal ommission on Transport

are:

First offence: Fine not exceed- ing £50; or limprisonment as an alternative supension of driver's licence optional.

ELB

(a) Dangerous driving.. (b) Drunkenness.

c) Five

THE

specified

serve a road sign." 1) Five

MOTORUNION

INSURANCE C? IT?

Incorporated in England

(Jader the auspices of the Automobile Association)

BEFORE INSURING CONSULT US ON

OUR COMPREHENSIVE POLICY.

LOCÄL AGENTS:

..

h

of

A Complex Problem,

:

and

has

In effect a collision between i My own view is that the law tve moving objects on different should define or attempt some courses in a very complex problem, definition of dangerous driving, so for a small difference of speed, that the motorist, the policeman faster or slower, would have saved and the magistrate can have some official guidance as to what con- case under consideration, where a stitutes this offence. pedestrian crossing the road col- liden with ear, there are two

THE UNION TRADING Co., Ltd. a collision taking place. In the

York Building.

Plong C. 587.

the Tyre of To-day

on the Road of Tomorrow!

DA

DUNLOP

pavsa the way to better motoring

DUNLOP RUBBER Co., (China) Ltd.

Pedder Bullding.

Tel. C. 4554.

I will admit that it is an exceed- ingly difficult matter to define, but if it is so difficult to define then it must be equally, difficult to re- cognise, sind so we fall back on that very uncertain and variable criterion, the personal opinion of a man, or a set of men, on a more or less accurate report of An event which took place on the highway.

The next safeguard I should like to see would be the grading of dangerous driving charges. Sup- pose it be held, as at present, that dangerous driving may Include: (a) Causing bodily injury. (b) Endangering another uACT

of the road,

(c) Breaking some rule or cus- tom of traffic and thus causing possible danger in the opinion of some per-

BOD.

(d) Driving at such a sperd that other users, of the road are imperilled, or are ap. parently imperilled.

It is manifestly absurd that all these should be punished in the same way, seelig "that at the second offence the driver la auto. matically deprived of his licence and is to all intents and purposes branded as a person not fit to drive. Suspension of a driving

licence should be. restricted to certain definite offences of rout seriousness.-The Motor,

HAD NEW OIL ENGINE.

A new type of engine designed by Jonas Hesselman, Stockholm engineer, is intended for consump- tion of crude oil, It is light and can be used in automobiles and aeroplanes,

"EFFICIENCY FIRST-THEN BEAUTY"

FIRST our car must éxcel in efficiency," said

C, W. Nash, and one of America's most com petent technical groups proceeded to build car which satisfied even his critical eye-the smart new Nash "400"**.

"The public wanta better performance--mor speed-more power-less waste," he said. And Twin-Ignition, valve-in-head, high compressi motors achieved the desired result.

“Make it easy to take care of; then, make it easy "to steer," Ee commanded. And centralized chassis lubrication, oiling 29 vital points at a touch of a pedal, became standard equipment on the Twins! Ignition Nash. A new steering mechanism now ensures the world's easiest driving control! "Now clothe efficiency with beauty,” was his final suggestion. And the long, low-swung Salon bodies, the lines of which have already delighted mimost 200,000 owners, came into being, te

WONG SIU WOON,

Telephone C. 1474.

Sole Agents for Hongkong, und South China,

21, Pottinger Sireet. SERVICE STATION:-76, Des Vœux Road Central

ne C 644

NASH 400