DAZZLING HEADLAMPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19328, 15 May 1926, Page 10 (Supplement)

DAZZLING HEADLAMPS.

A'DVANTAGES OF ADJUSTMENT OMISSIONS IN AUCKLAND, The by-law requiring motorists to ad just their headlights to prevent dazzle, is ignored in Auckland. There was a little enthusiasm last year when the regulation camo into force, but after a few score of drivers had conscientiously tested their lamps, interest waned. Both the thieftraffic inspector and the A.A.A. endeavoured to encourage drivers to visit, the testing site. In consequence of this apathy there arc hundreds of cars in Auckland with dazzling headlights. This has resulted in continuation of tho bad practice of dimming. If headlights are correctly adjusted so that tho beam does not reach the eye level of approaching drivers, dimming is unnecessary. With, many cars, / dimmed lights are such a contrast to tho full illumination that the driver can sec nothing ahead for several seconds. He has to steer by instinct. Probably many motorists do not believe that their lights are dazzling. Because I their lamps are fitted with some form oE ' patent lens, they assume that dazzle is impossible. So-called "anti-dazzle 1 devices are legion. Most ol them reduce dazzle. Some are merely useless "gadgets" made to sell. A very few are really effective. 'I With a. view to reducing the dazzle evil, action is being, taken against motorists in Christchurch. In the first case taken as a warning. ;tho offender was called upon to pay costs. Accidents are often attributable to glaring headlights and as often to insufficient illumination. A driver who makes the necessary headlight adjustments removes the irritation he is causing other motorists, and provides' himself with a better road illumination, which enables him to pass the glaring lights of others without difficulty. Effecting Adjustments. Correct headlights should illuminate the road for at least 200 ft. ahead, throw r« light on the sides of the road close to the car, and cast a beam which will reveal pedestrians. Adjustments of headlamps mean: (1) Focussing tho lamps; (2) Aiming the beams. ''Focussing the lamps" is the simple operation of moving the J lamp bulb a little ahead or back. "Aiming the beams" is the directing or tilting of the headlamps. Both adjustments are desirable whether the lens is of the plain or "anti-dazzle" variety. The Auckland by-law requires that the main beam of reflected light should not be more than 3ft. Sin. above the ground at 75ft. Focussing the lamps, is I best done: at about 25ft. from a light-col-oured wall. Tho procedure is simple. Cover one headlamp. Now move the bulb in the other hack and forth and notice the changing light patterns, on the wall. The object is y to get a light pattern as shallow as possible in the up-and-down direction, with the top edge of the pattern sharpiy outlined. The brightest part <of the pattern should bo as near the top of-the beam as possible, because this is the part of the beam which lights the road far ahead. '•'Aiming the beams" is, of course, best accomplished at the regulation distance of 75ft. Allowance must' be made for varia iion of the beam height when the car is fully loaded. Vertical lines should be drawn on the wall tho same distance apart as the centres of the lamps. These will reveal whether the lamps are canted too much to ope side. A rough test for the angle of the / lamps is to view them from about 100 ft. ahead. The top edge of the beam should strike about knee level. THE OFF-SIDE KULE. Some controversy exists concerning the respective merits of the " off-side rule," and the " near-side rule." Tho " offI side rule," obtains in France and America where the rule of the road keeps trafficto the right hand side. It is argued that the rule'for precedence at crossings should accordingly be reversed if applied in countries where the rulo of the road is To keep to the left. The. Automobile Association of Great Britain lias considered both aspects and has rejected'the "near-side" principle and recommended that tho rule should lie the same us the maritime regulation for ships crossing. In general, the " off-side rule" would automatically./ give precedence to main road traffic, while the "near-side rule" won Id give the right of way to vehicles turning out of side streets. Consider a motor-car leaving Newmarket bound for Onehunga. As the driver approaches all street intersections on his •side of the road, they are on his left band, and he would bo on the right hand of every car coming out of these side streets. " Hie "off-side rule" would require all the .cars in the side streets to ... give way to the one on the main road, • because it would always be on the right or " off-side." ■Assume that the " near-side rule " applied. Then the driver on the mail] road ■ would have?' to give precedence to every vehicle he encountered at the side street. Tho fact remains that either rule eliminates confusion and would certainly reduce indecision at crossings where .two roads of equal importance intersect. REAR-VIEW MIRRORS. .The by-law/requiring motor vehicles to carry rear-view mirrors in Auckland should "be-enforced.- Every day vehicles without this equipment can be seen in the city streets. Others have mirrors attached so 'that they are almost useless. Motorcyclists are the worst offenders. Reflectors are' absolutely essential for closed , cars or for any car with all-weather / equipment which is frequently used.