Passing Comments
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Oxford Surveyor's HE wide publicity given to
Lead Followed by I the efforts of Mr. G. T. Another County . • Bennett, the county surveyor of Oxfordshire, to reduce. accidents is resulting in his good example being followed. Mr. Bennett's investigation into the causes of accidents in their relation to "road conditions has aroused the greatest interest among road users,' and the Warwickshire authorities have now decided to appoint an official to investigate all serious road accidents. He will consider each accident carefully and report as to whether any road improvement at that point might prevent a similar occurrence. It is understood that the Minister of Transport •has approved the scheme and is to make a grant to the county council equal to 50 per cent, of the investigator's salary.
B20
New Glass that InTHE new 140-ft. by 40-ft. creases Lighting Value I drawing office just cornin Factories . . . . pieted at the Oxford factdry bf the Pressed Steel ,Co., Ltd., is glazed throughout with a new kind of glass known as ThermoIux, produced, by an associate concern of the Triplex.SafetY-Glass Co., Ltd. This product con' sists of a layer of 'horizontallyarranged spun glass, hermetically sealed between two sheeti of polished glass, thereby diffusing the light and completely eliminating, shadows. In addition to providing effec. tive insulation against temperature extremes, Thermolux is said to give, at working level, lighting of an intensity equal to about 25 per cent, of daylight out of doors. In an ordinary north-lit factory bay only between 2 per cent. and 14 per cent. "reaches working level, according to weather conditions. Obstructing the HighI N some parts of 'the country
way by Operating children have been amusing Traffic Lights . . . themselves by jumping on the rubber strips regulating the operation of traffic lights, thus impeding the flow of traffic. Some have been summoned under the law which makes it an oflence to cause obstruction an the highway.
Buses Should Halt I ONDON bus drivers enjoy Ahead of Stationary 1–■ a good reputation for road
Vehicles manners, but some of them are prone to ignore the rules of the highway and, by failing to give signals to oncoming vehicles, to create situations that are fraught with risks. This fact was brought home to us on a recent wet, evening, when a bus drew out to the off side of a road as we were about to overtake it—after signalling our intention to do so—and the driver gave no hand signal until he had so reduced the width on the off side that no vehicle could pass. Quick braking was followed by a front-wheel skid and a collision: was averted by a hair's breadth. The bus was forced to the middle of the road by a stationary car and it would seem that such happenings could be eliminated entirely if it were insisted that public service vehicles halted 'ahead of stationary vehicles.
Should Hirers Always TT is not infrequent for an Take the First Cab 'intending passenger to select on a Rank? . . . . a taxicab other than the first on a rank. This sometimes causes ill feeling, but it is excusable if the leading vehicle has a particularly decrepit appearance. In Johannesburg the drivers have asked the authorities to pass a by-law making it compulsory for the first cab to be taken, although we do noLyet know what success the application has met. We doubt whether such a ruling could be obtained in this country.