Evening star., 1936-09-12
BvJames Nevin Miller.

u out whether you are a good,
bad or Indifferent operator OF an
automobile. And, incidentally, you
will help the A. A. A. in its new
Nationwide campaign to reveal what
hitherto unknown factors (related to
earelessness, indifference or faulty
mental or physical condition. cause
accidents on the highways.
Starting from its washington head
quarters. this organization has just
inaugurated what probably is the
most unusual series of tests in all
automobile history. Some Is in
genious machines and electrical
gadgets have been developed for test
ing the fitness of Mr.. and Mrs. Aver
age Automobile Driver. This appara-
tus is now touring the country IN a
specially built trailer towed by
standard make automobile that carries
q research crew of five men working
under the direction of Earl Allgaier,
nationally known scientist of Iowa
State College.
Both car and trailer are painted
white and carry the standard A. A. A.
emblems so they may easily be rec
egnized. Due to the compact man
ner in which the machines must be
packed. it is impossible to give any
of the test on the road. Accordingly,
arrangements are being made with
hotels and department stores through
out the country to donate space and
time in this drive to learn the why's
end whereforeS of outstanding traffic
casualties.
A typical working Set-up of the
equipment is something like this: In
the lobby of leading hotel or the
main floor of a large department
store in a metropolitan area, large
space, approximately so by 25 feet is
yoped off. Down the center of this
Enclosure is a line of tables. The ma
chimes are arranged in definite
order, facing the tables, with an at
tendant taking charge Of each.
The travelling crew of five has now
been augmented by 10 more trained
men, drafted from the local automo-
bile club affiliated with the A. A. A,
for it takes Is men to stage a COM
plete test program. incidentally, 1t
Is repeated in its entirety at what
evers point the travelling motorist
tester" is scheduled for a stop-over.
Assuming that you yourself take
the tests, exactly what happens?
Time required is about an hour. First
person you meet is the registrar OF
the Motorists University" He hands
you a printed slip on which the re-
suits of the IS tests are to be tabu-
lated. Then you start down the line
on one side of the tables. Usually, the
several eye examinations are given
hrst, then your ability to judge dis
tance is tested next your blood pres
sure. reaction time, excitability and
30 on down the complete list.
u IGHT after each test is made, an
attendant figures out your mark.
Several written examinations come
at the conclusion of the machine tests,
the entire results are examined care
fully and Allgaier, slender, serious
visaged young scientist of about %,
informs you whether you made A, B,
c, D or whether you should never be
allowed to drive car.
Although the "drivometer" examina-
ton (Which consumes 2l2 or more
minutes. the exact time depending
on the subjects ability to operate an
eutomobile) is given last, it is by
far the most interesting of all the
tests, and perhaps the most impor-
tant Instantly it is able to detect
q combination of defects revealed
while the driver is manipulating the
numerous controls very much as he
would when operating a car under
actual road conditions.
The motorist whose reactions are
10 be tested sits in a conventional
drivers seat, complete with gearshift,
brake, clutch and other standard con-
trols. He is virtually driving car, q"
though it is but six inches long and
runs on revolving track. The &C
celerator speeds up or slows down the
revolving track-the steering wheel
keeps the tiny car on the road
the brakes stop the track whereas
to the driver It seems as If the car
really starts and stops.
During this test the revolving high
way goes up and down hill, negoti-
stes turns, passes over railroad tracks
stop lights fash on and off-direc-
fions are given the driyer--in short, q
drive on the open road is perfectly
simulated.
Photo-electric cells keep track of
the periods when the car is on the
night hand side Of the road; stop
watches check the elasped time
tdriyer is supposed TO complete the
test in as short a time as possible
with minimum Of Mistakes and
other electric gadgets register his
ability or inability to observe signals
and directions.
Experts make the "trip" in $50
seconds and are allowed one mistake
or error Of observation" as it is
called The rank and file of drivers
require 200 seconds to complete the
journey and make two errors. Slower
time and more errors than this in
dicate poor, careless or even dan
eerouS driver.
The emergency signal test shows
In split seconds exactly how long it
takes you TO react in a sudden emer-
gency on this highway You are
asked to respond to three separate
signals: the flashing Of red and a
green light, and the sounding of a
buz2er In front of you on desk is
panel with three ordinary type
telegraph keys. A box a foot and a
half square, equipped with the red
and green lights, buzzer and a dial
On its front side, contains the mech
snisn1 that operates the signals and
registers your reaction time.
HE attendant starts the machine,
and at unexpected intervals the
nghts fash and the buzzer sounds.
Main idea is TO stop them at the
earliest possible moment by pressing