New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-04


gestlons for car owners.
Let your light shine before men,
Is a precept alike of the Good Book
and most state automobile laws. but
both precepts presume that you will
not try to let all your light shine in
one spot; in fact, the state laws pre-.
scribe a penalty for doing it. A
shining light properly controlled may
inspire others to good works, but II
1t shines so that it blinds them it is
apt to produce the contrary result.
IN spite of the law requiring non.
glare lenses, one sees many cars on
the road which blind the approaching
driver as we'll as pedestrians. Some
times the roads are dark and rough
but the driver should realize that a
glaring headlight not only endangers
himself but others. 1t cndangers
himself because the driver of a car
approaching is helpless and in his
effort to keep on the road may very
easily crowd the other fellow into the
ditch or drive headon into him. Self
preservation, therefore, requires strict
heed as to how ones lights shine, if
the penalty of the law does not.
The law requires suitable lenses to
keep the beam of light below the eyes
Of the driver and pedestrian. The
exact height varies in different states,
but it is not far from forty-ewo inches
from the roadway The lens is sup
posed to throw the light downward to
the roadway and also to each side, so
that the entire roadway is illuminated
There are quite number of lenses
which are supposed to do this, and
each bears the approval of state Of
fcials. But very large percentage
of the cars seen on the road to-day
are not equipped with non-glare de-
vices.
Approved Lens Required
Near my Office is busy block, where
many cars are parked. Looking them
over, found about one-half dozen out
of fifty cars properly equipped, and
while | was looking as many more cars
passed and about the same proportion
was equipped. Of course, some of
those cars may have used lamps of
such low candlepower that they
would not be Il menace, but the law
requires an approved lens regardless
of the candlepower of the lamp.
An approved lens alone is not, how
ever, a sufficient safeguard. They are
all right if the lamp is set according
to directions which come with the
lens. The lens properly set will
throw light to the reflector at such
an angle that the rays will be reflect
ed to the lenses in q proper way and
there be refractcd SO that they illu-
mine the roadway properly, but a
slight change in the focus of the
lamp may throw the light rays up
ward instead of downward, or throw
would be binding to any one who
came within its range. The purpose
of the lens is to bend the rays to the
proper direction, but it can only be
done when the focus of the lamp is
accurate.
From this it is apparent that car
might be equipped with the proper
lens and yet be dangerous, since the
intent is to dffuse light so that, while
the roadway is properly illumined, the
rays of light do not strike the eyes
of a driver or pedestrian approaching
and blind them.
Practically all lamps manufactured
now have an adjustment for focus
cuse for any one having glary head
lights. The adjustments are more or
less accessible; some have a thumb
piece on the side of the lamp by which
it can be turned to any desired focus.
With others the lens must be removed
to make the adjustment. But l am
afraid that there are not many drivers
who know how to make, or who care
enough about it to pay any attention to,
the adjustments.
Police Could Help
For this reason l would suggest that
the authorities take cognizance of this
fact and compel all drivers to have
their lamps properly adjusted, so that
the nonglare lens actually prevents a
glare. This is quite task, it is true,
and it might not be bad idea if the
traffic policemen in cities were in
structed how. to adjust the lamps, then
when they come across a glaring head
light they could stop the car and show
the driver how to overcome the glare,
and then report the number and if a
second violation occurs the offender
should be sent to a magistrate Prob
ably most night collisions are due to
headlights which blind one of the driv-
ers.
TO turn off one headlight to over
come a glare is decided evil. An
other driver may think because there is
one light that it is motorcycle, which
has the headlight directly in front,
and he would be unable to judge the
distance required to pass a car which
had one headlight, particularly if this
was on the off side.
This is not a light matter, notwith-
standing it deals with lights, but it is
really one of the most serious things
with which the driver and the public
are concerned. Particularly is this
true in the suburbs, where no atten-
ton seems to be paid to the law and
pedestrians must frequently halt be-
cause OF the intense glare, or run the
risk of stumbling.
upon this feature as we'll. Sometimes
they are bent, either from collision or
because some one has tried to push the
car around by pressing against the
headlights. The light may be properly
equipped and focused but if the brack.
cts are bent so that the light raw is
projected higher, it may be a source of
danger Brackets are made much more
rigid than formerly, but it is a good
idea to examine them and make sure
that they are not causing one to break
the law unconsciously.
How to Test Lamps
1t is possible for any driver to test
his lamps to see if they are properly
focused and comply with the law. In
asmuch as state laws differ he Should
first become familiar with the provi-
sions. then place the car on the level
facing a wall or building to determine
II the light shines in accordance with
me laws requirements. testing at fifty