Passing Comments
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Tests for H.G.V. A LEEDS man who recently Licences Conducted (-1, presented himself for his by Women . . Ministry of Transport test as a
lorry driver was surprised to find that he was to be put through his paces on an Albion 2i-tonner by a woman. After plying him with questions on the Highway Code, etc., and requesting him to dust the seat, she entered the cab. In this case the applicant passed, but, in such circumstances, some men might be embarrassed and, perhaps, fail for this reason.
Two Strong Ad voTHE case for the trolleybus cites of Trolleybus A as an alternative to trams is
Transport . . put forward in a new brochure
issued by the British Electrical Development Association and the Coal Utilization Council. Obviously, these bodies wish to encourage the continued use of electricity. Perhaps that is why they 'say it does not necessarily follow that because existing tramcars are out of date, trams themselves have no future. At the same time, they put up a very fair case for the trolleybus.
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A S an indication of the "essential services rendered by commercial vehicles, it has been recently reported that approximately 40 per cent. of the 122,4173 communities in the United States is dependent upon mechanical road transport. It would be interesting if a similar census could be made in Great Britain. The railways would probably receive a further shock !
Many Communities Now Dependent Upon Road Transport . .
Protane as a Good A N interesting suggestion for Fuel and Refrigerant r-k a double-purpose fuel was made recently to the American Chemical Society. The fuel proposed is protane, tests of which have proved that it can cool the air in buses and keep other airconditioned vehicles in operation while in railway yards, etc., without causing smell. It is suggested that the fuel, which is in gaseous form, at normal temperatures, could be passed through expansion coils inside meat lorries, etc., before taking it to the engine. It would then provide a refrigerant without requiring the consumption of additional energy.
Suggested .
Road Improvements yj E are glad to see that The Encouraged by "The VV Times is advocating road Times." . „ improvements. It points out,
in a leading article, that if road accidents are to be prevented, road conditions must be such that an amateur driver is at no considerable disadvantage with a professional driver. The duty of the Minister of Transport and of the authorities associated with him is to eliminate, so far as possible, the need for any skilled judgment. In this respect, the most effective step would be the doubling of roads throughout the country the provision of separate tracks for cyclists and pedestrians, and the improving of cross-roads by means of roundabouts or traffic lights.
Cotton Mesh for InaI-, NE would hardly associproving Less-important l'-'fate cotton with the con
Roads . . . . struction of roads, and yet a new route in which this material has been employed has been constructed in the States. The fabric is said to be a "mesh osnaburg type" of two-ply, constructed from yarn of high tensile strength, which can be applied to any road with a solid base. After grading, the surface is scarified, and the base treated with asphalt emulsion or hot tar, which is allowed to penetrate for 24 hours. The fabric is then laid on the surface and further emulsion or tar applied with a finish of 71-in. mesh screenings rolled in. The cotton lowers the maintenance cost and obviates damage from frost.