Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-30

to all other road users at night, and 1t
should be remembered that in case OF ac-
cident it will go harder with the autoist
at night han if the trouble occurred by
daylight.
Lights Are Scare.
Traffic on our roads Isl Unfortunately
noticeable in the main by the absence of
lights of any description. Though nearly
all states specify that all vehicles shall
carry lights, the laws are honored more
in the breach than in the observance. Most
OF the mishaps on the road at night are
rear-end collisions, or as a result OF en-
deavoring to avoid such collisions. When
horse traffic carries any lights, they con-
slst of either a pair of OIL dash-lamps or a
lantern slung under the r~unning-gear, and
none of these lights can be seen for any
considerable distance. So whenever a faint
light is seen ahead the autoist should drive
cautiously until the nature of the object
bearing the light and it's direction of travel,
If 1t has any, is ascertained. In the ma
jority Of cases the object win be a vehicle,
although road repairs are often marked by
a white lantern instead OF q red one. AS
the autoist becomes experienced in driving
at night he will soon be able to distinguish
the characteristics OF the different forms Of
traffic; a ~largeTdark blotch signifying a
wagon, small whitish spots In the near dis
lance the faces of pedestrians, and a dan
cling 'will-o-the-wisp' effect a cyclist, the
intermittent flashes being due to the refleo-
ton Of the headlight on the plated parts of
the machine. 1t is of course easy to know
the direction Of travel of a vehicle when red
rights are seen on 1t, as it is then moving
ip the same direction as the autoist. The
absence OF any light does not necessarily
Indicate the fact that no vehicle is present,
and this should be borne well In mind at
all times.
For properly Illuminating the road and
objects surrounding it the lamp equipment
should consist Of one or two headlights. a
Npair of side lamps, a tail lamp and a swiv-
elllng searchllght, although the latter is
not absolutely necessary in some cases.
The headlights should be carried low down
and well forward, not only 10 better illu-
inmate the road. but to cease to dazzle
other road users. The tail lamp should be
placed out Of the path OF the exhaust so
that the light will not be mysteriously ex-
tinguished and the fact called to the auto
lists attention by the police, as is usually
the case. An electric tail lamp with a
small bulb wired i'm series Herewith so
that the e~xtinguishing of this bulb will in
dictate that the tail lamp is also extin-
guished is far better than the use Of an
oil light.
When not INDUCED in to too great an ex-
tent. driving by night Is beneficial in a
number of ways. After the days work IL
clears the mind and fills the lungs with
fresh air. The rapid passage Of the car
gives rise to a sense of buoyanoy and the
reaction therefrom causes a feeling OF
d%rowsiness which makes 1he autoist sleep
like the proverbial top. Especially is this
the case with nervous persons or those
whose occupation keeps them indoors for
the greater part Of the day. Driving at
night should be INDUCED In in the warmer
months Of The year. as In the winter driv-
ing In an open car 10 far from pleasant and
may subject the riders to neuralgia or