The Noise of Motor Vehicles.
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QUITE a number of prosecutions, following the recent Order penalizing motor vehicles which cause excessive noise either in themselves or due to their loads, has already taken place. In some eases the driver has been fined and the owner of the vehicle has had to forfeit more for aiding and abetting.
We have no fault to find with the terms of the Order, but we hope that justice will be tempered with a measure of sympathetic con sideration. In some instances, and particularly with the older classes of vehicle, it is extremely difficult to keep them even moderately quiet. We are not alluding to such matters as the employment of solid tyres in bad condition, or, say, the rattling of tin cans in a load, but to such important items as the gearbox, rear axle, and, in certain instances, the body.
Many a haulier depends for his livelihood upon a vehicle which he may have had to purchase second-hand and which, although quite serviceable mechanically and safe enough in operation, may not be as silent as is desirable. Such a man would suffer considerable hardship if penalized for something for which he would have great difficulty in finding a cure—in fact, it might easily prove more expensive adequately to silence such a machine than to buy a new one.
In one case which has been brought to our notice, the owner of a brand-new, vehicle with an all-metal tipping body has, been successfully prosecuted. There are hundreds of the particular make in operation, and if it proves impossible to silence them sufficiently to satisfy the police, then, indeed, the owners will find themselves between the devil and the deep sea. It may be argued that the maker should accept this responsibility, but we hardly think that he would be prepared to do so. It must be admitted that in an all-metal body, hinged so that it can be tipped, rattle or drumming is very difficult to eradicate. In future there Is no doubt that mature consideration will be given to the problem by chassis maker and coachhuilder, but we urge the need for a certain measure of relaxation, as too stringent an appliCation of the new powers will undoubtedly cause considerable hardship. One of the most difficult problems is th9t confronting operators who are now faced with possible legal proceedings because of the noise —often intense—caused by the rattling of milk churns. Grace should be accorded to those concerned in this transport work.
Acceleration Sometimes Preferable to High Maximum Speed.
TN the designing of vehicles intended for local1 delivery work, and particularly in those Instances where the calls are practically from house to house, it is of the utmost importance to remember that the accelerating power of the vehicle concerned is of infinitely greater moment, so far as the average speed is concerned, than the maximum speed which could be attained in a straight run.
Makers are rather fond of recommending the high-speed van, but, in our opinion, whilst, admittedly, this is a most useful transport unit for a wide variety of pu,rposes, it cannot compare, when many stops have to be made, with a machine of relatively low maximum speed but capable of getting off the mark with expedition.
The amount of time which is lost in working up to a maximum speed is really surprising. This is the reason why the battery-electric type of vehicle can give quite as good a performance—and perhaps even a better one on work involving many stops—as the petrol type, and where such a vehicle is designed specifically to allow the driver or his assistant' to mount and dismount with ease and rapidity, it is an eminently satisfactory proposition.
We see no reason why the petrol vehicle should not be so arranged, but so far the only one of this type which we have observed is of American manufacture.
There is no doubt that if more attention were to be paid to this matter, and suitable vehicles designed to meet the conditions outlined, yet another sphere in which the horse is still employed to a considerable extent could become completely motorized;
Driving Signals and Safety.
THE avoiding of accidents between motor vehicles is largely dependent upon the proper use and interpretation of driving signals, and the difficulty which is experienced in this respect by the drivers of large commercial motors, coaches •and4buses is one of some importance. It is essential that the driver's seat of any road vehicle should be close to the side of the body, so that the driver may be free to extend his arm well and to move it with ease.
By -devoting a little attention to the matter when driving along the road one soon cornea to the conclusion that there are still far too many lorries and coaches which have the controls placed some distance in from the off side of the body, making it necessary for the driver to sit a foot, or even two feet, from the body side. Little comment is heard on this arrangement, yet there is no doubt that it is one which does not permit the driver to indicate his intentions in a manner satisfactory to other road users.
Apart from the closeness, or otherwise, of the driver's seat to the side of the body, another factor which affects the making of signals is the arrangement of the windows in the driver's cab. Even when the seat is rightly placed the driver is sometimes prevented by the awkward position of the window from signalling effectively, which makes it necessary to stretch the arm forward or upward, so that it is both uncomfortable and difficult for him to inform other drivers of his intended movements,
Two small points, it might be said, but they govern the effectiveness of driving_signals, and upon these depend to a great extent the efficient and safe handling of large commercial motors. Manufacturers. bodybuilders and operators of both goods and passenger vehicles should -pay the closest attention to the design of controls, driver's seat and windows, bearing in mind that many an accident has been caused by a driver failing to perceive a signal made.
The question is, of course, bound up with that of mechanical and automatic signalling devices, and the development of a cheap and effective system would greatly facilitate matters. ,