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Lorry 'Driver's THE police of an American Prompt Action Saves I State have been asked to Two Lives . . . . trace a lorry driver, not
because he has offended the law, but because he was instrumental in saving two lives, and a private-car driver wishes to see that he is properly rewarded. The latter was about to pass the lorry in the dark, when the commercial driver switched on a strong spotlight and swung it around to light up the figures of two people walking in the middle of the off-side traffic lane. The private driver just managed, to avoid them
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Road Walkers Still riRIVERS and cyclists appear Biggest Accident I-1 to be more accustomed to
Danger the altered conditions of driv
ing. In September the number of cyclists and motorcyclists killed rose by 50 per cent., but for October and November the number is brought to the normal for the equivalent months of the previous year. The pedestrian figures, however, are appalling. In these two months there was an increase of 123 per cent., and it is plain that if the pedestrian also were lighted, much of the present danger might
• be averted, but this is hardly practicable. COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ‘-'operators commonly equip the vehicles in their charge with fire extinguishers of the carbon-tetrac,hloride type. It is important that drivers of vehicles so equipped should be warned, should the contingency arise, on no account to use such extinguishers on incendiary bombs. This would be a proceeding of great danger. There would be no extinguishing effect on the bomb, but chlorine gas and certain dangerous oxides might be liberated.
Danger of Using Tetrachloride Extinguishers on incendiary Bombs
Modern Test EquipNiTANY members of the Ford ment Which Promotes indealer organization now Economy have in service carefully
thought-out testing equipment for checking conditions that affect engine and electrical-system performance, this constituting a big help in obtaining fuel economy. An interesting instrument in the set is the compound vacuum fuel pressure gauge. By this, a gkilled operator can determine engine efficiency as a whole, for any fault in ignition or carburation is reflected in the vacuum reading. He can check the settings of jets, ascertain fuel-pump
pressure and prove the condition of the intake valve. This is important because whilst low fuel-pump pressure spoils engine performance, unduly high pressure will increase fuel consumption by raising the float level. Valve action, guide leakage, weak springs and other points can also be ascertained.
• Starting Engines DATTERY makers have been After Coasting in I-tasked whether coasting Neutral . . . throws undue strain on bat teries and transmissions. As regards the latter, if the engine be switched off, there will be no strain, provided starting be effected electrically. Extra duty is thrown on to the batteries; they must, therefore, be kept in pei;fect condition and may require topping-up more frequently, whilst terminals should be well greased to prevent corrosion, which allows slight but continuous current leaksge. Dynamos should give the maximum charge, but with voltage control this is usually automatic. Starting by using the vehicle momentum can be done simply with a modern synchromesh gearbox, but it throws a heavy strain on every part concerned.