"DAZZLING LIGHTS"

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 80, 1 October 1924, Page 6

"DAZZLING LIGHTS"

A DIFFICULT PROBLEM

AUTOMOBILE UNION SUGGESTS A

SOLUTION.

The question of dazzling headlights has for a long time been exercising the minds of motorists in New Zealand, and it wa3 inevitable that the matter should be introduced at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Automobile Union to-day.

On behalf of the Wairarapa Union, Mr. L. A. Edwards moved the adoption of the following remits:— "That this union protests to the Minister against certain motorists being prosecuted for not dimming their lights. In doing so, this union considers the practice of dimming, except in very well lighted streets, should not be encouraged, for it is recongised that a very grave danger lies in such practice, owing to the human eye not being able to re-focus sufficiently quickly enough to meet the altered light." "That an endeavour be made to make it compulsory by law that all car lamps should be made to pass a test by an inspector of the local body wherein such car is registered, so as to bring the beam within 100 feet, on the lines of the Californian law."

Mr. Edwards said the dazzlinz headlight problem was one of the most difficult problems that they had had to deal with. The dimming of headlights was illegal in California, but the difficulty had been got over by an adjustment of the headlights in all cars in California Although it was moved that motorists should not be prosecuted for not dimming their lights, it was desirable that they should have some safeguard against dazzling lights catching the eye of an approaching motorist. The use of the beam apparatus, provided the law was brought into line, would solve the problem of the. dazzling light. The motion was seconded by Mr I V. Wilson (AVairarapa). Mr. C. M. Banks (Wellington) did not think that the new scheme should apply to spotlights, as it might prove very inconvenient.

The question of the spotlight would have to be included, said Mr. Edwards, in order to reach finality on the question of dazzling lights. "If all our roads were level " said Mr. A. Grayson (Auckland), "the scheme would be alright. Unfortunately, all the roads are not level, and on hills we will still have to cope with the dazzing lights."

The remits.were carried,