REDUCING GLARE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 46, 24 February 1937, Page 12

REDUCING GLARE.

LIGHT REGULATIONS.

REASONS FOR A CHANGE.

TECHNXOAX. INVESTIGATIONS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day,

A careful overhaul of the principles of headlight illumination preceded the change in the regulations which come into force on March 21. It eeems highly probable, from the explanations given of the new requirements, that the serious problem of glare which causes so much inconvenience to drivers will be largely eliminated, if not entirely removed, when all motor vehicles in the Dominion have their headlights adjusted according to the new system. The present requirement, now to be superseded, is that the lieams have to be horizontal and not above a certain height. This in practice does not prevent the main beam from shining in the eyes of drivers of approaching cars. The new requirement is that the headlights shall be so adjusted that the centre of the main beam of each light must project downwards so as to meet a horizontal road surface not more than 200 ft ahead of the vehicle, while the beam of the off-side (driver's .side) lamp is to be so arranged that it will meet the centre of the beam from the other lamp not more than 200 ft ahead of the vehicle. Experiments were made by the technical committee of the National Safety Council, and some valuable suggestions submitted to it by one of its members were tried out. The result has been the change indicated. Under this system, the road surface, which is what the driver most wishes to see, will l>e well lighted by lieams which should not in practice rise high enough to dazzle any approaching driver. There will be some light in hie eyes, but the focused beam should not reach his eye-level and th° dazzle danger should thus be eliminated. Slightly swinging the right-hand beam towards the left will have the effect of producing the greatest degree of light along the path of the car. leaving the right-hand side—the path of approaching vehicles—clear of any focused beam. When cars are approaching at night, each driver will see strong lights at some distance, but when they get closer, especially to within 200 ft. the beams will be below eve-level and away from each other's tracks. When motorists submit their vehicles for the official certificate of mechanical efficiency, the headlights will need to comply with Regulation 7. and if they do not. there will l>e a direction to make the necessary change and report to the certifying officer. It is not expected that all vehicles will be able to secure certificates by the regulation date, though the Transport Department is now well forward with its arrangements for recognition of testing authorities and approved garages which may give the certificates at a cost not exceeding half a crown. !