1930-10-25 — Page 12

MORE BUS PASSENGERS.

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. MOTORING SUPPLEMENT. SATURDAY, OCTOBER

JUNKED CARS. ·

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DRIVERS NEW RESPONSIBILITIES.

According to the National Asso- About 2,800,000 automobiles clation of Motor Bus Operators, were junked in the United States there has been an increase of 200 last year. There were 1,825,348 per cent. in bus passengers carried more cars bought during the year in the last seven years,

than were junked.

MOTOR CAR INSURANCE

PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST YOUR LIABILITY TO THE PUBLIC

BY A POLICY WITH

CHINA UNDERWRITERS, Ltd.

Phone: 28121.

HELIN

Hongkong Bank Building.

RIDE CONTENTEDLY

ON MICHELINS

Distributors:

A. GOEKE & CO.

4th Floor, China Building.

Depot FIAT GARAGE

Tel. 22221. Tel. 24821.

MICHELIN

The Position of Drivers Under the New Act.

Dnaer me new Road Traffic Actitues that he will, literally, be the position of the driver is vastly driven off the road. different from that under previous Time alone will show whether

Much

will depend on the common sense of the police and the magistrates in working an Act which gives

them such great power.

road.

no

25, 1930.

Careless Driving.

If any person drives a motor vehicle on a road without due caro and attention, or without reasonable consideration for

Car Bright.

How to do this with the least effort and greatest assurance of its being done right, is explained" by G. W. Sherin, an authority on duco and lacquer finishes. The rest of this article is given over to Mr. Sherin.

*

convictions which sooner or later But where accidents are compl- CLEAN AND SHINY. must end in the driver ceasingcated through negligence on each to be a driver. This would be side, the driver must not expect! thoroughly commendable if the to escape. The law goes beyond Hints on Keeping the Act were a perfect means for all that, too, by punishing those eliminating the road hog and the driving acts which are liable to

driver recklessly selfsh

who cause accident or danger,

The clean and shlay appearence terrifies, bullies and robs other

In the circumstances every of the automobile gives as much road users of their right to the driver should ponder carefully satisfaction to the owner as does over all the words of the clause, the purring motor. Therefore. But unfortunately, the Act does and he should make himself well since pleasure in driving is the not define what "Dangerous acquainted with the Highway essential, it is just as iraportant to legislation. His responsibility is this policy is right or not. Past Driving" is and it gives. no Code when it is issued. A further keep the car's body clean as it is considerably increased; he is experiences prove that very few guidance to the police or magis- precaution would be to join, a to have the engine in good shape.

trates on the matter. On almost motoring organization from which presumed to have a good working motor, offences are of such every other subject the Act goes he can obtain free legal advice knowledge of a most comprehen- serious nature as to merit being into minute detail when laying and guidance. sive and by no means simple Act, called "criminal." But under the down the law, but on this vitally and very heavy punishment will new Act heavy penalties attach

essential matter there is fall upon him if he commits any even to minor offences.

guidance. Possibly the Highway of a long list of offences.

The aim of the authorities in

Code (to be issued later) may framing the new Act is to render

remedy this defect to some extent. As the dangerous driving clause

"Everyone knows," says Sher- the driving of a motor vehicle a

other persons using the road, be in. "that an automobile finish very serious business, and they But the motor driver must take stands a policeman or other per-

shall be guilty of an offence. gradually loses its lustre and hope that by tightening up the no chances in this direction. It son is at liberty to form the

This is a new offence, of which beauty if it is not polished at reg- conditions all round and by pro-will be no use for him to plead opinion that a driver within his.

It is his view is driving "dangerously," much will be heard. It serves a ular intervals.. Two things take viding many stiff penalties they ignorance of the law. will make every driver concen- duty to make himself conversant If the case comes to court the very useful purpose in that the place. First, a thin film of dirt trate on the task of keeping the with it. And not only must he magistrate or the jury have to police have wide powers to teach accumulates on the finish and be know the law as it stands in the weigh up the value of that opinion. a useful but not too drastic lesson comes baked there by the sun and Act, but he must keep in touch The prosecution, of course, must to drivers who, unless fetched up engine heat. Second, the finish Heavy Penalties for Offences:

time, might fall Regulations back up its opinion by evidence, in

into, the itself becomes weathered through which the Ministry of Transport but the law leaves it to the magis "Dangerous Driving" class. frequent exposure to the sun, rain,.. It is certain, at least, that the will issue from time to time. trate or the jury to determine

The punishment for "Careless heat and cold. way of the law-breaker on the These will be in effect, additional whether the evidence does or does road henceforth will be for him a laws, also carrying penalties.

