Evening star., 1939-11-05
NEWS OF THE MOTORING WORLD
Headlights Held Latest Safety Advance by Auto
Manufacturer Association Official

gradually evolved into q unified and
closely co-ordinated whole. automo.
bile engineers were able to turn their
attention to . new phase Of auto
motive safety. That was the driver
angle.
Many excellent cars Of older vint-
age were akward from the stand.
point Of driver seating and access to
controls. Some were definitely hard
to drive.
So adjustable seating was i'm.
proved. The location of the steering
wheel and other controls was more
carefully considered. In addition to
reducing the effort required to steer
the car, pedal pressures were re-
duced. Greater thought was given
to reducing such vibrations as might
be "telegraphed" to the drivers
nerve centers through the steering
column and the pedals, to cause him
to tire more quickly on a long drive.
All that has been done to quiet
the sound Of the machinery, reduce
noise transmitted up through the
wheels from the road and to Offset
sensible vibration is now strongly
colored with the idea of increasing
safety through contributing to tbs
comfort Of driver and passengers.
The most recent illustration In this
field Is the adoption for 1910 cars Of
a type Of safety glass having a plas-
tic filler" which imparts q definite
cushion value" to the glass. I'm.
proving visibility reduces fatigue by
relieving eye strain.
With these aspects Of automotive
safety in full view other changes
have been made which were more
than superficial. Instrument dials
were designed and illuminated for
high visibility. Gear shift levers
were brought up within reach Of the
fingers.
Interior projections that might
catch clothing or bruise knees or
knuckles, In the all-too likely event
OF a quick stop, were removed or re-
cessed.
Baggage Compartments Provided.
Outside door handles were curved
so they could not hook into clothing.
Sharp radiator ornaments were
eliminated. Even the now so COM
mon rear luggage compartment had
its safety consideration, since 1t
eliminated the need for carrying
bulk loads in treacherous racks on
the running board.
An analysis Of the entire scope Of
1910 design reveals among others,
the following safety improvements:
Better vision, lower center gravity,
more effective controls, high visibili-
ty instruments, in-built direction
signals, the safety" speedometer
showing colored lights in three diff
ferent speed sections, wider spacing
Of steering wheel spokes to give
a better view of instruments, horn
rings, instead of the conventional
push-button, headlight beam in
dicators.
Automotive Safety Foundation.
When the Automotive Safety
Foundation took over the industry's
integrated, Nationwide activity in
the field of safety, its province lay
almost wholly outside the factory
door. The basis Of its interests be-
came the standard highway program
for States, which has been endorsed,
and its application recommended
by rs national organizations.
Funds provided by the industry
for the work of the Foundation are
used to give effective support to
score Of ofiicial and private groups
whose activities fall within the scope
Of the standard program.
As good citizens and good business
men, the automobile manufacturers
saw the value of throwing the ut
most support behind the effective
and balanced programs adopted by
those charged by law with respon-
sibility for constructing and main
tanning public thoroughfares, as
well as the sound and progressive
efforts in the highway safety move
ments.
Proof that rational, balanced
highway accident prevention pro-
grams have definite, recognizable
effect, Is shown by the record. Prior
to the energized application Of
sound programs by all groups work.
ing for the safety of traffic, the
death rate was 18 for each 100000
600 miles of vehicle travel. It has
now declined to IL, making the high.
ways 33ls safer to use.