TELLING THE USER HOW.
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THE RAPID growth of road transport, and the great increase in the number of vehicles in use, due both to the distribution of war-used lorries and to the increased output of many factories consequent on war-time development, has, without doubt, reduced considerably Ole average standard of knowledge possessed by users of heavy vehicles. The supply of vehicles has, in fact, outstripped the
education of the public in their use. , It is true that the war, which increased the num-bpof vehicles, also inereased, to a certain extent, the number of persons who could claim a familiarity with them, but it must be remembered that much of the knowledge picked up by such persons was very superficial. It was only on certain jobs that really expert knowledge was required, and the persons chosen for those jobs were generally selected beeause they already possessed considerable experience.
Moreover, not all those persons who made a first acquaintance with motor transport in the war, have since (fortunately, perhaps 1) entered the .motor industry. Most of them returned to their proper avocations, and many of those who took up motor transport now wish they had not done so.
It is probable, therefore, that never in the history of the industry has. there been such a large number of persons who are daily gaining their knowledge of motor vehicle maintenance and operation by the expensive Process of trial and error: They are buying their experience in the 'hazardous market of success or failure.
Now, lack of knowledge does not re-act only upon the user of a vehicle. It has a boomerang effect on, the manufacturer and on the reputation of his product. The danger exists. -constantly of a vehicle being condemned as unsatisfactory, when it is the user who really is at fault.
The ignorance of the user is, in a way, in fact, a menace to the industry. Therefore, it behoves all . manufacturers very seriously to Consider in what ways they can assist in the wider dissemination of
-knowledge, both as regards their own vehicles 'and as regards road transportation in general.
One way in which it can be done is by the institution of an efficient service'system, by the frequent inspeCtion of vehicles and the giving of advice, through expert representatives, or in correspondence. Another way is by the publication of carefully written and arranged instruction books—which will really' be a help to those whotake the troniale to read them.
The third way to reach the user is through the medium of the technical Press. _That is by affording every facility to its representatives to acquire,. so that they. can transmit it to the public, informs:tip/1 whieh will lead to a better understanding of the .products of the industry and the manner of their employment. Also, by keeping the Press, posted as to all new developments the moment they arise.
The Commercial Motor is always endeavouring to provide articles of informative value to the User, and is publishing, -for -instance, at the present time, its series of articles "Hints on OVerhauling,” with that object in view—namely, of "telling the user how."
We may be unduly biased, but We feel that a periodical such.as ours can be of real assistance both to the manufacturer and the user in thisway. In ,many cases we are able to reach users who ammo outside the sphere of the makers' service operations. . We carry information to those who often are far away from, -all other sources. The Men in odd corners of the empire, pioneers, maybe; on the success of whose initial efforts -may depend the opening of new and fruitful markets—users in country districts who lack the opportunities of getting information which the townsman has, and, even more important, potential users,. hesitating, from lack of knowledge, to embark upon some project in which the motor vehicle Will play an important part. To all such, and to many others equally important, The Commercial Motor carries its weekly message. Jt tries to "tell the user how."