Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1920-06-16
RADICAL CHANGES
IN AUTO LIGHTS
NEW LAW PASSED
Motor Vehicle Commissioner
Gives Out Statement Govern
ing Regulation Headlights On
Automobiles Under Act Pass
ed BY Legislature
SERIES OR TESTS;
COOPERATION ASKED

r. Austin Baughman, Motor We
hicle Commissioner, has given out the
following statement relative 10 the re-
cent Act passed by the Legislature
governing headlights on motor driven
cars:
Surely everyone who has done any
amountof night driving in the State
during the past year or so appre-
ciates the fact that a radical change
IS necessary in the law in so far as
II applies 10 automobile headlights.
The tremendous number OF machines
which use our highways at night has
made the use OF strong and powerful
headlights seem necessary TO the ma
jorlty OF motorists.
Not Doing His Duty
lG'The average person thinks that If
ne has a sufficient amount OF light to
get along with at a moderate rate
OF speed, he is not doing his duty;
he feels that he must secure bulbs
that will make the light shine at least
half a mile down the road so that
other people can see him coming II
WAS to meet this tendency that the
headlight law was amended so as to
provid that no bulb of greater than
thirty-two 1922 candle-power could
be used.
High Candle Power Dangerous
Even with a bulb OF this size, I'M
less the headlights were bent well
forward, II was impossible to avoid
a glare when a plain lens was used.
Consequently, the last Legislature,
realizing the dangerous conditions re-
sulting from the use of high candle
power bulbs and plain lenses, made
il unlawful for any automobile TO be
psed or owned In this State on which
there was not some sort of approved
headlight lens. While this provision
willtnndoubtedly cause some incon-
venlence on the part OF motorists
now owning cars in this State by re-
curing them to secure approved
lenses, 1t will eventually secure the
results desired inasmuch as it will
compel the manufacturers of motor
vehicles to install approved lighting
devices at the various factories.
A Series OF Tests
"a series of tests shows conclus-
lively that better light for driving
purposes can be secured from certain
makes of lenses, properly adjusted,
with n bulb of medium candle-power,
without inconvenience to other users
of the road, and with greater safety
TO the driver OF the car. than will
result from the use of high candle
power bulb behind lenses improperly
adjusted or with no means OF pre-
venting glare.
N"A tabulation of accident reports
in this office shows that there has
been a decided decrease in the num-
Der OF deaths from reckless driving
and as a result of collisions in the
past year. On the contrary, the num-
Der OF deaths and accidents occurring
at night as direct result of glaring
headlights shows an increase.
Result OF Many Accidents
Many accidents resulting in in
fury. have been caused by the opera
tor of car running off the road or
striking an obstacle or person on the
road for the reason that he was
lilindedi by the lights of an approach
ing carsf The evidence invariably, in
cases of accidents happening at
night, is that the approaching car had
such bright lights that the operator
OF the car involved in the accident
was temporarily blinded.
Investigation usually discloses the
fact that the approaching car was
equipped with clear lenses.
Cooperation Asked
Il trust that the motoring public
will give this Office all possible CO.
operation in order to remedy these
conditions, and while the enforcement
OF the new headlight law may result
i'm some inconvenience due TO its dras-
tic provisions. l believe the better
ment of conditions in the near future