DAZZLING HEADLIGHTS

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 88, 7 November 1932, Page 5

DAZZLING HEADLIGHTS

' (To the Editor) Sir, —t would like to bring to readers’ notice the danger to all road users at night caused by glaring headlights. All drivers say that this curse should be eradicated, but nothing is done! 1 think the time has arrived when the authorities should move iit the matter and co-operate in making the roads reasonably sate at night for both pedestrian and motorist. in America the police have realised that most of the cars on the road are defective in some manner —in brakes, headlights, or steering, etc. —and have established “Safety Lanes,” in different centres, where all motorists attend and have their cars examined. The result of a year’s work showed the officers that 85 per cent, of the cars and trucks on the road had de- | feclive headlights, inaccurately aligu- | cd and. improperly focussed. I fu New Zealand the various automol bile associations arrange to adjust the headlights of their members’ cars and that is a move in the right direction by the non-members, who are usually the worst offenders, go on as before with their headlights dazzling approaching drivers and causing many anxious moments. In these days of powerful headlights and of high speed on good roads, car drivers forget to “dim” or “dip,” or rather they realise that after a run with headlights on, the sudden change to “dim” causes them blindness, for about three seconds, in which time, at 15 miles, per hour, .they* travel nearly 200 feet. In that. dis,t,tince innumerable unforeseen things.? may happen, and in that, time many fatalities have occurred. If some device were fitted to headlight bulbs to cause the beam to shine straight out like that of a searchlight, Aid not up and down and sideways, as glaring headlights do, it would be unnecessary for car drivers to “dim” or “dip,” and the roads at night would he much safer for everyone.—l am, etc., SAFETY FIRST.