Evening star., 1920-03-14
HEADLIGHTS
ON AUTO OPPOSED
Trade Association and Board
of Trade Striving for
Clear Law.
BY THEODORE p. MOVES.


! trict Of Columbia from the dazzling
! headlight nuisance the Washington
Automotive Trade Association and the
Board of Trade are striving to have
| legislation enacted which will make
clear to the automobile owner just
! how much light he is permitted.
! Every automobilist has undoubtedly
had the unpleasant experience of hay
ing 4 dazzling pair of headlights
| thrown into his eyes when driving
along the streets or in the SUBURBAN
districts.
The practice of using powerful head
! lights when it is not necessary to 90
so is characterized as particularly dan
gerous: dangerous not only TOT tne
one using the light, but dangerous for
the approaching car.
1t is stated by experts on traffic that
no two men drive the same. and II
| follows that no two men viii! be ar
fected the same by powerful llghts.
Consequently in throwing dazzling
lights in the face Of an oncomlng car
the driver is not at all sure just what
effect it will have on it. The driver run
ming toward the lights may either drive
too far over in the ditch or too far over
in the middle of the road. the latter
course resulting in a collision.
Increase Power Of Bulb.
1t has been found that several own
ers, in order to give sufficient light
for driving around the city, have
increased the power of the bulb in
the DINNER light. thereby making
even this light dangerous to the on
coming car.
The necessity of having sufficient
lighting for country driving is re-
allied by every motorlst, anu Statss
OF p
light laws have taken this matter
into consideration.
The law for the state of Connect,
cut is characterized as the mouei
headlight law, and steps now are pc
ing taken to have precisely the same
regulation adopted for the District
Of Columbia.
The Connecticut law governing
headlights is as follows:
Amy light thrown directly ahead
no dazzling rays or beams of rejected
light from it or from any rehector
shall at any time be more than three
and one-half feet above the ground
on a level road at distance OF sew
enty-five feet ahead Of such vehicle,
and such light shall be sufficient to
enable an operator of a motor Nehlcle
to see any person, vehicle or substan-
tial object upon the roadway or at
the side Of the road within ten feet
OF eaCn sac Oh LDe NChlSiC.
mo lamp or light prescribed in this
section shall be more than twenty
four candlepower, unless a greater
candlepower shall be permitted under
certificate issued by the commissioner.
NO spotlight shall be used when
another approaching vehicle is in
sight, except when projecting its rays
directly on the ground at distance
not exceeding thirty feet in front of
the vehicle using such light. and to
the right and center of the highway"
Connecticut Law Approved.
This law was said to have been en-
acted in Connecticut after a close
cooperation with the Society of IL
Eliminating Engineers and with sci
entists from the bureau of standards.
1t has won the approval of motorists
on account of its simplicity.
The principal points OF this regula-
tion are incorporated in the headlight
laws of Maryland, New York. Pennsyl-
vania, New jersey and Ohio.
In connection with this law, Con-
necticut has issued a comprehensive
of lights and giving minute instruc-
tions to the automobilist regarding
the proper focusing and adjustment
'In order to comply with the reg
ulations governing the use of head
lights" the circular states. every
neaQIRnC must nave. All dppFoNeu
device for the reduction of glare; an
electric bulb of the proper candle
power; a proper focal adjustment and
a proper tilt or aiming adjustment"
Instructions are set forth which
enable the automobilist to determine.
without a great deal Of effort. whether
or not he is violating the law in the
use of dazzling lights.
Motorists who do a large amount OF
night driving on crowded roads are
unanimous in the desire for proper
headlight legislation. In the majority
of cases the man with the dazzling
lights will turn them off when ap-
preaching another car, but there ap-
pear to be some drivers who totally
disregard the rights of others. and
with binding lights on full go dash
ing past. 1t is pointed out, however,
that this class of driver is in the
minority and is rapidly dying out. The
tendency of motorists is to cause as
little annoyance as possible to the on
coming car by dazzling lights.
The need of legislation definitely to
curb binding lights, in order to dc
away with the switching on and on In
driving. is held by traffic experts to be
imperative.