Automobile Brakes
| Date | 01 April 1935 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X3500800206 |
| Published date | 01 April 1935 |
| Author | David Mitchell Smith |
| Subject Matter | Article |
Automobile
Brakes
THEIR
TYPES,
FAULTS,
AND
HINTS
ON
TESTING
By
POLICE-CONSTABLE
DAVID
MITCHELL
SMITH
Transport
Department,
Huddersfield
County
Borough Police.
THE
number of accidents, fatal or otherwise, directly
attributed to faulty or inefficient brakes, as far as statistics
are concerned, may be small,
but
just how far faulty brakes
may contribute towards many accidents, when suspicion
is not directly aroused by question as the capability of the
vehicle to stop, is only realized by those members of the
Motor Trade who daily find it necessary to point out to
unthinking and careless owners the immediate necessity of
having their braking systems overhauled or adjusted.
The
testing of brakes has become practically a normal
procedure after any accident, and should be carried out on
every possible occasion when the circumstances justify it.
It
is, of course, understood by all officers that the right to
test the brakes of any car which may be involved in even a
fatal accident is not conferred on the police by any statute.
If
the motorist declines to allow any test to take place, despite
the fact that this decision may lead the Court to infer that they
were not in order, the police have no right to insist on the
test taking place.
It
is very seldom, however, that amotorist
will object, if asked in a reasonable and courteous manner,
but
the constable, unless he is attached to the Transport
Department or on Mobile Patrol, should not drive the car
under any circumstance. He may have ascertained that the
insurance policy held by the owner covered him whilst so
160
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