Evening star., 1942-10-13
Auto Inspection
Rules Modified.
ByD.C. Heads
War Shortages Cause
Changes, but None
Will Lessen Sofety

On recommendation OF Tramc
Director William A. Van Duzer, the
Commissioners today eliminated q
dozen technical requirements for
approval of motor vehicles In the
annual compulsory inspection OF cars
and trucks.
The traffic director said some OF
the changes we're suggested because
of war caused shortage of materials
or parts, but that no modification
would adversely affect safety meas
ures. The changes were indorsed by
the Engineers Department Traf1lc
Committee, including Assistant En-
gineer Commissioner Joseph D.
Arthur, jr., Highway Director H. c.
Whitehurst and Mr.. Van Duzer.
One of the changes provides that
vehicles no longer will be required to
have speedometer. Under the
ruling, the station supervisor will be
required to keep a record of each
vehicle operating with defective"
speedometer and to report this to
the inspection Office.
Unavailable to Civilians.
A spokesman for the Department
of Vehicles and Traffic said that, be-
cause of the war, speedometers were
no longer manufactured for private
use and that 1t had become difficult
to get old instruments repaired. He
insisted, however, that safety would
not be adversely affected because
the national 35-mile-an-hour speed
limit had eliminated virtually all
fast driving"
The Commissioners recently re-
jected a petition by the Keystone
Automobile Club for suspension of
annual car inspection for the dura-
ton OF the war. The club contended
that the move would save gas, rub
Der, time and money and that in
spection was not, in fact, essential.
The city heads agreed with Mr.. Van
Duzer, that because of the war con-
ditions the annual inspections really
were more necessary than hereto
fore.
Traffic officials say the present
changes In technical standards have
nothing to do with that discussion,
but rather are practical accept
ance of wartime conditions as to
parts, repairs and the like.
Another change clears up an
earlier discussion as to whether car
owners could or should donate rub
Der floor mats to the salvage pro-
gram. The new rule states that
any vehicle may be approved If 1t
has a floor covering "in good con-
dition, of suitable and non-absorb-
ent material" and that a CONNER
cial vehicle need not have any fioor
covering if the floor boards fit
tightly.
Rubber covering and chromium
trim no longer will be required on
running boards "if the running
boards are not broken or rusted to
such an extent that they become a
hazard"
Rear Lights Cut to Two.
Whereas two rear lights and stop
lights have been required in the
past, only one each now will be re-
quired, Commercial vehicles now
need but one reflector instead of
two.
Only one windshield wiper will
be required instead of two, provided
it is on the operators side.
Other changes are:
Approval will be given a vehicle
when all doors can be fastened and
controlled, either with an inside or
an outside door handle.
The intensity of headlights. at a
minimum, is reduced from. 1000 to
5000 beam candlepower, but regula-
tions concerning aim or focus of
the lights remain the same. On
cials said it was possible to reduce
the candlepower requirement be-
cause of the 35-mile speed limit.
Commercial vehicles may be ap-
proved without having "directional
signals"
Passenger cars equipped with 'the
conventional eye-beam front axle
assembly, may be approved with or
without shock absorbers, but cars
carrying any type of independent
suspension" will be required to have
them
AS to checking on gas and oil
leaks, the requirement is mads
sitter. The Commissioners are
ordering all inspectors to make
closer inspections" to eliminate
such leaks.