Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-27
BY H. CLIFFORD BROKAW,
Automobile Technical Adviser.

Not many years ago a person who
drove his car in excess OF rs miles an
hour in the open country was consid-
cred reckless, and some public parks
had signboards warning drivers that
they must not proceed at a speed OF
more than 10 miles an hour.
These restrictions appear to have been
ridiculous when we consider that today
we are permitted by ordinance to main
tain a speed of IS miles an hour on
some of our most crowded parkways and
a much higher rate of speed is unQues-
tionably safe on the open road.
The laws regulating the speed OF au-
tomobiles have hardly kept pace with
the capabilities of these machines, as
1t Is certs n that 1t is as safe to drive
the modern motor car at 40 miles an
hour as it was to drive under the same
traffic conditions at IS miles an hour In
the automobile Of few years ago.
Several Factors Contribute.
Several factors have contributed to
the ability to speed up automobile
trafic with safety. Better roads, better
traffic regulations. especially at intersec-
lions of main arteries, improved steering
gears and tires designed to prevent skid
ding-all of these have helped. But
perhaps the greatest contribution to
speed with safety is found in the devel-
opment of the automobiles brakes.
Placing brake on each OF the four
road wheels, instead Of braking through
two wheels only, has made 1t possible to
stop the car in practically half the dis
lance as formerly. Better designed
brakes and improved braking materials
provide for greater ease of operation
and freedom from frequent adjustments.
Four brakes also have greatly decreased
the liability to skid on wet pavements,
which permits traffic to move along at a
more rapid pace in rainy weather.
With all the perfection that is built
into the automobile, however. accidents
do happen, and some of them are due
to faulty brakes. There Is no safe traffic
condition or rate of speed for the car
with brakes that are not functioning
properly.
If motorists would give their cars the
very slight attention which Is required
to keep brakes operating always at the
maximum of their efficiency, 1t would
be impossible ever again to report as
many as 27,50O deaths in motor vehicle
accidents in single year. These are
the figures offered by the statistical bu-
reau Of the National Safety Council
showing that 1876 fatal motor accidents
occurred in q year for every 100000
population in this Nation.
This reminds one of the motorist who
always checked up on his physical con-
dition once or twice. a year by visiting
his family doctor, who always insured
against dental deterioration by frequent
visits to his dentist, who always slept
with his windows open, paid great at
tention to his diet exercised regularly
took eight hours a day Of sleep anc
planned definitely to live to be 10(
years old. At his funeral. however, II
was pointed out that while he had al
the fine qualities which a man could
normally be expected to possess. he die
neglect to form the habit Of checking
up on the condition of his automobile's
brakes, and this lapse was the cause Of
his demise.
Should Form Checking Habit.
Every motorist should form this habit
Of checking up on the efficiency Of hi;
cars braking facilities. This can bt