New Britain herald., 1929-12-06
CHECK UP ON CARS
 ASECH0 OF STORM
State Inspectors Watch for Ma chimes With Faulty Equipment

stormy weather, poor automobile equipment and the carelessness of operators and pedestrians have re- suited in a large number of acci- dents, many of which caused sc- rious injury or death, according to reports to the state motor vehicle department. Rain. snow, ice and Slush have contributed to the mak- . ing of dangerous road surface con ditions which scores of cars, appar- ently. were unable to offset because of bad brakes. smooth tires and \ other defective equipment.
 The situation is considered so sc rious that the department has is sued instructions 10 it's inspectors to keep special watch on the highways for ca rs with equipment which will not meet conditions. Particular at tention will be paid to tires on which the tread is worn smooth [ and are thus without traction and unable to grip the road. The in spectors will instruct such drivers to use chains or tires not likely 10 skid or slide so that the vehicle <may not become a menace i'll traf 1ic. Brakes in poor condition will be ordered repaired. Windshield wipers 1 and lights must also be kept in fgood condition.
 Pedestrians have been direct con- 1ributors to accidents through care lessness, the inspectors report. Many approached too closely to vehicles, when crossing streets, al though 1t was obvious. apparently. that the vehicles were liable to skid at any time. Reports show, too, -> that the fact that vehicles are un- able to stop quickly under bad road conditions was not considered. Mis- Judgment of distance has been com 7- mon on the part of both operator and pedestrian.
 That many motorists are lax in keeping equipment mp to the stan dard required for safety, and by law, is indicated in a report by the inspection section of the depart mcnt on SSS cars which were taken from active participation in traffic for examination. Of this number, only 322 cars were found properly equipped. About wo-thirds actually J66, had defective equipment and ! many were without articles re- quircd by safety laws and rcguIa- lions. The defects in a large num- Der of cases were of serious na-
 ure.
 C,,n H,,o ( hicles had foot brakes unfit for use, in every case the brakes being 'ound incapable Of stopping the ,, TT quickly or within a safe dis
 nee. The emergency. or hand 'rake, was found defective on 331 1ars. In many instances the hand brake was out of order on the same -Tars which had bad foot or service brakes.
 Eight cars were found 10 be with out headlights. The lights on 110 Tears were defective and on 3S were not properly placed or equipped with illegal lens. There were no tail lights on 57, and defective rear NJ lights on 149. Markers were missing or broken in many cases, as were also mirr s, windshield wipers and horns. Eighteen steering gears were in poor condition.
 The inspectors discovered many commercial motor vehicles which were not equipped with refectors These are required on the rear of all commercial vehicles by a law which became effective on Septem- Der 1. Broken rohectors were also numerous. Drivers were instructed that the rehectorS must be main tained in good condition, the same as any other article of safety equipment.
 A survey of taXicabs in the city of New Haven, made in cooperation with the public utilities commls- sion, disclosed conditions in regard 70 equipment which were consider ably better than for the ordinary run of passenger cars, according to reports by inspectors. Of S9 cabs inspected, 60 were found in good ~ condition Twenty-nine had defective equipment Of some sort. sixteen had defective hand brakes and five defective foot brakes. Other articles !. of equipment missing or defective were tail lights, windshield Wipers' chafed tires. and in three cases the steering gear was defective.