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Uniformity in Road Signs?
PURTHER efforts have been made towards a 1 uniform road-sign system, with the object of increasing road safety throughout the world. The first international system of road signs, signals and marking was unanimously recommended by a sixmember United Nations expert group in a 43-article convention which will be taken up in February next year by the Transport and Communications Commission; it will eventually be submitted to the Economic Social Council for international action.
Two-colour combinations were tested, black against white or yellow and white with a red border. Results showed that a black symbol on a yellow ground gave the best visibility.
The final report recognizes that any change as proposed might be a serious and expensive process in countries such as those in Europe and North A26
America, and that the attainment of \Wild-wide uniformity must be a gradual process. However, countries which do not have well-developed sign systems might prefer to accept one adopted on an international basis; others forced to replace signs on a major scale because of damage or wear might also prefer such a system.
Quick-change Artist
A NYONE who listens to the radio programme
"Any Questions?" cannot have failed to notice how quickly a seemingly innocent suggestion can assume a political flavour. Mr. A. T. Lennox-Boyd, Minister of Transport, is a master of the art of making political capital out of adversity and thereby justifies a place in the team.
At the anniversary luncheon of the Institute of 'Transport, last week, he was to respond to the toast, "Transport," proposed by Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John C. Slessor, a relative by marriage, but he was due in the House of Commons at 125 p.m. to reply to a question. Consequently, the order of speaking had to be reversed and Mr. Lennox-Boyd had to respond to a speech that had not been made. After this quick switch, he suggested, no one could doubt that the Conservative Government was always ready to adjust its technique to the needs of the moment.
Plastic Coating for Buildings
pLASTIC coating material based on vinyl resins is
A being used in America in the building industry for sealing roofs and side walls against weather, mildew, fumes, etc. It can be sprayed over concrete, steel, wood and other materials and moulds itself on to them, caulking cracks and small openings and forming its own flashing around joints. It will withstand great differences in temperature.
Better Braking on Bogies
KIRKSTALL axles and other products have an excellent reputation in the industry. In connection with the double-drive bogie with third differential, there is an interesting development. It has been found, with certain designs of bogie, that during heavy braking, load transference from one axle to the other may considerably reduce the maximum braking which can be applied. If, under these conditions, the same braking loads be applied to both axles, the loss of adhesion on that at the rear would tend to cause skidding.
To limit the maximum amount of braking on this axle, the Kirkstall method is to fit a spring-loaded bellcrank lever between the brake-operating cylinder and the camshaft lever. The spring strength is such that for normal stops the brakes share the wear evenly, but during heavy braking the compression spring limits the braking load at the rear and any further increase is transferred to the forward axle through the rigid hand-brake linkage.