MOTORISTS’ OBLIGATIONS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 23 June 1928, Page 16

MOTORISTS’ OBLIGATIONS.

ADDITIONS TO EQUIPMENT. Several matters have been previously left to the motorist’s discretion or included only in certain local body bylaws became nationally compulsory in accordance with the Motor Vehicles Regulations, 1928. Motorists throughout the Dominion should attend to any alterations in lights or breaks immediately. Prosecutions for omissions will certainly be taken shortly in order to bring home the responsibilities under the regulations. Nobody is hankering to be the humble means of teaching a lesson to the hundreds who will overlook the new requirements. In the first place the small English or Continental tail lights with red glasses which appear as a. mere speck are insufficient, and a ruby glass reflector will have to be added near the right-hand mudguard. This regulation appears to be aimed at the small tail lamps • which exhibit no red light at all if a splash, c'f mud is thrown on to the glass. A glass with a diameter of about lf-inc. will be necessary if the fitting of this reflector is to be avoided. In the second place mirrors reflecting following traffic are now compulsory. Until a year ago a mirror was rarely standard equipment of cheap cars,' and many owners of cars which have been on the road two or three years have never added the accessory. It is now an offence to drive if the warning device is out of order. Sirens and bells are not .permitted on cars or commercial vehicles. The focusing of headlamps, use of spotlights and stopping power of brakes

are all subject of special restrictions, and to be on the sale side every driver should check these things for liimseh. it should he remenioered that the litting of the most elaborate anti-dazzle devices is no guarantee that the lights are legal. The onus is on the driver to ascertain that the main beam of light does not strike above 3it. 6in. from the ground at a distance of 75ft. In the absence of a testing station this seems a rather troublesome regulation, out it. is designed to reduce the dazzle hazard. Drivers should remember that, in the event of an accident at night they will be on the defensive if a test shows that tlie lamps do not comply with the resulation. Those who tinker with their cars on the road should not forget that it is an offence to allow excess of oil, grease, or petrol to flow on to the highway. Jlixhaust pipes might repay checking, as a section of the regulations prohibits the directing or the exhaust gases downward so that dust is raised from the road.