New Britain herald., 1930-08-13
200 Autos Being Checked Daily.
 In Test of Safety Contrivances

 through their stopping paces each morning this week in New Britain. and if all signs do not fail. there will be fewer than a dozen drivers who will have to face the police court judge for having bad brakes, faulty headlights or tail lights, or immoN- able windshield wjpers
 In the state drive on brakes, head lights and other automohlle equip ment being conducted by the state police and motor vehicle department inspectors under the auspices of The motor vehicle department the po- lice Of all cities were asked 10 assist by conducting drives within city limits. and the New Britain police, under the cooperative spirit and safety desire of Chief William C Hart. are checking up from 9:3o 10 1l:3o each morning at East Main street, Franklin Square, Myrtle street. Park street and Broad street.
 Public Found Cooperative
 None Of the traffic officers mah- ing the check up ar the above five points have encountered q tough customer" Everyone seems 10 Un- derstand rhe reason for tho brake tests. etc. and scores are going to the spot that has been marked off and asking for a test. No arrests are made If the brakes are found slightly loose. Here IS the procedure.
 The officer stands or tho running board of the car and has the driver drive up 10 the first nhjte mark on he pavement. and go over the mark al % miles an hour The cop yolls brake" and the foot brake is then applied 1T the car stops before it reached the next white mark. 4J feet away. the brake is O. K. A sim liar test IS made for the hand brake. except the car is allowed yard or fpo extra over the second line h"- cause of the brake not being as posi- tive on any car as Inc foot brake, which is more frequently used, even in emergency.
 The officer then has the driver put on the headlights and dim lights. operate the windshield wiper and horn. and then q blanl, in trlpIcate IS filled out by the officer
 0. K. Or Not c. k.
 If everything on tho car is O. K. the officer writes on the reverse sid" of one blank the words Test o. K and signs hls name. He tears thls of and gives it to the driver, who keeps f and presents it at any time he or she IS held up in any part Of the state for brake test. It IS treat time saver f on" is making trip and is in a hurry and cannot wait half hour or so for several cars 10 be tested before getting 10 the head O the line.
 If there is something wrong with the brakes. lights, etc. the officer makes check mark in lho proper little square on the blank, and q copy Of tho blank is sent 10 inc motor vehicle department. The driver is then given two days m nhich to have the trouble adjusted and the mechanic making the ad- ustment then signs the back Of th" blank and this is sent 10 th" motor vehicle department thus showing that the driver has done his part in trying to make auto driving a safe and sane part of American life.
 The registration and driving li- censcs are looked al. but that is just d little thing that is liable 10 occur 2. dozen times a year in any state
 i, ny gFt- either or both means police court appearance next day. Policemen would rather do tough beat for q day than have 10 sit around in police court and tell 1t 10 the judge, and then have the fellow arrested pro- duce Hcens" and registration, with he usual story that it was at home Tn my other pants pocket
 For a driver 10 have q little pjoce Of paper, showing that his brakes are 0. K. and other equipment, and he able 10 produce it when stopped on some state highway, is 10 give to that driver the well known grand and glorious feeling and that is wha, the New Britain police are try ing 10 help do. The brake tests, light tests, windshield wiper tests and horn tests are being made to give careful drivers that feeling. and the rest of them guilty feeling which ends in chaos when the acci- dent comes.
 Cars Distance Checked
 The police department has q pc culiar machine, shaped something like q blow torch Of magnificent di- mensions with a little whirline gadget on one side and another funny thingabob on the other. This machine is clamped 10 th" running board of the car 10 he tested and when the cop says Brakes" at 2o miles an hour the dia on the con trivance tells exactly how many feet the car goes before lt stops. II is 100 per cent accurate, and except for the time lost in clam ping it on car and taking it of, is the most ef- fectiye way 10 test the exact Drak ing ability Of driver and his ma chine.
 The advice Of Chief Hart is for every driver in the city 10 ask for a test, not only for his own safety put for the safety Of other drivers It costs nothing and takes but a few minutes. No arrests are made, es- pecially when driver voluntarily asks for a test. This is inc week for all good drivers ro come 10 1he aid Of their machines.
 SHARKE1 ES. CARNIRA