Page 23 - the story of motoring

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The world on wheels

The car is a killer. In 1978 6,800 people were killed on Uritain's roads. rlore
pedestrians and cyclists are killed than motorists. Even zebra crossings are not
safe - 1,000 people were killed or injured here. There are many laws and regula-
I i tions today to make motoring safer. The M.O.T. vehicle test, the- breathalyser,
speed limits, fitting of safety belts, pedestrian precincts are a few examples.
In towns and cities there are severe traffic problems. Congestion, noise, air
pollution are the worst. It sometimes seems that the car is taking over. In
Detroit, U.S.A. two thirds of the city centre is used up as space for cars. Exhaust
fumes are poisonous and can also cause smog. In Los Angeles the sunshine and still
wind caused the exhaust fumes to settle over the city, causing smog for one third
o" ';he year.

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In 1971 Apollo 15 took the first car
* to the moon. The Lunar Rover Vehicle
(LRVI had an electric motor, giving a
op speed of 10mph and climb 47% gra-
I ients. There are mechanical links
-ut instead commands are sent out elec-
tronically in pulse signals. Each pair
of wheels can be moved independently.
I he fantastic car took 10 years to de-
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,ign and cost about 50 million dollars.
Cars of the future will be more eco-
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omical if they use petrol, streamlined
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and lighter. Other fuels are being re-
searched like, electricity, gas, hydrogen
and alcohol from sugar.
Lunar Rover
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