DIMMING MOTOR LIGHTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17223, 14 December 1923, Page 6

DIMMING MOTOR LIGHTS.

PRACTICE CONDEMNED. At last night's meeting of the Canterbury Automobile Association a letter was received from Mr Leonard Bonnington in which the writer stated that be was much interested in an article which had appeared in the Press regarding the English views referring to “ Motor-car head lamps.” The w’riter said he felt that he was only voicing the opinion of many members of the Canterbury Automobile Association who would like the committee to make a definite pronouncement regarding the question \of dimming lights on country roads. „ Many members were of the same opinion as the writer that to dim on dark nights was only s -eking danger. The dazzle from lamps of approaching cars was easily avoided by keeping one’s eyes direct ahead on the road. A friend of his who had ju«t returned from Australia told him that the practice of dimming was being discontinued and he trusted it would not be long before the association took the matter up, with the result that it would be a general practice not to dim except in well lighted city areas. In a postscript the writer added: “The fiendish abomination called the spotlight should be made absolutely illegal as regard its use on any thoroughfare.” Mr F. W. Johnston said he agreed with what the writer said. At thfe same time the man with excessive dazzling headlights should be “ shot or dawn.” Mr R. Macartney remarked that as a country driver he was quite in sympathy with the writer’s remarks: There were a hundred and fifty objects into which a driver could run when he had his lights dimmed. If a driver did not look at approaching lights but straight ahead he would be all right. A resolution along these lines was carried on the motion of Mr Johnston.