Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1936-11-27
CARS safety, safety


/ went to the New York Auto
mobile show hst week. Even
though I am not in the market
for a new car, l like to see the
changes and the progress made
from year to year.
My major impression is that
there is no such thing any more
as a poor motor ear. All of them
are good cars, better cars than any
one dreamed of when | began to
drive. That the automobile has
reached perfection, however, is far
from true. Good as the 1887 cars
are, the 1888 ones will be better,
and SO on.
One thing all the makers are
stressing is better brakes, requiring
less foot pressure. That is a move
in the direction Of safety. | don't
think there was a car IN the show
that wasn't equipped with non
shatterable safety glass and all-steel
bodies. More safety.
The campaign against highway
fatalities is bearing fruit.
SPEED control
One thing l missed at this years
show was the selling talk about
the high speeds the cars could
make. Manufacturing are soft-ped-
alling the speed idea. One car I saw
has a warning signal on the speed
Iometer. When the indicator points
to forty miles an hour the driver
is reminded hat he is approaching
a dangerous speed.
1t was not many years ago when
thirty was excessive speed. Now
SPEEDS Of so to 80 miles are not un-
common on the main paved high
ways. Speed in itself is not danger
Gus if your tires are sound, but a
blowout at 90 miles can do an aw-
full lot of damage. 1t is the combi-
nation of speed and recklessness
which is dangerous.
I don't believe much in the idea
often proposed, to put governors
on cars to keep them from going
faster than so. The most careful
driver sometimes finds himself in a
tight place, where only a sudden
acceleration to high speed can save
him from an accident.
COMFORT 80. for riders
Motoring will be more comfort
able than ever in any of the 1887
cars. Better spring suspension,
easier cushions, more leg-room both
for front seat and back seat riders,
wider seats so that three can ride
comfortably both fore and aft, ad-
Unstable front seats to suit the
length of any drivers legs, are
among the improvements I saw in
! almost all cars at the show.
All makers are stressing greater
ease of steering. Since more women
than ever are driving, the steering
gear which can be operated with
the left little finger becomes inn
portant. l noticed most of the car.
have placed the emergency brake
alongside the drivers left knee in
stead of in the middle and some
have removed the gearshift lever
from the center space also.
Such important devices for win
ter driving as improved heaters.
and especially devices to KEEP
windshields clear of snow and frost
seem to be gaining favor.
TRAILERS all styles
This years show presented for
the frs Time a great variety OF
trailers, costing from a few hun
dred dollars to several thousands
We seem to be reverting to the no
madic habits of our ancestors, or at
least to the pioneer exploring in
stincts of the early Americans.
I've never tried living in a trailer
but the idea appeals to me as a way
of freeing ones self from the re.
strictions of a fixed abode. If you
don't like the climate where you
are, roll on until you find a CHM
ate that suits you. And dodge the
tax collector.