From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Magazine page featuring motoring queries, legal advice on accidents, and advertisements for car parts.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\5\ scan0053 | |
| Date | 6th December 1940 | |
| 580 PUBLICITY The Autocar December 6th, 1940. SOME QUERIES and REPLIES ADVICE to readers is freely given by The Autocar on all matters relating to cars and motoring. Each week a small selection of these questions and answers is published in this section, those of most general interest being chosen. A large number of other queries receive a direct reply; for which purpose readers are requested to enclose a stamped and addressed envelope at the wartime rate of 2½d.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} for inland letters. Reporting Accidents One evening recently a friend and I were driving in a line of dense traffic when the car in front stopped suddenly. We pulled up clear, but a car following ran into our rear, damaging our vehicle to the value of about £15 and his to about the same amount. Nobody was injured, and particulars were exchanged by all parties at the scene. No police constable was present, and my friend stopped at the nearest point man, who stated justifiably that he was busy and that my friend should report it next morning, which he did. Two officers (one a police constable and the other a station inspector) informed him that it must be reported to the police. A point I am anxious to establish (and one I feel sure many people are doubtful about) is whether, under the Road Traffic Act, provided the driver of each vehicle stops and exchanges particulars (and there is no personal injury), there is any legal obligation to report the matter to the police. I admit that, once a police officer has been approached, the accident must then be fully reported.—“G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} P. D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary}” Provided the driver of each vehicle involved in an accident stops and gives full particulars to any person having reasonable grounds for requiring them, there is no legal obligation to report the matter to the police. The point is dealt with in Sections 22 and 40 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930. Where damage or injury is caused to any person, vehicle, or animal, the driver must stop and give his name and address, the name and address of the owner, and the identification marks of the vehicle to any person having reasonable grounds for asking for them. If for any reason he fails to do this he must report the accident at a police station or to a police constable as soon as possible and in any case within twenty-four hours. Section 40 deals with the production of a certificate of insurance. This only applies in the case of an accident involving personal injury to another person, and states that if a driver does not show his certificate on the spot to a police constable or to some person having reasonable grounds for asking for it, he must, as soon as possible, and in any case within twenty-four hours, report the accident to the police and produce his certificate. If, however, he cannot produce his certificate when he reports the accident he may have five days in which to produce it at any police station he likes to specify. INFORMATION SOUGHT Information and advice are sought by various readers regarding the following matters:— No. 13489.—10 h.p. Vauxhall “R.{Sir Henry Royce} T. B.”—General experiences at considerable mileage (say 25,000); petrol and oil consumption figures. Details of any troubles experienced. No. 13490.—Riley Nine Monaco “G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} S.”—A handbook or any other literature in connection with the 1931 or 1932 Riley Nine Monaco saloon would be appreciated. No. 13491.—M.G. Midget “R.{Sir Henry Royce} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints}”—Back numbers of The Autocar dated August 5th, 1932, November 2nd, 1934, and April 13th, 1934, containing Road Test reports on the J2 and PA{Mr Paterson} M.G. Midgets and L-type Magna; also handbooks for these models and any information of a useful kind to a prospective purchaser. No. 13492.—3½-litre Bentley “C. W.”—Advice would be appreciated from owners of this early type as to whether, at present prices, this car may be considered as offering real value, in the full sense of the term, compared with a more modern car of other make. Running cost data and general experiences would be valuable. No. 13493 Handbooks Required “W. G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} T. C.”—1929 8 h.p. Singer saloon. “R.{Sir Henry Royce} I. W.”—1936 Morris Ten saloon. “C. G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} A.{Mr Adams}”—1936 10 h.p. Hillman. “K.{Mr Kilner} G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} B.”—1934-35 29 h.p. Railton. “E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints}”—1935 Austin Seven saloon. “K.{Mr Kilner} J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} J.{Mr Johnson W.M.}”—1934 10 h.p. Lanchester. Answers to Mental Tune-up (See page 567.) 1. Increase. 2. 4,376 (The expression used was “motor vehicles,” not private cars only. The latter numbered only 235). 3. Squadron Leader Mont Ferris, who competed in the last Monte Carlo Rally, starting from Tallinn, driving a Humber-Snipe with Lord Waleran as co-driver. 4. Franco-American Ambulance Unit. 5. Lanchester 10—the smallest by rating. Capacity 24pt. 6. As an anti-freeze, for lowering the freezing point of water. 7. Expands. 8. (a) £5, (b) £25. 9. Eliminate pining. Experiments have shown that the presence of burnt gas permits the compression ratio to be increased. 10. The Strasbourg Grand Prix of 1922. The drivers were Count Zborowski and Clive Gallop. “THE AUTOCAR” CAN BE OBTAINED ABROAD FROM THE FOLLOWING: AUSTRALIA: Gordon and Gotch, Ltd., Melbourne (Victoria), Sydney (N.S.W.), Brisbane (Queensland), Adelaide (S.A.), Perth (W.A.) and Launceston (Tasmania). NEW ZEALAND: Gordon and Gotch, Ltd., Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin. INDIA: A.{Mr Adams} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Wheeler & Co., Bombay, Allahabad and Calcutta. CANADA: Imperial News Co., Ltd., Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver; Benjamin News Co., Montreal; Gordon and Gotch, Ltd., Toronto. SOUTH AFRICA: Central News Agency, Ltd.; Wm. Dawson & Sons (S.A.) Ltd., Cape Town. UNITED STATES: The International News Co., New York. [Advertisements] Osram The bulb for black-out driving. A G.E.C. PRODUCT. Advt. of The General Electric Co. Ltd., Magnet House, Kingsway, London, W.C.2 All the Field Bar One! ...that's the Delco position to-day. Every Delco or Delco-sponsored product or service which you have had in the past is still available - with just the one exception, of course, of Philco Car Radio (which, incidentally, is now on active service). Delco: Delco-British-Made Ignition . Delco-Remy Electrical Equipment . Delco Car Accessories . Delco Electric Motors and Fans . Delco Lighting Plants . AC Fuel Pumps and Instrument Service . AC Car Accessories . Hyatt Roller Bearings . New Departure Ball Bearings . Wills's Pressure-Filled Joint Rings . Binks Spray Painting Equipment. Delco-Remy & Hyatt Ltd., London, S.W.1. T.G.S. | ||