NEW TRAFFIC REGULATIONS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 194, 18 July 1939, Page 2

NEW TRAFFIC REGULATIONS.

ADJUSTMENT OF HEAD-LIGHTS. The principal amendment to the motor regulations which come into operation on July 20, 1939, relates to the adjustment of head-lights, and the regulations now allow head-lights to bo adjusted so that the main beam may he adjusted higher than was the ease in the previous regulations, but so that it docs not rise ahovo a horizontal plane when tho vehicle is on a horizontal surface. It is, however, now compulsory for a motorist to “dip” the head-lights, otherwise the lights would be likely adversely to interfere with the vision of a driver or rider of any other vehicle in motion on a road. The 'driver of a motor-vehicle shall use tho lights from sidc-lainps or shall dim or dip the lights from the head-lamps when tho light from some artificial source other than the head-lamps is sufficient “to enable substantia! objects and the nature of the road surface to ho clearly visible at a distance of 150 ft directly in front of the vehicle, or when approaching an intersection for the time being under control of a police officer or traffic inspector. The regulations also provide that the person in charge of a stationary motor-vehicle shall either dim the lights from the head-lamps or shall use the lights from side-lamps instead of from head-lamps. The lights need not be displayed while the motor-vehicle is stationary on the roadway so long as the vehicle is lighted from some artificial source so that its position on the roadway is clearly visible at a distance of 150 ft. It is important to note that in cases whore a motor-vohiclo is not equipped with a dipping device, the lights shall be adjusted so that when the motor-vehicle to which it is attached is on a horizontal surface tho centre-line of tho beam of light from such lamp descends at tho rate of not less than 4 inches in 10ft measured-horizontally. In other words, vehicles without, dipping devices must be permanently dipped. r l'he new regulation which operates ns from September 1, 1939, provides that every motorvehicle drawing a trailer and every motorvehicle which with its load exceeds 7ft in width or 20ft in length shall be equipped with a lamp having an aperturo of not less than 3 square inches in area and fitted as high as is practicable at the front and near tho longitudinal centre-lino of the vehicle so as to display a light of blue colour directed forward horizontally to the vehicle and clearly visible at a distance of not less than 300 ft in' normal atmospheric, conditions : Provided that this requirement shall not apply to service-cars or service-coaches as defined by the passenger-service vehicle (constructional) regulations, 1936. Every motor-vehicle (including a trailer), which or the load of which exceeds Bft in width or extends on tho oif-side more than 4ft from tho longitudinal centre-line of tho vehicle, shall be equipped with a lamp fitted as near as is practicable to the extremity of the off-side of tho vehicle or load (whichever extends the farther to tho off-side) and in no case farther than 6 inches from such extremity, displaying in a forward direction a light substantially white in colour, clearly visible at a distanco of 300 ft in normal atmospheric conditions. If motorists are in any way in doubt as to the application of tho regulations they should consult their garage.