"Duco and laquer are much of Driving" is, first offence, fine up driving within sad and short affair, for there are

theto £20; second or subsequent more durable than the old paint It is very remarkable that the dangerous

offence, fine up to £50, or and varnish finishes. But they sundry offences which disqualify most important clause in the new meaning of the Act. him; others which award him such Act is taken word for word from

imprisonment up to three months. don't last forever. They slowly The Clause of the Act.

A conviction for a first or wear out through a microscopic terms of imprisonment, and others the previous Act. The official

second offence does not entail erosion of the surface, releasing which crush him with such heavy explanation of this was that the The clause, therefore, is

liability to endorsement of licence tiny pigment particles which were old clause had worked effectively supreme importance to every

or disqualification. But, as the originally put into the finish to for many years. But an entirely driver, and in order to make its Act is worded, it would appear colour it" new significance has been given terms more emphatic they are set that the habitual offender would

to "Dangerous Driving," out by us in the following which alters the whole situation. manner- The penalties have been increased very considerably, and they carry with them such a great liability to disqualification that many drivers will run the risk of what almost amounts to permanent dis- qualification from obtaining driving licence.

law.

SERVICE

WILLYS KNIGHT WHIPPET FORD CARS.

ALL WORK GUARANTEED.

at:-

We call for and deliver cars

YOUR CONVIENCE

with the various

tow

Seriousness of "Dangerous Driving."

A

not make the

case one

of

either become liable in this "When polish is rubbed on a

Road Racing.

of

10

respect or he would be convenient-car. finish and the cloth becomes If any person drives a motorly moved over the borderline and stained with the colour of the car. vehicle on a road recklessly-be charged with dangerous there are simply transferred to nr at a speed-or in a manner driving. which is dangerous to the public having regard to all the cir- cumstances of the case--includ- ing the naturé-condition-and use of the road-and the amount of traffic which is actually at the time-or which might rea- sonably be expected to be. on the road, he shall be liable

This danger is so serious that it requires to be emphasized. For a first offence under this It will be seen that a number: clause a driver may have been on of offences are grouped here, and the border line-the very shadowy the words that label them are of border line-which lies between a very wide interpretation.) "Dangerous Driving" and "Care- There are dangerous driving, less Driving." But if he be con-reckless driving, driving at a speed victed of the former the case will and driving in a manner which are Note

THE IDEAL MOTOR be almost invariably endorsed on dangerous to the public.

CAR CO.

Corner Lockhart and Marshali Roaris. Now Reclamation,

Tel. 23714.

C. H. GETZ, PROPRIETOR

his licence. His next offence of that "public on the road" is not the same nature may be a border-specified. Thus driving can be line affair also, but the second considered dangerous although no offence carries with it the well-other person is on the road at the nigh certain liability to disqualifi-moment. cation.

This is a new offenco.

the cloth small particles chalked pigment which are longer a part of the finish and which should be removed anyway. "As long as these particles, and the hardened dirt film, cover the no lustre. finish, there will be three When, however. the 'trafic film' and chalked pigment-are removed. the original colour and lustre of the finish is restored,

Any person taking part in a race or trial of speed of motor vehicles on a road is liable to imprisonment up to months, and, or, a fine up to £50, and probable disqualifica- tion for twelve months or more:

Driving Off the Road.

There are two ways of pro- longing the life of the finish. First, by protecting it from the sun, as much as possible. Second by having it waxed,

ultra-violet rays of the sun and "Polishing wax excludes the

retards weathering.

This is another new offence.

If without lawful authority a person drives a motor vehicle on to any common land, moor land, or other land of whatso ever description (not being land forming part of a road), or on any "road" which is a bridle- "It is best to apply a polishing way or footway, he shall be wax to a car as soon, as it is pur- liable to a fine up to £5 for the chased. If, however, this is neg- This problematical danger is) first offence, or up to £10 for lected, wax can always be applied Thus, there is a cumulative

further noted in the phrase secord offence.

as long as there is a finish on the effect about dangerous driving traffic

which might rea-

car. But it is provided that he may sonably be expected to be on the drive on any common land within "But the finish must be thor- read."

The driver is not only up 15 yards of the road for the puroughly cleaned beforehand, It is against faets as regards existing traffic, but he, is up against the rose of parking the vehicle on not enough to have the car washed. such land, although, of course, he It must be polished also, to re- "reasonable expectations, of traffic" formed by some other per- must not break the existing law of move chalked pigment and traffic

He can film. son. But the person who tries trespass on any land. the case is bound to regard "all also drive beyond the 15 yards limit on ta cómmon land to save the circumstances of the case."

life, extinguish a fire, or deal with other similar emergency.

The new Buick offers all those advantages and features

which provide the supreme motoring luxury of

B-12

the highest priced cars-but at less cost!

