TRIAL BLACK-OUT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 107, 1 November 1941, Page 11

TRIAL BLACK-OUT

LIGHTS ON CARS

ADVICE TO DRIVERS

CARE AND LOW SPEED

There is some misunderstanding as to what are the duties of motorists during1 the black-out trial on the night of Sunday, November 9, that is, a week from tomorrow. One misconception is that motorists are precluded from using their cars during the black-out halfhour. This is not correct, but if cars are driven, extreme care must be taken. Speeds must be kept Aery low.

There is no rule of law forbidding motorists to drive during an emergency period, said the Automobile Association today. What the regulations provide is that during emergency or blackout lights may be displayed from any external lamps with which a vehicle is lawfully equipped on the following conditions:—

(a) The power of the lamp must not exceed 7 watts (i.e., parking lights)., (b) The aperture through which the light is emitted must be covered with paper or other material equivalent in density to that of two sheets

of ordinary newspaper.

Observance of this regulation, the association pointed out, means that the lights of cars and other vehicles will be so reduced that they will be merely pilot lights, and that motorists will not obtain any beam which will help them to pick up objects on the road. Therefore, driving under emergency blackout condition will be really dangerous, and the advice given is that motorists shall not make use of their cars except in the case of downright necessity.

The regulations do not set out any limit of speed during black-out periods, and those who talk about a limit of 20 m.p.h. are in error. The practical limit will be extremely low.

PEDESTRIANS, TOO

No matter what may be the urgency, extreme care must still be exercised, and not only does this apply to drivers; it applies also to pedestrians, who will find that the footpath is the only safe place in the city or suburbs. The association repeated the slogan advice: "When out at night wear something white."

The obscuring of car lights by two thicknesses of newspaper applies to tail-lights as well as to lights showing forward. The regulation specifically says "all external lamps." No lights whatever may be left on in parked cars. Ambulance, fire, police, and military vehicles are granted certain exemptions under the regulations, and these are the only vehicles which may be allowed to display lights of higher power than 7-watt parking lights covered with double newspaper.