MOTORING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 16 August 1924, Page 10

MOTORING

DIMMING

A DANGEROUS COURTESY In a very interesting article, “The Menace of flic Dimmed Headlights,” widen sippet red in the January issue of "Mcior Lin.' it. is slated that- data g.ulicml cv the U.S. .Bureau of ,Standards ••staK'i.diod the fact that 75.2 nor cent of I eadj'iglits on privately-owned cars were cut ot focus. The matter is receiving considerable attention by the various States. For example, the California motor vehicle law requires sufficient light, to render clearly discernible a person or vehicle 200 ft. ahead ; it provides for arrest for improperly focussed lights, and also makes it unlawful for any dealer to sell an anti-dazzle device unless approved and accompanied by a complete description and instructions for use, including' photographs of the device and a beam chart pattern. The article points, out that .lights which are excessively dimmed are the cause iff more accidents than glaring headlights, and concludes with the following advice: ‘'Dimming is a mistaken idea of courtesy. Don't dim; adjust your headlights.”

‘SLOW EYES

CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS

Through almost criminal negligence we permit the piloting of high-powered automobiles lnroiigh our crowded'streets bv persons who in some instances art three-fourths blind , and partially deaf (writes Dr. \V. R. Needles in the Montreal Star).

Of course, nof all jicciclents in which the driver declares “j did not see him.” are due to eye defects. But investigation has shown that an amazing number of them are.

I But. you ask, would such a person ne rash enough to drive an automobile? The fact is the semi-blind often do not know that their vision is below normal. Some of them are born with poor sight and have never even suspected that they do not see the same as others. A cause of accidents seldom recognised lies in ihe weakness of eye muscles resulting in slow eye movements. Some individual;, can turn their eyes to the right inoie easily Limn to the left. Others turn to the left more easily than to the right. Some have difficulty in turning upward, others downward, and some have trouble with all eye movements. Not only are eyes with weak muscles iess efficient, but they frequently cause great discomfort and even contribute to impaired health. They sometimes induce dizziness. frontal and temporad headaches and occasionally give rise to dicestive trouble and disturbance of tiro nervous system with far-reaching effects. There arc many cases of defective eyes for which there is no aid and which are positively dangerous to an automobile driver. A number of States require all drivers to procure special licenses after physical and mental examination. ! Even the most superficial examination of those who apply for drivers’ licenses I reveals hundreds of eases among the applicants who are totally unsafe to conduct a motor-car through city traffic, j A person whose eyes reveal any imperfection is permanently unsafe to drive an automobile, and when lie does so: is a menace to pedestrians, other drivers, 'and himself. Periodic renewal of drivers ’licenses after re-examination is, therefore necessary, especially for truck arid cab drivers. | A chauffeur in Providence. K. 1., who had three serious collisions in a short, , period, was found to have only onefourth vision and acknowledged what lie called a mild ease of wood alcohol , poisoning some time before. It is obvious, therefore, that, a, system of licensing only those drivers who can meet certain minimum requirements, cannot fail to bring about a very great reduction in motor accidents. Many States have such a method in operation, and others are contemplating passing similar laws in the near future.