Evening star., 1935-03-10

number also is too small. The N
of around half million peopl
available for traffic work.
1t should be remembered that the
men work in shifts of eight hours, so
that only one-third at the most are
available for duty at any one given
time. This means that with the pres
ent motor cycle force only u are
actually on duty at the same time
Force Further Cut.
When escorts are needed for funerals
or for diplomatic affairs only one or
two men are on hand for general
public needs. In 1928 there existed a
total of SO. According to a Subcom-
mittee report of the Board of Trade
for the period September /, 1882, to
October 81, 1888, the motor cycle force
at that time worked 8035 hours and "a
minutes, so it can be seen that often
q run over OF the eight hours is neceS-
sary.
An adequate force of motor cycle
men would do much in making the
streets of the District safer. Drivers
are not wont to violate traffic laws If
q policeman or motor cycle is in sight.
With the proper number of men on
various beats, these motor cycle men
could be in evidence most of the time
on most of the streets of the city.
Additional men, of course, will re-
quire additional appropriations, but
Congress should be willing to give to
the National Capital these much
needed funds. If accidents are to be
cut down, this is the way. Investiga-
tions and campaigns may be helpful,
but their benefits unfortunately are of
short duration.
An adequate motor cycle force would
be of permanent good.
Need for Better Locks.
Results of a recent survey conducted
among 139 automobile editors of lead
ing newspapers showed an appalling
need for better locks on cars. Re-
sponses represented so cities with total
car thefts Of 126,079.
Approximately 80 editors answered
all the questions. Eighty-eight an
swered yes to the question Does the
problem If combating auto theftS exist
in your city?" and two said no.
public recognize the need for more
effective protection against auto
thieves?" and II said no. To the
question Does your paper give edi-
torial cognizance to the fact that
something should be done about auto
stealing?" rs answered yes and is no.
Does the public want car that
Is factory equipped with theft-proof
locks designed to prevent unau-
thorized driving away of the car under
its own power?" was another ques-
tion and SO said yes and 3 no. The
final question was Would theft
proof car by leading automobile
manufacturers stimulate sales for
local automobile dealers?" and n said
yes and IA no.
In figures checked on November
80, 1884, in the City of Washington,
D. c., total thefts were $500. The
relation of these figures to other
crimes, when reports showed that 80
per cent of all burglaries are COM
mitted with stolen cars, and of the
relationship between fatalities and
stolen cars, Is all too evident.
New Lock Developed.
A new lock, the development of
the laboratories in Chicago, has re-
Gently been completed and passed
all tests qualifying it as drill-proof,
jimmy proof, grip-proof, fle-proof and
with unique four-edge key that
is copy-proof.
1t is designed for doors on auto
mobiles and for the steering wheel
where the mechanism locked cannot
be tampered with. as is the case in
ignition and transmission locks. Only
the original owner will be able to
order duplicate key by presenting
his registry tag.
1t is felt from the results of the
survey that this lock would help curb
crime, especially juvenile delinquency
and fatalities resulting from acci-
dents in cars stolen for joy-riding,
and would stimulate automobile sales
New Tire Safety.
One of the leading tire manufac-
turers, according to the Automotive
Daily News, has developed a new
safety feature for automobile tires.
1t is called the "Lifeguard" tube.
Satisfactory demonstrations have
been made before public officials in
various automobile centers.
Blowouts were produced in the tube
by means of automatic knives which
bit into the tube upon the release of
the catch mounted above the tire.
The cars were making speeds of
around so miles an hour Several
minutes after the forced blowouts
showed the tires standing up and
with most OF the air within them.
This safety invention should 60 a
long way in protecting drivers from
serious injuries often caused by the
car swerving off the road due to the
sudden loss of air. 1t is expected that
other rubber companies will follow
suit with similar tubes.
The group that followed these SEN
sational demonstrations disclosed that
the "Lifeguard" consists of heavy duty
tube with second tube built inside
In reality twin tubes one inside the
other, both inflated by the same valve
The air passes from the inner inner
tube to the outer tube through one
small vent. Should the tire become
weakened or damaged enough to cause
a blowout, only the outer tube blows,
the other one remaining inflated long
enough for the driver to hold the
car on the road and come to SAT-
stop, even though the car has been
running at its highest speed.
In a nutshell, the "Lifeguard" does
not prevent blowout, but converts
q blowout into a slow leak, which
affords ample time for stopping. It
is held impossible to build blowout
proof tire, so that the "Lifeguard"
minimizes and controls tire troubles of
this sort.
Legitimate U. S. Expense.
Federal gasoline taxation, which
decreases State revenues and adds
to the tax burden of motorists, can
not be justified on the basis of the
Federal grants made to the States
q 49, s1kS kSr.wA