Evening star., 1935-06-09

passenger is to avoid distracting the
driver from his main job.
Passengers could be a positive help
| If they tried. They can call out
green" or red" as the car approaches
traffic signal, just as the locomotive
fireman calls OF the signals to the
engineer; they can do the watching
for and reading of the roads signs
and follow the printed log of the
journey and call attention to warn
ings and stop signs and in many ways
relieve the driver of some of his
burden.
Inexperience is a frequent source OF
trouble. but ignorance is no excuse.
The good driver will take special pre-
cautions that may not be needed,
rather than to go ahead and trust
that none will be necessary. For in
stance, if he is starting down a
grade in mountainous country, he
will shift to a lower gear in advance.
II he is entering curve, he will slow
down and be prepared if the road
suddenly takes a sharp bend. If he
! parks his car on stiff grade. he will
leave it in low rather than trust 10
his hand brake.
Take nothing for granted is an
| excellent rule for the tourist driver.
/ He should not assume that all is clear
around the bend of the road or just
over the crest of hill-he should
not even count on what other drivers
will do. The one safe assumption
about many drivers. in fact, is that
they will do the wrong thing. If one
anticipates that they will, one will
save a lot of trouble.
! Here is a good story.
! An old automobile. recently dragged
/ from the bottom of the Hudson River
! Channel. near New York City. where
il had been submerged more than 10
years. was found equipped with four
pneumatic tires still containing air.
the finder has advised an Akron, Ohio,
rubber company.
Although rims and wire wheels were
almost entirely rusted away, the tires
were remarkably preserved and seemed
| 10 have sufficient pressure for actual
| road service. observers said.
! A check of serial numbers in the
, tire factory showed the tires had been
manufactured in 1921.
That millions Of motor tourists
would be seriously inconvenlenced and
subjected to unnecessary delays in
their schedules and to increases in
their budgets was forecast by the
American Automobile Association to-
day because many States have failed
to put up new highway numbers agreed
upon and announced more than six
months ago.
Following a review of the situation
by the National Touring Bureau of
the A. A. A., and as a result OF scores
Of protests coming in every day from
motorists. Thomas P. Henry, presl-
dent of the national motoring body,
characterized the delay in putting up
the new numbers as wholly mex
cusable and an amazing display OF
indifference to the public interest on
the part of the responsible officials"
He continues:
LAS long ago as last June, State
highway officials considered certain
changes in the numbering of impor-
tant links in our interstate highway
system. These changes were again
reviewed and finally agreed upon last
November. Some States refused to
accept them because of pressure from
localities and communities. On the
other hand. many of the proposed
changes were officially announced.
"On the basis of these announce
ments, the principal map and tour
book publishers made the necessary
revisions and millions of maps, strip
maps and tour books are now going
rapidly into circulation. But there
are many instances in which
the motorist finds that the route num-
ber designated on these maps and
tour books does not agree with the
one ne actually finds on the highway
he is travelling. One State with very
heavy traffic is waiting to make the
changes until its own highway map
is ready. although for every one of
these maps issued there would be
thousands of the standard maps pro-
duced by the major publishers.
with travel publications off the
presses, with tourist travel expected to
reach new peak, and with the cara
van already in motion, this situation
is all the more serious. In the final
analysis the motorists are the real
victims. since this procraStination
subjects them to confusion, delays and
expenses which are wholly unneceS-
sary and oftentimes completely spoils
the pleasures of touring. Not all the
States are guilty, by any means, some
of them having shown commendable
speed and regard for public con-
verience.
The American Automobile Associ-
alton has demonstrated against these
delays year after year. We have con-
tended that any changes that are to
be made in highway numbers should
be made not later than March /.
Clearly, there is flagrant lack OF
co-ordinated direction in the han
ding Of this vital matter. If we can
not secure action through State high
way departments and the groups
through which these departments
work. the American Automobile As
sociation will bring the matter before
the Congress of the United States to
ascertain If there Is not some way in
which we can secure a degree of re-
form on the basis of the Federal aid
law, which is the foundation of our