Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-30

circle thrown by the light and a feeling
Of blindness win result, soon passing off,
however, as the eyes adjust themselves tc
the change In quality of the light. 1t Is
due to this effect on the eyes that a num-
Der OF the minor accidents occur at cor.
ners, not only to autos, but to horse We
hicles and foot passengers. When emerging
from light into what seems total darkness
as when leaving the last light Of a city
and going along the unlighted road, Ar
involuntary sensation of being lost is Elk
perienced. and even with powerful head.
lights the feeling Of blindness occurs for a
short time.
Goggles Are had.
Except when absolutely necessary, cog
giles should not be worn, nor should the
windshield be raised, when driving al
night, as the reflections from street lamps
or other sources Of light on the glass sur
faces of the goggles and shield appear as
direct lights and obscure objects on the
road, with unhappy results. "A hint in
this direction can be taken from the loco
motive engineer, who drives at night with
the cab windows down to prevent any
possibility OF reflection, the only light in
the cab. the gauge lamp, being placed d.
richly in front Of the gauge where no angu-
lar reflection is possible, Objects outside
Of the area Illuminated by the lamps are
almost invisible, so hat care should be
taken in making a turn or when passing a
road crossing. II would be well to have
a movable s~earchlight fitted, and this
should be played on road crossings in both
directions as the car approaches them, and
on the road into which the car is to turn
in order to illuminate objects not shown up
by the headlights. Otherwise the search
light can assist the headlights in il,nminat-
ing a greater vertical area and give warn
ing of dangerous objects at a distance.
Only a very reckless driver or one under
the influence of liquor would drive a car
at extreme speed at night. Not only
would he endanger the other occupants oil
the car in so doing, but all other road
users. especially those whose lights are
not as powerful as his own. TO be on the
safe side. and to accord fair treatment to
ali others on the road, a car should never
be driven at such a speed as viii neces-
state the use of goggles or a wind shield.
Courtesy on the road does not disappear
with the sun, and because one<lsas a pow
erfui car and large lamps he is not justi-
fled in causing annoyance or injury to less
fortunate users of the road. To the credit
Of the majority OF autoists, most OF the
violations Of courtesy are on the part OF
horse-drivers or other road users. a strik.
ing example being, the m~oving-van driver
who persistently occupies the crown OF the
road, thus preventing others from passing
him, or who picks out the narrowest par
OF the highway as a suitable place e
breathe his horses, The cattle driver with
his herd occupying the entire width OF tbs
road. and without any lights at all. Is an.
other offender who constitutes an elemen.
OF danger, In addition. Both OF these mus
be watched for on summer nights and II
localities where market wagons or herd,
are driven from one place to another by
light, moderate speed Is all that can bs
INDUCED In with safety. AS IN the day.
time, the same courtesy should be extended