DIMMED HEADLIGHTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 December 1923, Page 2

DIMMED HEADLIGHTS.

THE PRACTICE CONDEMNED. RULE OF THE ROAD. A well-known Wellington motorist, Mr. Geo. Shirtcliffe, has returned from a visit to California with the opinion, as the result of his American experience, that the New Zealand motorist should do away with the practice of dimming headlights on passing cars, because it was easier to avoid accidents by adhering very strictly to the rule of the road. “Here we are supposed to dim our headlights,” remarked Mr. Shirtcliffe. “Such a thing is unheard of in California; it would be .impossible. Motorists have to be continually dimming their headlights because the traffic is so dense. So strictly is the rule of the road observed and enforced in California that cars pass at night time with lights full on even in fairly narrow roads. They do so practically without any risk. Drivers can always see the edge Of the roadway so that by keeping well in towards the kerb they know that they are perfectly safe. I have copie to th.e conclusion that this dimming of headlights is really dangerous unless it is done by both drivers when two cars are approaching one another.” Mr. Shirtcliffe added that he had been inclined to this opinion before he went to California- as a result of personal experiences here. He now considered that automobile associations might give consideration to whether it would not be wiser to seek strict enforcement of the rule of the road at night time rather than to continue the dimming of headlights, except, perhaps, on very narrow roads where there is not room for two cars to pass one another conveniently. It is no rare occurrence in California proceeded Mr. Shirtcliffe, to get into a procession of cars ten to fifteen miles long. Traffic is going both ways, which shows how impossible it would be for motorists to dim their lights. There is no danger, however, as the motorists keep strictly to their own side of the road. Very heavy penalities are imposed on those drivers who neglect to observe the rule.