Britain's Regulation Record Beaten!
Page 46
Page 47
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
SKIPPING nimbly out of Vie way of the short, "dumpy " London taxi-cab, which sped hilariously over the uncontrolled crossing and disappeared into the gloom towards Trafalgar Square, I bethought me that, a year ago, almost to a day. I was happily strolling along Hollywood Boulevard, California, U.S.A., in bright sunshine and in contemplation of its wonderful traffic regulation—not to mention the attractiveness of its lady pedestrians, which is another story entirely.
Because, if nothing else, the Los Angelesian (and under this heading I include geographically the inhabitants of Los Angeles, Hollywood, Culver City, Beverley Hills, Sanna (or Santa) Monica, Ocean Park and the other communities which go to make Greater Los Angeles) does know how to regulate his traffic—if not so happily his womenkind l Controlling Pedestrians—as well as Motorists, Of course, the place starts away with the big advantage that it is laid out almost entirely in rectangular blocks, as is usual on the Pacific Coast, but, nevertheless, full advantage has been taken Of this fact to set. up traffic lights at almost every 'crossing, and • woe betide the motorist, or pedestrian, who disre gards these signals. In fact, if a pedestrian steps off the kerb between the crossings, or tries to cross at a recognized place "against the signal," he (or she) is " for it," if a traffic policeman notices him (or her).
The motor traffic in Los Angeles is very heavy and very fast, and, although there are still too many -accidents, there would be many more if the police were not SO strict, particuIarlY as regards the pedestrian. By far the biggest proportion of accidents to foot passengers occurs on the right-hand turn (left
• hand in this country), when both the motorist and the pedestrian feel that they have the right of way and avail themselves of this apparent right without due care.
The above remarks regarding .well-conducted traffic apply all down the Pacific Coast, from Vancouver, e24 in British Columbia, to Los Angeles, and further south, in California, but when we come to study the eastern cities, the story is different. I think I can say that traffic regulation in New York City is remarkable only for its absence, and that the motor drivers, including taximen, are the rudest and least considerate of others, be they fellow drivers or not, that I have yet had occasion to meet.
Go west even no farther than Chicago and mark the difference. After New York, it is peace to brave the hazards of " Chicawgo," where, if nothing else, the taxidrivers can do something other than shift their chewing gum and bark "how " when you speak to them. Chicago, as a matter of fact, is a pleasant city and Michigan Avenue is one of the most handsome streets I have ever seen, rather on the tines of Princes Street, Edinburgh.
Segregating Fast and Stow Traffic.
An interesting point about Michigan Avenue is that part is on two levels, the upper and most evident section being carded on columns and reserved only for light, fast traffic. Lorries and other slower vehicles arc relegated to the lower regions, where they can lumber along to their hearts' content, and interfere with no one.
Talking of taxis, reminds me that our own London cabs do appear to be funny, small machines, in comparison with the fine, long, cars used all over the States, for example, by the Yellow Cab concern. Many of these cabs have radio sets, and bear an illuminated notice to this effect, but I am told that the New York authorities frown upon this practice —perhaps because, while enthralled by the crooning of Bing Crosby, the
driver, is apt to forget. that his duty is to terrify the pedestrian, by " blinding " around such corners as, say, 42nd Street and Broadway We, in this country, sometimes grumble about our Ministry of Transport and its many regulations and orders. All are bad enough, certainly, but—suppose that every county in England, Scotland and Wales had its own Minister and the right to make its own rules and regulations, and, furthermore, that it exercised this power to the full. There, Mr. Hore-Belisha, is a fine new idea for you In the States, this is more or less what has happened. Every State has its own full set of regulations, regarding construction, licensing and operation. Just think, Mr. Thornyland, or you, Mr. Leycroft, how you would like to build your 6-tonners to, say, a legal width of 8 ft. 6 ins. for Yorkshire and 7 ft. in Lancashire, with different axle weights in each county and every custornet clamouring for full permissible space and maximum load.
The Ministry a Blessing in " Disguise Or you, Mr. Carter Pickford, would you like one set of licensing laws in Surrey and another in
Sussex? Just think on the possibilities, and be duly thankful that we have only one authority to contend with.
I always remember the trouble I caused by asking the chief engineer of one of the lorry-manufacturing concerns in Michigan to show me his copy of the regulations that he -had to deal with. The axle of the vehicle broke as two labourers were transporting this library from the basement to the engineer's sanctum.
A visit to America is an education in the matter of speed. Take the Skyway, from New Jersey City to Newark, N.J. This is an elevated roadway, in fact, almost a continuous .ferro-concrete bridge, about nine miles long, passing over towns, -villages, other highways, rivers and railways, and, to all practical intents, is dead straight.
Dare a motorist stop on this elevated Brooklands? No. Even if you have a " flat " (we call it a puncture) you must carry On, on the rim, until you 'come to a ramp leading down to ground level—and speed sanity.
I never found out what happens if you break, say, an axle shaft or a piston. Probably, so soon as you draw toa stop; the -next man will hit you and propel you and your car over the parapet to terra-firma and the peace of the grave.
Then we have the Holland Tunnel under the river from New York City to New Jersey City, and more or less a continuation of the Skyway. The speed regulation through this tunnel is 30 m.p.h., and there is a policeman stationed every hundred yards or so, in a collateral gallery, to make quite sure that you do maintain this speed.
Then, no account of America is complete without some reference to crime, with a capital K. The most appropriate I can think of is the mass-production car-stealing company, unmasked recently in one of the principal cities. This was a case of real, organized car-thieving.
Systematic Car-stealing.
The outdoor men (the active stealing agents) drove up to a door in a certain lane, which door opened automatically so soon as the thief showed his credentials.
Two men removed the body. Another two fitted a different body from the same make of car. Another man removed the wheels and fitted others painted a different colour, whilst one man was an expert in the removal and faking of engine and chassis numbers.
Briefly, within some 20 minutes, the stolen car was metamorphosized into an unrecognizable "sister," moved out through a door at the other end of the " factory," and entered directly a " used-car park," complete with new registration plates and price card! Unfortunately, history does not tell us whether a card-index record was kept of each transaction.
The Ideal Factory.
Now, to conclude, we must say
something about Ford. Mr. Bassett-Lowke would be thrilled to visit the Ford factory at River Rouge, where the works locomotives are the prettiest little examples of engineering that I have ever seen. They are black-enamelled and speckless, whilst all hand-rails, etc., are chromium-plated. The same remarks apply to the little. travelling cranes, which, in addition, have the roofs of the drivers' cabs enamelled bright red. I was tempted to steal both a locomotive and a crane to bring home with me to play with !
Then, take the famous automatic rolling mill. We, in this country, are rather inclined to connect steelrolling millswith rusty, corrugatediron sheds, stalactites of grease,. noise, smoke and dirt. In the Ford mill, I would undertake to eat my dinner off. the floor, the building is a substantial structure of, I think, ferro-concrete, the whole of the machinery is enamelled, even the hexagon nuts being chromium-plated.
After these remarks, it would be
superfluous for me to describe Mr. Ford's own special pet, the engineering plant, or what we would call the experimental department. A. picture of this, with its polished-hardwood floor, which would not disgrace a ballroom, may be left to the imagination of the reader.