The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST” FRIDAY, JULY 21, 1939. To Dip Or Not To Dip

Northern Advocate, 21 July 1939, Page 4

The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST”

FRIDAY, JULY 21, 1939. To Dip Or Not To Dip

Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper

THE controversy on the subject of clipping of headlights is of long standing among motorists, many contending that it involves greater dangers than those it seeks to eliminate. For the present, however, the argument has been resolved beyond contention by the Road Safety Council, which has decreed that, as from yesterday, lights must be dipped as a matter ot law when cars are passing each other at night.

The dipping of headlights is quite distinct from the dimming of them, which used to be a common' practice before it was prohibited. Dipping is a comparatively recent development and the modern car has a dipping switch which m most cases’operates simply and efficiently. Those whose cars are not fitted with these devices are now under obligation to have them altered to comply with the law. They will then be able to throw one headlight beam to the side of the road while passing another car, the other being extinguished in the meantime.

Dipping is probably the best solution to the problem under present conditions, but no one could honestly contend that it is the final answer. Eventually some anti-dazzle headlights will be evolved, which by special rays will .light the road adequately, without blinding on-coming traffic. Considerable success has already been achieved on these lines, the cost of installation being the main difficulty.

Compulsory dipping brings with it certain disadvantages and dangers. Driving on wet bitumen roads on thick winter nights is always difficult and demands the utmost care and prudence. It is still more difficult, however, when only one headlight is in action, and that shining on the road only a few feet in front of the car. The worst difficulties will now fall on those driving against a stream of oncoming traffic. They will have to have their lights dipped practically all the time.

The new regulation, however, will be an excellent thing if it prevents motorists with brilliant headlights from using them deliberately to dazzle other drivers. There are many motorists who in the past have made no attempt to observe these tenets of road courtesy which require that lights be dipped except in abnormal circumstances. The non-dippers will now be breakm o the law. It is not going to be easy to catch and punish them, except by systematically keeping watch, and then pursuing the offenders; but certainly there will be applause from the large body of thoughtful and considerate drivers whenever such people are brought to book.