THE GLARING HEADLIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 168, 15 July 1916, Page 8

THE GLARING HEADLIGHT.

HOW IT DAZZLES. The use of glaring headlights on motor cars which dazzle the drivers of approaching vehicles has been the subject of comment on various occasions. An attempt to regulate this evil was made when the Lights on Vehicles Act was passed in 1915, in Which a subsection states: "In providing such lights, care must be taken that the light exhibited eliall not be of such dazzling brilliancy that it will affect the vision of drivers of vehicles approaching from the opposite direction." This would seem to be comprehensive enough, but it ie difficult to define what is a dazzling light for the purpose of taking proceedings against an offender. The Act does not provide any etandard of brilliancy, which probably 'would be very difficult to do, as what appears dazzling to one person with weak eyes may seem all right to another blessed with stronger vision. It is also quite possible that the same applies to the vision of horses which have to meet the cars at night. Tn the United States there has been such an outcry over the use of glaring headlights in .that manufacv turers are introducing dimmers made of pyraline to clip over the outside rim of the head-lamp. This, it is stated, can be readily attached, and when removed may be folded up and put away. It is claimed that the effect of this dimmer is that it diffuses such raye as would ordinarily dazzle drivers of approaching vehiclesfrom an opposite direction, while at the same time it permits the rays of the light to be projected uninterruptedly on ■to the road at the bottom, thus serving all the purposes.required by the chauffeur. > In Timaru a new by-law provides that no headlight on any motor-car, cycle, etc., shall be so constructed as to strike the eyes of any driver at a distance of forty yards or less. What is really required is a lamp which does not reflect the raye of light upwards. It is recognised that the good head-lamps are necessary in country districts, because the roads are generally rough and unHghted. Thus it is imperative that the driver of the motor-car should have a good light to enable him to see far enough ahead to avoid difficulties, but even there it is not requisite that the rays should foe thrown upwards. The matter of dealing with the too brilliant headlight on cars has been under the consideration of the members of the Auckland Automobile Association recently. A member this morning frankly admitted that it is in some cases -nlmcst impossible to see when a dazzling headlight ia approaching. It was suggested that some of the difficulty might possibly be done away with if the lamps were canted over a little. Electric lamps should also be made of sufficient candle-power not to be too dazzling, and yet give enough light on the road for the requirements of the i driver of the car. It was explained that with some headlights it ie impossible to' I incus them so as not to throw the »lare I too far ahead. r