Passing Comments
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THE Minister of Transport, Mr. Oliver Stanley,
speaking at the recent National Safety First Association Congress, mentioned that 70 per cent. of fatal accidents last year occurred on straight roads or open-road bends with good vision, 60 per cent. on roads carrying light traffic, over 36 per cent. on those moderately trafficked, and only 3 per cent, in congested areas. Out of 3,517 pedestrians only 254 were; killed while walking along the roads, and of these more than half had neglected to use available footpaths. It is interesting to note that in only 318 cases was the accident ascribed by_ the Police to the condition of the vehicle.
RECENTLY, at the Kensington Rotary Club, Mr. NE.W. R. Gordon, Director of the Coal Utilisation Council, said it was disappointing that the Government had not recognized, in its financial proposals, either the market for coal provided by steam road vehicles or the potential one in vehicles driven by compressed gas. The former was dwindling from positive discouragement, whilst the latter required encouragement in order that it might develop. Gasdriven vehicles are, of course, placed at a sad disadvantage. because they are at present taxed on the weight of their gas cylinders, whereas the batteries of electrically propelled vehicles are exempt.
THE British Road Federation is to be heartily con-. gratulated on the acceptance by Earl Howe, P.C., C.B.E., of its invitation to him to become Permanent Chairman. His lordship's intense interest in every sphere of road transport is well known. He will have as his right hand the highly qualified and energetic secretary of the Federation, Mr. F. G. Bristow, C.B.E.
HITHERTO France has conformed to the same policy as ourselves in having a commercial vehicle show in alternate years, with the exception of a few special types of vehicle displayed at .1he Foire de Paris, but the opening of the ground floor of the Grand Palais is to put a new complexion upon affairs, so that the October Salon will again embody an important section for commercial vehicles, THAT the manufacture of electric lamps must be 1 one of the most remarkable developments of modern science was suggested by a film reproduced from the " Gaumont-British House Magazine" by arrangement with the Edison Swan Electric Co., Ltd., an exhibition of which we recently witnessed. Mechanical means are employed for practically every process and even the insertion of the filament into the bulb is automatically performed by machinery. We were also shown processes in the production of bottles for Essolube, the glass substance being heated to 1.400 degrees Cent., and the designing in clay of mascots for exhaust-pipe tails. AT Hendon, on Saturday, June 30, will take place the 15th annual display by the Royal Air Force. It is an event which should not be missed by anyone interested in air transport, although, naturally, military evolutions, etc., form the bulk of the display. Two hundred aircraft will take part, and therewill be accommodation for 150,000 spectators, whilst the car parks will hold 15,000 vehicles.
THE Gardner oil engine is making great strides in France, and M. P. Fusier, director of the French Latil concern, tells us that, after selling 60 units there, he has taken over the sole manufacturing rights for France, and is most confident regarding the prospects. Incidentally, it was only as a result of a delay through pressing business that M. Fusier missed travelling in the Air Union liner which was recently lost in the Channel.
THE method of conducting brake-tests on the road by actual measurement of the stopping distances, from the point at which the brakes were applied to the final position of the vehicle, is that most likely to give a true result. Some instruments record the maximum rate of retardation, which certainly does not obtain throughout the period of slowing down. Measurement of the wheel-marks gives no indication of time lag and is difficult to carry out with precision, as the start of the mark is rarely clearly defined. In. The Commercial Motor road tests the first system is exclusively employed.