Smyrna Times

AUTO TESTING BY STATE RIGID

Motorists at Points Where Inspections Have Been Held, Make Several Trips

IN SMYRNA AUG. 7 TO 12

The fifth annual inspection of autos in Delaware has started and at every point where a "Safety Lane" has been held long lines of cars have been in constant process of entering and leaving the so-called "Safety Lane". The inspection of cars in Smyrna will take place during the week from Aug. 7 to 12, inclusive. Just where this will be has not been announced. Down at Dover last week the inspection took place on the south side of the new legislative building. About 75 per cent of those inspected on the first day were forced to leave the lane without the coveted sticker showing the car to be O. K. Other days were just as bad, and waiting motorists became impatient and even indignant at the slow process, especially when they were subjected to rigid tests and were obliged to go back and forth to a garage several times before their auto could pass inspection and received the sticker. Most of the trouble at Dover seemed to be with the headlights and brake system. Some lights were pitched too high and some too low according to the apparatus used by the state officials. Garage mechanics where the cars were taken for adjustment were handicapped in adjusting lights, since the only system they had to use was the old chart used in years past, which proved only a matter of guess work. Some car owners made several trips to the "lane" before their lights were passed, each time being forced to wait in line for hours to take their turn for the next test. The brake testing apparatus was also a stumbling block for a large percentage of cars. There was a wide variation in the condition of the brakes on most cars. In some instances after the driver of the car had failed to cause the apparatus to show a good test, another driver would take the wheel and show the brakes to be good. Some garage men became disgusted when Model T Fords were ordered to get one or the other rear wheel brake tightened when as a matter of fact these brakes operate on a drum inside the transmission. In some parts of the state it was reported that these cars passed inspection more often than brand new cars.