Evening star., 1936-04-26

Answers to these questions, very
been submitted from the Automotive
Parts and Equipment Manufacturers,
Inc, through John L. Lovett, chair
man of the Subcommittee on Contact
with the Automotive Industry.
In regard to speed, it was asked
why is it necessary to manufacture
cars with speeds Of from 80 to 100
miles an hour. This question I'M
mediately brings up two suggestions
which recently come from various
sources: namely, that through legal
regulation
(1) Automobiles be limited in design
to a maximum speed of so MP.H., or
co that the same result be accom-
plished through the forced adoption
of mechanical speed regulators, some
times called governors"
Such a law, according to Mr..
Lovett's report, could only mean that
the maximum legal speed was so
MPH., and therefore, where the high
way permitted, drived would be justi-
fed in driving at that speed.
It is a cardinal principle OF engin-
eering design that every structure or
vehicle designed must carry factor
of safety sufficient to insure the safe.
efficient and economical operation OF
that structure or vehicle. For that
reason automobiles are built capable
of speeds of 80 or 80 M.P.H, not
with the intention that that auto
mobile will be continually run at
that speed, but rather that at the
normal operating speeds the auto
mobile will be most efficient and the
service requirements minimum. II
a car were designed for a maximum
speed of so miles an hour. for ex-
ample, there would be no safety
factor left for the driver who wished
to drive at that legal speed.
This committee has examined sew
eral devices for the mechanical linn
itation of speed in cars which are
capable of a speed greater than so
miles per hour. 1t Is our belief that
such a device, attached to all auto
mobiles, would not only not accom-
plish the purpose intended, but would
actually be the cause of even more
accidents on the open highway. For
example, let us assume that the max
tmum speed is set at so miles per hour
and the car, either through design or
mechanical means, is limited to that
speed. A driver proceeding at the
proposed legal rate of so miles per
hour comes up behind a driver driv-
ing at the rate of As miles per hour.
Since the speed of the passing car is
limited to so miles per hour. it IS
impossible for that driver to speed up
and rapidly pass the driver going at
45 miles per hour. Assuming that 1t
requires approximately 100 yards to
turn out, pass a car and again get
back into the proper lane of traffic.
1t would take the car proceeding at SO
miles per hour approximately three
fourths of minute to pass the car
proceeding at As miles per hour. Traf-
f1c conditions on the roads today do
not allow that length of time for
passing. Another factor in connec-
ton with governors which seriously
limits their practicability Is that the
usual governor controls engine speed.
# with this type of governor the car
should be held to maximum speed
of so miles per hour in high gear,
the car would have the ability to travel
at only 25 to 80 miles per hour max
imum in second gedr, depending on
transmission ratios, but in any case.
far too low second-speed maximum
for safe manipulation.
We believe that any such lmita-
tion would be bound to % increase
the number of accidents and CD re-
duce the maximum practical speed
limit far below the so miles per hour
limit intended by, the law.
Therefore, it is our conclusion that
the maximum speed now built into
automobiles is not excessive and, If
properly handled, it is not the cause of
accidents. We believe our solution |
lies not in the limitation OF speed |
itself, but in the education and the |
legal regulation of the driver so that !
he may always drive at safe speeds
under all operating conditions. In
other words. proper laws for the reg
ulation of speed. proper laws gov
erning who shall be entitled to drive
an automobile and the proper en-
forcement of those laws will eliminate
many of the accidents now occurring. |
The modern automobile, properly
handled, provides a maximum of safe
ty from accidents which could not be
obtained with the speeds limited by |
engineering design or mechanical at
tachments.
Other reports completed by Mr. Low
EFT in regard to bumpers, headlights,
steering mechanism and brakes will
appear in this column at a later date.
Death on the highways could be
slowed down if road and traffic Off
Gals put into effect generally those
regulations of proved value that have
already been widely adopted. The
mere lack of uniformity in traffic
regulations, says Thomas H. Mac
Donald. chief of the Bureau of Public
Roads, is the cause of many accidents.
The National Conference on Street |
and Highway Safety has prepared
model motor vehicle codes and traffic
ordinances. This work. says MacDon-
aid, was done by leaders in the various
fields. Although 80 States have
adopted the proposals in part. only
third of the States are in reasonably |
close agreement with the code.
Licensing of drivers only after thor
ough examination Is recognized by all |
traffic authorities as essential for acci-
dent prevention. Only 10 States have
the standard licensing system pro-
vided by the uniform vehicle code.
This code provides a strong central
State organization to control the issu-
ance of drivers licenses and also the
machinery for following up repeated
violations Of law and for revoking
licenses. According to Mr.. MacDon-
aid, revoking the licenses Of dangerous
drivers has been found highly effec-
tice where this policy has been put
Into effect vigorously.