Passing Comments Avoiding Spilt Milk
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CONGRATULATIONS to Mr. W. A. Nell, chair‘-'man of the Express Dairy Co., Ltd., and any others responsible, on the production of a neat little manual entitled: " Home with the Milk." Clearly printed on art paper, with a stiff cover, this small volume is intended to be kept in the cab of each of the company's vehicles, for ready reference by the driver.
The introduction, which gives details of the toll of road accidents, is followed by observations on the extreme care taken by the company to ensure firstclass hygiene at milk-bottling centres, but it is emphasized that such care is useless if the pure milk and other goods handled do not arrive safely at their destinations. Out of 586 accidents in the Express fleet during last year, 179 occurred during reversing. 77 through vehicles running into the rear of others, whilst those at cross-roads numbered 41.
After these figures, advice is given on regular and efficient maintenance and how this should be checked by drivers. The men are warned that they are carrying milk bottles, not potatoes, and in case of an accident they should not cry over spilt milk, but sweep the roads clear of glass. Then follows advice on loading and unloading to avoid breakages. A point regarding milk tankers is that because of the need for cleaning, baffle plates cannot be fitted and heavy braking may cause many tons of milk to surge like a tidal wave, possibly forcing the vehicle forward, despite the brakes. Much other advice, including legal pointers, is in the 20 pages.
A20
Blood Tests For Drivers
THE law in some countries demands blood tests of drivers accused or suspected of being in charge of motor vehicles while "under the influence." It appears, however, that the alcohol content of the blood is not by any means a factor upon which an accurate decision as to driving fitness can be based.
Evidence given before a special committee on the effects of alcohol in this connection, recently set up at the request of the Department of Justice of New South Wales, was to the effect that a heavy drinker's sensitivity in normal driving tests, such as reversing in confined spaces, was not impaired until he had about 10 times as much alcohol in his blood as an abstainer and about five times as much as a moderate drinker. The experienced layman, such as a police station sergeant, was often a better judge of inability to drive than an inexperienced doctor.
One interesting comment by a Government analyst was that with quantities of beer and whisky containing practically the same amounts of alcohol, the alcohol absorption was more rapid in the latter and would therefore give a greater concentration in the blood in a specific time. In general, the rate of disappearance of the blood alcohol content has proved to be about half the rate of intake. With the stomach full, absorption of alcohol into the blood is slower.
Another doctor gave his opinion that the greatest danger on the roads was the person who consumed a moderate quantity of liquor and then considered himself to be more competent is a driver.
New Flaps for Old
A USEFUL warning to operators who use big-tyre equipment comes from the Goodyear publication Transportation. It is to the effect that a good flap is essential, failure of an old one can endanger not only the life of the tube but also of the whole tyre. Just as a new cover deserves a new tube, so it should have the benefit of a new flap. The others should also receive periodical inspection.
Friends of T. V.
ABRIGHT idea to encourage users of petrol-motor
vehicles to fit TV interference suppressors has been developed by Belling and Lee, Ltd., their type being known' as the " Sparkmaster." Available at 2s. 6d. for screwing into normal distributors, or 2s. for the cut-cable model, this little device is wellfinished in bright red plastic. This applies also to the plug suppressors, which combine water-proofing, for those who wish to go a stage further. They all add appreciably to the appearance of the unit.
A small windscreen transfer badge carrying the words "Friends of TV" and reference to the use of suppressors is supplied free to those who wish to show
their neighbourliness-. Tests have proved that the addition of suppressors of suitable resistance gives easier starting from cold and tends to reduce both pinking and plug burning. These points will appeal to users who may be selfish.
Higher Cleansing Costs
SOCIAL changes that have taken place in the past L-1 few years have to some extent discounted the economies that have resulted from improvements in transport techniques. An instance of this was given by Mr. Colin Clegg, director of public cleansing, Leicester, when he addressed the spring meeting of the Institute of Public Cleansing.
Contemporary layouts of housing estates, he said, were inflating the costs of street cleansing and refuse collection. The expense of cleansing services in respect of new housing could be twice that of the average in a local authority's area.
Mr. Clegg, however, qualified his statements by saying that he made no adverse comment upon modern housing layout, but averred that the costliness it involved could not be overlooked in annual estimating.