The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-07
7AILLIGHTS SHOULD
GET ATTENTION, TOO
Reform in Their Management
Is Needed, Says Secre-
tary May.
STATE NAY INTERFERE
Il Lamps Are Not Placed So as
to Illumine Tags
Properly.
y, MITCHELL SAY. Secretary Of
state.

During the coming summer months II
l'eht Doe well that some or the attention
ha. h5s lately been paid TO headlights
,cre devoted 10 the subject Of tailights
Motorists complain with reason Of the
larE'rs to which they arc exposed when
..r1t''g vehicles that do not show A
IFll t.'.nd and. therefore, they ought
10 b. anxious 10 avoid giving reason for
.ompIsiu. q 4 - same character by TAX
rF cage 10 dss lamps which can be re-
asi upon not to be cxtingulshed by jolt
.rg or other causes.
Eut besides acting 49, a warning signal
me tn.llamp OF a motor car has another
junction 20 perform IN rendering Visible
ne number plate. Here there exists a
great deal of room FOR improvement A
.sw mInutes' observation after dark In
Iay thoroughfare frequented by motor
traffic Is suiicient to show that many cars
re d,ncitnt in this respect. and that
th,lF numbers cannot he made out at a
distance OF even a few feet unless II be
by the aid OF a street lamp.
Some ~ the worst offenders are cars
whose owners. while hey apparently can
not drive through a place without having
acetylene burners which. however useful
in themselves, are nuisance 20 every
one else, are yet able TO spare for their
TAIL lamps little more lighl than would
be afforded by candle.
The provision OF proper illumination
of the rear number plate is one of the
rights tina, can be legally claimed from
motorists by the public, for whose pro-
lection ii, unfortunately. stlll seems nee
M
who hss accidentally knocked down a
pedestrian or mas run into another We
L.c!e would neglect to stop to ascertain
what damage had been done, enough cases
have been reported. to say nothing OF
others that do not get into prin., to prove
that there are drivers-perhaps paid ones
who have taken out the owners car with
out bis cOnsent--who af.er an accident
are quite content to drive on and remain
unknown, II the taillight Is not sutti-
cently strong to permit the number TO be
.sad By the victim or by bystanders.
IL ~ just because an inadequate lamp
ENDS Itself to this kim OF behavior that
hose who deserve the title OF cons lderate
driver should make IL point to provide
themselves with taillights whose EN-
cheney Is above reproach. Displaying
number plates conspicuousy 10 often pre-
vented by the intervening location OF al
extra tire OF trunh OF Decbuse some ueal'
RS neglect 10 fasten the lamp and plate
bracket together owners should insist
that their cars be properly equipped In
this respect. Otherwise the State authori-
;lps may deem II necessary to exa mine
each machine In order to determine
whether the equipment complies with the
siatute.
Unfortunately. Il Is tho practice OF
some drivers % turn their lamps down as
= until arl al o. n
l'nguishng them. In this condition the
lame Is especially liable Ia be jolted out
by n sudden shock and he driver just
'Ila!s the letter OF the law by showing a
gh; behind. while entirely failing 10
satisfy the regulation which requires that
tae rear number plate he adequately H.
animated so as to be seen for at least ATTY
f,et In the direction from which the We
.lcle Is proceeding.