New-York tribune., 1918-05-16
Automobihng
Fleadlighting Law, Otter
Violated by Motorists
Needs Enforcement
By c. E. T. Scharps

Although there is headlighting law
in this state which recently was amend
ed so that it leaves little excuse for
motorists not to obey its provisions,
there is apparently no other vehicle
law which is so consistently violated.
Any one who does any riding at night
will see that for himself.
Headlights that are out Of adjust
ment are particularly annoying and are
frequently found. One lamp will throw
its beams skyward and the other will
have the light bent down upon the
road or perhaps thrown straight for
ward, parallel with the highway. In
any case, the lamps do not conform to
that part of the law which limits the
height of the beam to AZ inches from
the road surface at a distance of rs
feet from the car.
Other automobilists are using head
light glasses that are, according to the
advertised claims, non-glare devices. In
actual practice they are nothing of the
sort Motorists have to learn that the
mere attaching Of so-called nonglare
glasses is not enough. There are con-
siderations of focusing and also of
the candlepower of the bulbs used in
the head-lamps, as we'll as the position
of the lamps themselves, which operate
to make the lights conform to the law
OR to violate it.
Any campaign by the police to en-
force the headlighting law ought to
meet with the approval of motorists.
They, after all. are most seriously in
convenienced and often endangered by
the other fellows neglect to have his
lamps put right. Driving against glar-
ing lamps sends many an automobilist
into the ditch and brings fatalities in
its train.
They are doing much needed re-
pair work on the Pelham Parkway, in
the neighborhood of Bronx Park. Half
the roadway is torn up for the purpose
of relaying proper pavement. Pend
ing the completion of this repair. the
other half of the road is making lots
of work for the spring makers. It's an
i'll wind that blows nobody good.
For long time, years in fact, the
bridge over the Post Road up near
the northern limits of the city has
been temporary structure, that causes
a bad twist in this much travelled high
way. The bridge is narrow, and, al
though wide enough to accommodate
two cars at time, calls for sklful
driving to manage the crossing. How
long this structure is to remain in the
temporary class and if indeed this is
not really permanent bridge is some
thing that interests thousands Of auto
mobilists who use this highway.
The production committee of the Ma
tional Automobile Chamber Of Com
merce reports thus on it's recent con-
ference with government officials on
the automobile situation:
after thorough investigation, the
committee was convinced that the gov
ernment needs we're very great, and,
conceding that these demands should
be given unquestioned priority, yolun-
teered all possible assistance and
pledged the entire resources of the in
dustry to speeding up the war pro-
gramme. keeping in mind at the same
time its accomplishment with as little
to general business as pos
sible.
Until the government needs are
more definitely known, the industry, in
addition to the manufacture of air
planes, tanks, tractors, shells, mine
anchors, helmets and other munitions,
will apply itself to helping solve the
great problem of transportation which
is directly in its line. The committee
is working in periect harmony with the