BRIGHT LIGHTS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21714, 22 February 1936, Page 13

BRIGHT LIGHTS

"SOURCE OF REAL DANGER" lETTER STREET LAMPS ADVOCATED Improved street lighting so as to make possible the prohibition of the use of motor-car headlights was suggested as a solution to the danger of accidents through bright headlights in built-up areas by Mr J. C; Forsyth, B.Sc, in a paper on "Street Lighting by Electricity, with Special reference; to the Importance of Road Surface." Which he read to the annual conference oi the Hew Xfcl&and Society of Civil Engineers in Wellington this week. Mr Forsyth suggested that the Main Highways Board might assist in the provision and maintenance of satisfactory street lighting, just as it now does in the construction and maintenance of the road surface. "Bright headlights on motor-vehicles have a very detrimental effect on the efficiency of a street lighting installa* tjon," said Mr Forsyth. "A satisfactory result can be attained at consider* ably cheaper cost if such lights are not allowed, but if these bright headlights are to be dispensed with, it is essential that adequate illuminations be provided by the street lighting, so as to permit good visibility at all times Without the need for headlights. The use of bright headlights also greatly increases the difficulty of manual traffic control, because of the impossibility of the control man seeing the mot* orist's signals when seated behind glaring headlights. Source of Danger "There can be no doubt that the use of bright headlights in built-up areas Is a source of real danger. It is in these areas that the possibility of.accident is most prevalent, yet the quality of the street lighting may be so poor as to make headlights a necessity i A solution of the problem Would ' appear to be in the enforced provision Of sufficiently good street lighting to render headlights Unnecessary and the prohibition of their use in streets or areas so lighted. • "The provision of this improved street lighting, particularly in most; smaller towns through which main arterial roads pass, may be a decided embarrassment to the ratepayers of Such towns. The increased traffic necessitating such improved street lighting is generally through traffic from which such towns derive little Or no revenue. The provision of better lighting may be a necessity for the town in the protection of its own inhabitants,, yet the reasons for it lie Wholly beyond the town's control. It would appear to be a matter for consideration by the Main Highways Board whether that board should not assist in the provision and maintenance of satisfactory street lighting* just as it now does in the construction and maintenance of the road surface. Essential Part of Highway . "With increasing speed and density of traffic, good street lighting is becoming almost as important in builtup areas as a good surface; it is in fact an essential part of the highway. The board contributes to the cost of providing and maintaining the surface, Should it not also accept some responsibility for the lighting where such is necessary? Such a contribution could well be made from the large funds resulting from the heavy taxation borne by the motoring public at the present time. It would provide an additional and real benefit to the motorist which he might reasonably expect from the taxes He pays."