Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-07-23

close proximity to team which ~
could not see while the rays Of the
headlight were in his eyes and which
he oftentimes has difficulty In avoiding
after he Is able to clearly see. At 9TH
er times, one Of the drivers has pro-
eeeded too far to his right and during
the time he was unable to see, has run
into the ditch.
Various manufacturers have put on
the market lenses and devices intended
to do away with this glare. The Maine
Automobile Association and q COM
mittee of the automobile dealers. at
the request Of this Commission, con-
Quoted series OF experiments at some
OF which either a member Of the Com
mission or one of our stan was pres-
ent. In these experiments 1t was dem
orstrated that no matter what kind OF
lens was used or what was its color, If
sufficiently powerful lamp was
placed behind it, there would be a dan
gerous glare come from the light.
Necessarily. if a lens is made Of other
than clear glass, the rays Of light COM
ing from a reflector behind it are bent
ing from a reflector behind it are
bent or absorbed and the natural ten
dency of the operator Of machine hav-
ing such a lens is to place in his light
sufficiently powerful bulb so that he
may get a maximum of light ahead Of
his car. We haze seen no lens which
with 45-candle nitrogen-r.led pub.
does not give binding glare almost
as bad as that which comes from a
perfectly plain glass. We all know
that of the automobiles put upon the
market in the latter part Of 1916 and so
far in 1917, nearly all were equipped
with these patent lenses which con-
no plain glass. and it therefore follows
that 4.CGo or 5000 of our citizens have
now automobiles so equipped. Very
naturally. we considered what regula-
ton would be reasonable with refer
ence to these owners. We inquired of
automobile dealers and members Of the
Maine Automobile Association. We
obtained many and radically different
opinions. One group maintained that a
large number of our citizens and those
Of other states who would be with us
during the summer months desired to
drive rapidly after dark and required
a sufficient light to enable them to
clearly see far enough ahead to avoid
" otiiCi lidNCHSlS uPOh thS
highway. and their cars being equipped
with those somewhat translucent len
ses. they required high powered lights
and we ought not either require a
change in lenses or a lowering OF the
power of the lights. Another group
maintained that experiments demon
strated the fact that no dangerous
glare would come from these lenses II
low-powered lights. (say 25-candle
power), were used and that although
this would not give as much light as
the 45-candle power. 1t wuld give SUI
ficicnt for a careful man to proceed at
a moderate rate Of speed and that the
very fact OF decreasing the amount OF
light would tend to prevent these
people whom they refer to as speed
maniacs' from traversing our high.
ways at night at unreasonable speed
to the danger and annoyance Of others
lawfully occupying the highway ana
who were content to go along at q
moderate rate. In other words. It was
urged upon us that the entire solution
of the problem of headlights on auto
mobiles equipped with lenses without
plain glass was easily found in limit.
ing the candle power Of the lamps to
be lawfully used to something not In
excess of 25-candle power
There are devices which can be used
with plain glass lenses and which NAN
ufacturers and users confidently claim
take away all glare. A typical device
Of this srt is called the "Fracto." It
consists Of cup reflector attached i'm
mediately beneath the light bulb ana
yo claimed that 4hA
rays Of light reflected from the cup on
to the reflector behind the light are 20
restricted and bent that they can never
60 forth from the light at an angle
which will strike the eye Of person
riding in any sort OF vehicle. THESE
devices work as intended so long ana
only so long as the bulb is in proper
focus. Every schoolboy knows that the
angle Of incidence and the angle OF
reflection are equal and with reference
to these devices, II the light is In prop
or position. the rays will he so reflected
that they will not inconvenience the
driver Of another vehicle. On the other
hand. II the bulb Is differently ar
ranged. the rays will go forth from the
lieht at an angle which exactly strikes
the eve Of the driver Of another vehicle
and results in the dangerous and an
moving binding which We are charged
with the duty Of preventing. We DO
not feel justified in preventing the use
Of tl.ese devices. 1t will, however. be
the duty Of oneraSors using them to
carefully avoid permitting the bulbs on
their lamrs to get into such a position
that binding rays issue from their
lamps.
Probably five sixth Of the automo-
tiles now in use in this State and else
where have the plain glass lens in the
headlight. 1t is known that some small
lishts with low powered bulbs do not
produce practically binding light
and the actual glare thrown in the eyes
Of the operator of another vehicle Is
C.!ly II very short duration. Other
lights Of larger size with higher pow
cred bulbs produce glare which
strikes the eye at a distance OF lo)
feet or more and continues intense and
dangerous until the automobile has
passed the driver of the other vehicle.
This is the difficulty to be overcome.
and we have been present at numer-
Gus demonstrations and have become
Q i l.. ~, ty