AN ANALYSIS OF CAUSES OF BREAKDOWN.
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A Statistical Summary Based on Cases Dealt with Under the" Get-you-home" Service of the Royal Automobile Club.
T T has been the custom of the Royal Automobile Club for
some years past to issue annually an interesting summary compiled from an analysis of the large number of cases dealt with under its "Get-you-home " service. Under the provisions of this scheme the Club makes arrangements whereby any member or associate-member who meets with a breakdown or accident is provided with a free relief car. The statistics are net compiled haphazard from a selection of those cases in which assistance is given, but are based on the returns given in all instances, this being made possible by virtue of the fact that a voucher has to be completed giving the cause of the breakdown in every case.
It is from the information thus secured that the R.A.C. is able to classify the details and, on account of the thousands of cases which are dealt with in the course of twelve months, the respltant analysis really comprises a very useful guide, not only to users, but also to makers, indicating, as it does, the component parts or auxiliaries which are most likely to prove potential sources of failure. the figures which are given deal, af course, with private cars only, but the difference between the design and construction of private cars and of commercial vehicles, particularly the lighter models, is not so marked that much useful information serving as a guide to business-vehicle users cannot be extracted from them. It is for this reason that we publish the accompanying summary of the figures for 1926, and, in order that comparisons can be made, the statistics for 1925 and 1924 are also reproduced.
It will be seen that the causes of breakdown are classified under eight distinct main headings, these being, power unit. engine, transmission and brakes, back axle, front axle and steering, road wheels and suspension, lighting failures, and accidents, the first four sections being subdivided to render the return of greater value.
The R.A.C. has a record covering the whole of the breakdowns of members' cars since the inception of the " Getyou-home " service immediately after the war, and the variation in the percentages of breakdown through any specific cause has been.almost negligible. This, perhaps, is gratifying in a measure, but it does seem that troubles arising from some sources should be legs frequent than they are. For example, ignition failures continue to account for more than one-fifth of the total, which must be deemed a relatively high proportion.
The figures for "accidents" have increased by 1 per cent.
in the year, and surely no stronger talking-point than this is required to impress upon car owners the need for increasing caution in driving. Apropos this point, however, it is pleasing to note that the percentage of breakdowns through troubles with brakes is falling, being now only .3 of the total.
There is little doubt that many mechanical failures and not a few accidents are brought about by neglect and, so far as breakdowns in particular are concerned, much time and money could be saved by giving greeter attention to those parts which experience has shown are most likely to give trouble. Below we reproduce the summary showing percentages of breakdown through different causes for the years 1920, 1925 and 1924.