A MOTORISTS' PROBLEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19144, 9 October 1925, Page 10

A MOTORISTS' PROBLEM.

"TO DIM OR NOT TO DIM." THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE. "I am told that your association encourages members not to dim, said a member of the Wanganui Automobile | Association at a meeting of the association this week. The President (Dr. Porritt): That is so. Certainly on country roads. The member then quoted experiences where dimming had been practised by service cars while private cars, presumably on the advice of the association, had passed with full lights. Mr. N. R. Bain said that in some instances it was a matter of courtesy to slow down and dim and, if need be, to stop altogether. On the whole, however, the practice of dimming was dangerous and many accidents had occurred which were directly attributable to it. He had seen a car pile up on a bank immediately the headlights had been dimmed. Mr. Bymes said that cyclist!? made it imperative that dimming should not be practised. He had only that evening seen a cyclist missed by inches by a car with dimmed headlights. 'IT. > fact that the cyclist had no light did not alter the matter much. In his opinion it was criminal to dim. Members: Hear, hear! Dr. Porritt said that he bad read of a case where a coroner had I'uled that it was essential to dim. This opinion had been expressed even though the principal witness in the particular inquiry referred to had openly stated that he would never dim his lights again. He (Dr. Porritt) considered that dimming was dangerous, and he felt that that view was shared by every motor association in the Dominion. Mr, A. S. Burgess said that the solution of the difficulty was for motorists to slow down and not look at approaching headlights. Once the approaching beam of light shone directly into the driver's eyes, he was certain to become confused. Mr. E. O'Meara said that all members should have their car headlights focussed. He had had his lights attended to under the system adopted in California which the local association had brought before members, and the results were splendid. Dr. Porritt said that very few members had availed themselves of the privilege the association had extended to them in that matter. Mr. A. Robinson said he understood that the matter of dimming had been dealt with in the proposed motor regulations. Mr, Bain: Yes, in a most absurd way. The clause says that your lights must not dazzle.