Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-24
In the Motor World
BY q. ADAMS HOWARD.

| National Automobile ChamDer OIL
Commerce. Those following the
National Capital, whose first place
is undiSputed, include st. Louis
with 81, Cleveland with "a, Atlanta
with "a, Boston with "a, Phila-
delphia with SO, Chicago with 81,
Baltimore with so, New York with
40 and Norfolk with 81.
Commenting upon the figures the
Outline of Business" states that
"Washington's leadership in this
respect is said to reveal SubStan-
tial family prosperity. The auto
mobile population of any commu-
nifty is often taken as a measure
of its degree of prosperity and
standard of living"
These reports are compliment
airy to the National Capital. But
one at hand from the American
Research Foundation cannot be
termed as praiseworthy. It is as
follows:
Poor Percentages.
Faulty brakes are responsible
for more than one-third of the Sc
United States attributed to de-
fective equipment" according to a
survey made public by the Ameri-
can Research Foundation.
Analysis of accident records in
Is large cities and five States, -
says the survey, disclosed that of
1899 motor vehicles involved in
accidents in which defective
equipment was reported, 80 per
cent had defective brakes. For all
localities investigated, improper
lights account for "a per cent of
the defects reported, defective
steering mechanism for IS pei
cent and other defects for IL per
cent.
Among cities reporting, Cleve-
land showed the highest percent
age of faulty brakes on cars in.
volved in accidents on which de-
fective equipment was reported,
with SO per cent. Chicago had an
average Of 81 per cent faulty
brakes in such accident cases re-
ported; Washington, D. c., had IS
per cent; st. Louis IS per cent, and
Detroit So per cent.
Among the five States report
ing, Indiana was highest with So
per cent and North Carolina low
est with IS Pc cent. California
averaged 43 per cent, New York So
per cent and oregon 80 per cent.
with faulty brakes clasSed as
the commoneSt type of defective
automobile equipment, the neceS-
Sity of care in correcting varia-
tions and testing brakes at fire.
quent intervals is vital If automo-
bile accident totals are to be re-
duced. With the speed Of modern
driving and the necessity for quick
stops in traffic, reliable brakes
spell the difference between safety
and disaster"
A bad showing, indeed.
Seek Uniformity.
World interest has been aroused
in Americas progress toward So
luton of the traffic problem, ac-
cording to the American Engineer
ing Council, which, following a
nationwide study, has formulated
recommendations for the guidance
of cities.
Committees Of engineers in all
parts OF the country are working
to bring about the adoption of bet
ter and uniform practice as deter
mined by the councils committee
on Street,traff1c signs, signals and
markings, headed by w. B. Powell
Of Buffalo, N. Y.
The committees findings, cover
ing a survey of conditions in all
American cities having a popula-
ton of $4,000 or more, are being
studied by governmental and tech
nical bodies in many nations, in
GLIDING England, Canada, Ger
many, Russia, Japan, Scotland,
Belgium, Switzerland, Australia.
Sweden, New Zealand, British CO.
lumbia, Denmark, Cuba and the
Philippine Islands.
The traffic system urged by the
council is being adopted by Ameri-
can cities. Among those in which
it is now going into effect are
Washington, D. c.; Wichita,
Kans.; st. Paul and Duluth,
Mimi: st. Louis, Mo-; Flint, Mich;
Memphis, Tenn, and Evanston, Ill.
More power to you'll" seems to
be the phrase that automobile
manufacturers have whispered to
their new 1880 model motors. or
the Al makes to be exhibited at the
national automobile shows to be
held in January, details of at least
one-third Of this number have
reached show headquarters. OF
the remaining two-thirds. while
nothing has been off1cially an
nounced, rumor has 1t that many
Of these will reveal increased
horsepower.