OPINIONS FROM OTHERS.
Page 78
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The Editor invites correspondence on all subjects connected with the use of commercial motors. Letters should be on one side of the ,paper only and typewritten by preference. The right of abbreviation is reserved, and no responsibility for views
expressed is accepted.
The Safety of Bus Passengers.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[2529] Sir,—With reference to your editorial article of September 21st, in which you mention the accident that, recently took place at Hindhead, in support of a theory that all omnibuses should have a back exit, irrespective of whether, they are front or rear-entrance vehicles, the report you give regarding this accident is not strictly in accordance with the facts, so perhaps you will grant me the courtesy of your columns to state the matter correctly.
It was a rear-entrance body with a door on the left side looking forward, and as the vehicle rolled over on to the road this door was not covered. The omnibus was fitted with drop windows on both sides, and the windows on the top side, as it lay on the road, were not broken.
It was fitted with a roll-top roof (like a roll-top desk), which was quickly opened, and thus there was a much larger and easier exit for the 30 passengers it carried than the door provided or would have afforded had it been fitted in the centre of the back.
The vehicle appears to have rolled over gradually, probably owing to the passengers shifting over to one side as the front wheel mounted the bank, because of the fracture of the steering arm. The driver had the presence of mind to turn off the petrol as the vehicle went over.
I am sure you 'will agree that, in fairness to the proprietors and constructors of the vehicle concerned, this letter should have the same publicity as your article,—Yours faithfully, T. M. FOSTER, Deputy Chairman, Tits ALDERSHOT AND DISTRICT TRACTION CO., LTD. Aldershot.
[We welcome this additional information, because it in no way detracts from our argument. Rather, it emphasizes it. Our contention, repeated over and c48
over again, is that no roofed-in vehicle should by any untoward happening be able to entrap its occupants by closing all prearranged exits. A bus which, by ,falling on its side, can close the only • practical exits, is not, to odr mind, a safe public vehicle. In the case mentioned in Mr. Fosters letter the bus fell over, apparently, outwards, so that the passengers were not trapped. However, had it fallen over on to its near side, the roll-top roof would have saved the situation. We should be glad to know if Mr. Foster has a report from his driving staff concerning the question of the ease, or otherwise, of operation of the roll-top roof when the body was lying in an abnormal position, because if it is impossible for such a roof to stick whatever the position of the • vehicle it should be a satisfactory solution of the problem of ensuring the safety of bus passengers.— En., C.31.3 An Offer re Rocker-joint Elements for Shackles The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[2530] Sir,—We have read with much interest the valuable article on suspension which appeared in the issue of The Commercial Motor for September 21st.
Its suggestion as to the application of our Morse rocker-joint construction to the shackles is, of course, of particular interest to us as manufacturers of the Westinghouse-Morse rocker-joint chain drives.
Seeing that some of your readers may desire to experiment with this application, we ourselves would be most willing to afford them every assistance by placing at their disposal for such experiments, free of • charge, the necessary rocker-joint elements, as we, of course, share in the general desire to promote any technical improvements in the industry.—Yours faithfully, THE WESTTNCHOUSE-MORSE CHAIN CO., LTD. Letchwortii, Herts.