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Show TEST OF AUTO SAFETJPICES Carry on Experiments Witji Appliances for Prevention ' of Accidents In tho hope of wiping out entirely the avoidable automobile accident, and in so doing to save at loast 10,000 lives and millions of dollars annually, and to remove from the motor vehicle the stigma "dangerous machine," the Underwriters' Laboratories, with the assistance of the national safety council, coun-cil, are now carrying on extensive experiments ex-periments with appliances for the prevention pre-vention of automobile accidents. The use of laminated glass for wlnd-shiold wlnd-shiold construction, wind-shield cleaning clean-ing appliances, the construction of steering gears, and the whole subject of head lamps and diffusers are involved involv-ed In the tests under way. While thej laboratories are conducting these tests with mechanical sources of automobile accidents and their preventions, thej national safety council, through its j local councils, is making a study ofi all traffic accidents. I In a communication to tho head-1 quarters of the national safety council at Chioaco tho Underwriters Laboratories Labora-tories says: Lowers Insurance Rates "The auocK insurance companies are, at the present time giving reductions In insurance rates for the use of listed fire extinguishers and looking devices and they have recently advised us that the use of bumpers, which have been found acceptable by us as a result of tests, will entitle the car owner to a substantial reduction in the collision Insurance rate. Further, certain other I devices which should result in a re-jduction re-jduction in collisions, will be recognized I jn the collision schedule by substantial substan-tial reduction. I. p. an automobilo traffic signal installed on an automobile automo-bile and so designed as to indicate tho intentions of the driver with respect to stopping or turning should reduce the number of collisions. "We have for several years been testing automobile traffic signals not only by actual road tests to show their suitability for use and effect upon drivers following, but also 'by durabiN Ity tests to determine whether they would last for the life of tho auto mobile on which they were installed Up to tho present time wp have tested some five or six of these traffic signals and Nhavo listed only one. The main trouble with these devices appears to be that they will not be sufficiently durable to last for the life of the automobile auto-mobile on which they are Installed. In fact, In some cases where electric traffic traf-fic signals have been employed, the construction was such as to offer a marked increase of fire hazzard to the automobile on which it was attached, due to defective wiring defective methods of installation, etc. Wo now have before us several traffic signals which apparently possess some merit, as indicated by the results thus far obtained. Jiiunlimtcd Glass for Safely "The use of laminated glass for windshield construction is a comparatively compara-tively new feature In automobile work and considerable attention is being given to this Item In tho laboratories at the present tlme It can bo readily seen that with the use of a suitable form of laminated glass injuries duo to collisions will be markedly decreased decreas-ed if the flying glass hazard is reduced re-duced to the minimum. While only one form of laminated glass has thus far been listed for this service, three of four other manufacturers have either submitted their product for examination ex-amination or have signified their intention in-tention of so doing in the near future. "Tho application of wind-shield cleaners to automobiles is of marked advantage in reducing tho possibility of accidents from collision, and this organization Is doing considerable work in 'testing such devices. "We are now arranging to make tests of steering gears wherein the gears'' will be mounted upon a stand and be operated a number of times equivalent 10 wnai womu u vau , on an automobile after five years of sevorc service Ln order to determine the possibility of accidents occurring due to defective construction. Up to the present time no steering gears have' been listed, but we expect to do considerable work along this lino in tho near future. "The subject of head lamp dimmers and diffusers has received some attention atten-tion from us and we have developed means whereby the 'glare can be do-fined do-fined In terms of apparent candle power. As you know, a number of states have legislated concerning tho uso of head lamps, but only one or two principally California and Wiscon- sin, have considered the possibility of actually ' making tests to determine scientifically the so-called 'glare' factor." 1 00 |