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Motor Roads Must Come!

25th March 1938, Page 29
25th March 1938
Page 29
Page 30
Page 29, 25th March 1938 — Motor Roads Must Come!
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

The Increasing Congestion of Oar Main Roads Will Force the Adoption of Motor Highways

SOONER or later, and preferably t h e former, Britain must decide to take the plunge and develop, on an extensive scale, exclusive highways for motor traffic. These should be quite distinct from the general scheme of roads which has been built up through the ages for intercommunication between towns and the linking of rural areas. The widening and improvement in other directions of such general facilities must, of course, continue and be expedited, but much more than this is required to cope with the constant increase in traffic and the resultant congestion, which will undoubtedly become of still greater urgency unless adequate steps be taken at an early date to deal with the problem.

It would be futile and uneconomic to consider any restriction on the use of motor vehicles sufficient to exercise an appreciable effect on road conditions. This would cause irreparable damage to what is now the third greatest industry in the country, and one upon which the nation relies to such a vital extent, not only in respect of employment, but for the filling of its coffers.

Hopes From the Ministry.

There are hopeful signs that the authorities are taking cognizance of the importance of this matter. The Minister of Transport agreed willingly to the suggestion that he should receive a deputation from the German Roads Delegation, following its 10-days' inspection of the Autobahnen, and he actually met the representative delegates on March 8. Since then he has referred to the subject in several speeches, and has intimated the possibility of an experimental exclusively motor road from which experience could be gained.

That there are difficulties to be surmounted we fully appreciate. Not the least is the averige Briton's point of view that the roads are free to be used by all, but it is the very obstinacy in this respect that has caused so many accidents to pedestrians, and will render it necessary to restrict cyclists to their own special paths when these become more generally available to them.

Another difficulty lies in the manner in which payment for motor highways will be made. To be really effective they must undoubtedly be constructed at the expense of the nation, and there will not be wanting critics of such expenditure and question as to why the motor user, whether he be a car owner or engaged in commercial transport, is thus to be favoured. In our view, however, it will soon become apparent, even to the most conservatively minded, that it will be definitely advantageous for what we may term "normal" roads to be relieved of a considerable burden of through traffic. This will improve the amenities of both town and country, and will unquestionably go far towards reducing the accident figures.

All Will Eventually Benefit.

It must be remembered also that the motorusing community, as a whole, constitutes a large proportion of the population, and would appreciate travel by fast and comfortable road vehicles, whilst the transport of goods is everybody's business, in so far as the individual benefits by its essential speed and efficiency.

Possibly—and it may be probably—the strongest objection will come from landed proprietors, and there are certain to be amongst them many who will put up a stubborn resistance to what they may regard as an encroachment on their rights, whilst others will undoubtedly endeavour to "make a good thing out of it."

To be effective, however, such roads as those we visualize must not twist and turn to anything other than a minor degree, for pleasant as such deviations may be to the lover of scenery, comparatively blind bends constitute one of the greatest dangers. Special legislation will, therefore, be essential, as is the case in Germany and, no doubt, in other countries where motor roads are being built. The exclusion of extraneous traffic, and of the general public apart from those in motor vehicles, will also require to be dealt with by our legislators.

On the Continent the problem of compensating agriculturists for the partitioning of their land by a barrier, impassable except by bridges at certain points, has to some extent been overcome by a system of give-and-take, combined with monetary awards arranged between the farmers' representatives and the Government.

Mention has already been made in the Press of a proposal by the Lancashire County Council to build a motor road, some 62 miles in length, between the boundaries of Westmorland and Cheshire. This is indicative of the great interest which is being taken in this matter by local authorities.

Whatever be done, however, apart from experimental stretches, there should be complete co-ordination of effort, and building carried out to a definite plan. We must not again have those wide variations in width, surfacing and general construction, which have been caused in the past —and exist still in many areas—as the result of the personal inclinations of individual road authorities and surveyors.

Encourage Home-produced Fuel

DESPITE the efforts being made by the Government, to store large quantities of liquid fuel, there is little doubt that, in the event of anything in the nature of hostilities on a large scale, whether or not this country be involved, there might be, at least, periods of interruption in our imports of fuel.

It is, therefore, essential that every possible encouragement should be given to the development of home-produced supplies, in whatever forms can best be utilized on vehicles either of standard design or requiring but little modification to render them capable of employing such products.

The production of oil from coal is progressing, but not at a rate which will, for a long time ahead. enable supplies to constitute more than a small proportion of the total. It therefore behoves us to investigate other sources, and the major two would appear to be coal-gas and producer-gas. The use of the former requires very slight alterations in an engine— in fact, little more than the addition of simple mixing and reducing valves, but it is necessary to carry comparatively large cylinders, which must add to the weight and are somewhat expensive, whilst suitable provision must be made for recharging or exchanging these at conveniently situated depots; thus the system lends itself particularly to the use of this fuel on regular services.

The Law Must Help.

Encouragement must, however, be given, and this could be done partly by a reduction of the tax on the vehicle and partly by an increase in the permissible total load, sufficient to cover the additional weight of the cylinders. The increase should also apply to the unladen weight, so that the patriotic employment of home-produced fuel would not penalize the operator, as in the case where the extra weight would remove the vehicle from the 30-m.p.h. category.

Similar provision might be made where suctiongas producers are installed. The gas-producer is now a much more practical proposition than formerly, and only recently we gave some details of the success which is being achieved with such an apparatus employed by a Scottish bus company.

In the case of producer-gas it is advisable, in fact almost essential, to modify the engines by increasing the compression ratio, as compensation for the lower ,thermal value of the gas. If this be done, the loss of power is but little, although in big vehicles it might be found better to install engines of greater volumetric capacity.

Abroad, some use has been made of compressed methane and other gases, as distinct from coalgas, but large supplies of such materials would, we are afraid, be difficult to find in this country, whereas coal and coke—in forms suitable for pro ducer use are readily available.

From time to time we hear of startling developments in respect of the employment of hydrogen. either as a fuel by itself or as a means for enriching others; but whilst investigations may be proceeding in this direction, so far little practical value, as shown by usage, has been achieved.


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