SAFETY ON THE ROADS

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22768, 21 July 1939, Page 8

SAFETY ON THE ROADS

Headlights Through Rear-Windows SOURCE OF DANGER TO TRAFFIC "Lack of appreciation of the other fellow’s difficulties is the root cause of much unconscious discourtesy among road users, and a case in point relates to the use of headlights by following motor-vehicles," says the latest road safety message of the Automobile Association, Canterbury. "Few motorists have not experienced the nuisance of headlights glaring or flashing through the rear window on to the inside surface of the windscreen Dr into the rear-view mirror. The effect is one of great discomfort, causing confusion, and interference with the vision of the driver, and is a consequent source of very considerable danger to other road-using traffic, particularly the pedestrian and the cyclist. “Such glare through the rear window may be even worse in Its effect than headlights approaching. When troublesome deadlights are approaching, the driver may, at least, give the offender a warning by dipping his own headlights, but when the offender is at the rear warning is not so readily

given. • “It may be said that all a driver need do is lower his rear-window "blind, but such action negatives the effective use which all drivers should make of their rear-view mirrors. It is essential that drivers should know of overtaking traffic particularly if drivers intend to change direction or halt. "If a motorist wishes to cruise along at a safe and convenient distance in the wake of another motor vehicle it is just plain commonsense and courtesy to drip the headlights so that the driver ahead is not discomfited in any way. If a motorist wishes to travel with his headlights full on he should drop back so that distance, if possible, will negative the effect of the full beams so far as the driver ahead is concerned. Again, if a driver is going to overtake it is plain courtesy to swing out of the direct line of the rear window of the car in front as soon as it is safe and practicable to do so and make the manoeuvre with full headlights. On the other hand, safety and courtesy demand that if, before overtaking, some distance must be covered, at a safe distance behind the car ahead, the headlights should be dipped until the overtaking manoeuvre is embarked upon.

"The compulsory dipping of headlights has now passed into effect following the action of the Transport authorities. That necessary step has followed the long disregard by many motorists of a simple road safety act of courtesy. It is a compulsion involving courtesy to approaching cyclists as well as horse-drawn vehicle users. "Many small but prodigious precautions are not covered by act or regulation. The use of dazzling headlights in the rear of motor vehicles is one of them. Give the other fellow a fair chance to continue on his way in Jafety. JPon’t; irritate him:, donjfc jeopardise Bis safety or that of pedestrian or cyclist traffic which may call for his full attention."

PIONEER MOTOR CLUB Fixture October I—Opening run. At the annual general meeting on Tuesday evening last the opinion was expressed that the coming season would be one of the most active in the history of the club. Besides the usual club championships and sporting events, a large programme of major social and competition fixtures will be drawn, up within the next few days. The annual prize-giving of the cups and trophies won during the last season will be made at a dance, the date of which will be announced after a meeting of the committee on Thursday evening next. .>