The new Buick is Buick in quality and value through and through. So eloquently are these things evidenced in Buick products year after year that orders totalling millions of dollars were placed for this new Buick-before the cars were actually available. With such a display of confidence in Buick-you, too, can buy the new Buick with every assurance that it will give you the greatest motoring satisfaction you can possibly expect.

The New

BUICK 8

The Eights with Buicks Prestige

THE DRAGON MOTOR CAR CO., LTD.

TELEPHONE 30228.

33, WONG NEI CHUNG ROAD, "HAPPY" VALLÉY.

Speed Can be considered Dangerous,

The general effect of this law is

"Apply the polishing wax spar- ingly and rub it vigorously to de- velop a good shine. It will prob. ably not produce any higher lustre than was developed with the pol

to prevent driving indiscriminate-ish, but it will give a lustre which

SPEEDY STILL.

Special attention must be drawn

ly over common lands. It must will last for months-and it will to the fact that although the speed be rend in conjunction with the protect the finish as well." limit is abolished for cars and developments which are likely to motorcycles, a driver can be con take place as to the provision of victed of driving at a speed which

But the driver parking places. is considered by the prosecution to in future should be careful not to be dangerous to the public. Obviously the court should take drive on to any land off the road unless he has either the owner's into account stopping power here,permission, or in the case of com- for a car with bad brakes when mon land unless he is certain that travelling 15 miles an hour is he is not breaking any by-laws actually more dangerous than a that may exist No doubt the An "old crocks" race at Brook- car with good brakes which can authorities in charge of such lands (Eng.), last month had 39 pull up in less distance at 40 lands will mark out apaces for astonishing entrants. One old parking and erect guiding notices, car had been a dwelling place for

miles an hour.

Antiques on Brooklands.

It is to be hoped that the Minis-The Act states that it does not rats for 30 years. Another had try of Transport and the Home confer a right to park a car on housed poultry, while a third had Office will instruct the police and any land.

a tree growing through its chassis

the magistrates in the practical and common-sense interpretation of this highly important clause, and if the law be administered in that way the careful and con- siderate driver should have nothing to fear.

The Penalties,

The penalties are so severe that they deserve to be well memorized: by every driver. They are:-

First conviction, fine up to £50, dr imprisonment up to

four months and endorsement of licence.

Accidents,

Where a driver is involved in an accident, whereby damage or injury is caused to any person

as it stood in an orchard neglect- ed.

J

The winner was an 1899 Pro- greas Voiturette which averaged 25.48 m.p.h. Second came an 1898 or vehicle, or to "any horse, Vapen, and third a 1900 Cyclon. cattle, ass, mule, sheep, pig, Fastest was a 1903 De Dietrich, goat or dog," he must stop; and which lapped the track at 58 if required by any person having m.p.h. reasonable grounds, give his name and address, and also the name and address of the owner of the vehicle, and the vehicle identification marks. If he does not give his name and address, he must report the accident within twenty-four hours to a police officer, or at a police station.

The Minister of Transport may

Second or subsequent convic- tion, fine up to £100, and, or, im- prisonment up to four months, endorsement of licence and pos- sible disqualification, unless for some special reason, such as the hold an inquiry into any accident, and an authorized person may lapse of time since previous con-Inspect the vehicle, and enter viction,

Conviction on indictment (more premises to do so.

serious form of case tried before a superior court), imprisonment up to six months, and, or, fine, endorsement of licence and pos- sible disqualification.

With regard to other points, physical fitness has already been dealt with. The requirements as to the equipment of the car, third- party insurance, licence, and the new Regulations which are to be Issued by the Ministry will be: One important chonge in the dealt with in detail in further new Act is that a person charged weekly as very necessary explana- articles, which will be continued with dangerous driving may select

Trial by Jury.

CONGRESS ROAD,AID.

trial by jury if he wishes, This tidus of a complicated Act—

The Motor. is a very important safeguard,

As in the past, the first and most certain test of dangerous The driving will be accidents. fundamental purpose of the law is to make the roads safer and to reduce accidents. Very rightly

More than $526,402,000 of the the law will heavily punish appropriations made by Congress drivers who through dangerous or recently, or nearly 11 per cent. of reckless driving. Injure other the total of $4,850,000,000, is to people who are using the road in be expended during 1920-81-32-33 a lawful and sensible manner. for highway construction.

JOIN

ASSOCIATE

THE HONGKONG AUTOMOBILE

ASSOCIATION

A Few Advantages:- 10% Off Motor Cap Insurance- From Legal Advice, but Reliable Drivers Supplied

Free Mechanical Advice Reduced harbour transport Okargon

Associate Membership 'of the B. A.0 and A. à. London,

Rev. G. E. 8, Upsdell Hon. Recretary.

C/o "Hongkong Telegraph'