Milford chronicle., 1922-02-03

THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND
THE NEW LAW which regulates headlights useu Oh
automobiles the State of Delaware went INTO IOIce '
week February first and it carries penalties or
failure to observe and operator OF an auto OF
auto driven vehicle must that his lghtng equipment
meets full requirements, and to be sure InaU suc
owner or operator opportunity to test for hmse tne
ense on his or machine the Secretary OF State mas
caused cards which placed in the headlights ana
which have full instructions as to how to make tne tes
printed clearly These are for free dlstrDuuon
In view of the many increasing frequency OF accidents
resulting from binding glare of headlights on automo
es travelling at night on highways of this State II
is absolutely necessary that strict enforcement OF the ne"
law shall be made. The Delaware Safety Council DIVISION
of the National Safety Council which is composed OF the
prominent men State who banded together for
the purpose bringing about laws to control automobe
headlights has making careful study OF the stua-
ton the people, as to how to lessen the DANGER
from garing lights issued statement which was VIII
ten by one vcepresdents who an engineer and
also conversan with the whole subject The statement
boud be read carefully by every automobile owner as 1t
may costly damage suits should an accident happen
Read the instructions carefully and understand them be-
fore attempting go public highway at nght "lh
an automobile truck This is so very important that
we are devotng editorial this week to giving
the people chance get information that will save them
trouble in the same laws apply to Mary
land Pennsylvania and four other neighborng STATES
Read carefully and observe the law
For a number, of years it has been recognized that
some control be established over automo-
bile headlights The earlier acetyene gas OF oil lamps
wore inefficient though at dangerous tea-
lures but with the advent of the electric lighted lamp
fitted with scientifically designed reflector and equipped
later with a nitrogen gas-fed incandescent bulb the
lights binding that they were directly Instru-
in causing accidents Not only were tne drivers
of vehicles and pedestrians put TO ncone
ence danger but the drivers OF other motor We
hces the hands of their feow-drvers Means
for dmming the lights were lhenecCve anu W Stif
extent increased the danger the driver found hmse
practically helpless and robbed OF his sense OF drecuon
when it became necessary to ann ms own n neauls4u @ o
road Today the automobile driver is the strongest
advocate for reasonable headlight control
While the agitation against binding headnghts mas
spreading the average rate OF speed OF motor We
hces increased Higher speeds demand better roaa
lighting and this IN ltselr mas sClIaleu tne r. o
of the garing headlight The problem therefore, is one
furnishing light sufficiently bright and properly al
rected so that may his road well in advance
of his without throwing dangerous amount OF
light the of approaching vehicles and Pedestrlans
1t may added that the driver must not only see tna
portion the road where he expects to drive his car but
he able discern pedestrians at the sde OF
road in sufficient time to bring his car to stanu-st
if this becomes necessary.
speed of 80 miles per hour which is the maximum per-
mitted State highways requires 50 IT, IN Wncn 70
come to a stand-st the brakes applied 1t is
essential therefore, that sufficient illumination from Ihe
headlights should be extended to at least this distance
The course of headlight legislation in the various
decidev experimenta As effective control gradually
established state authorities felt that they could go some
further and therefore amended the law geneIaiy
1nrovng be Situation other states falling line with
those had taken action earlier preferred to adopt
of latest experience In this class Delaware
which with six other heads the list in requirements
for progressive headlight control The other states are
Maryland Pennsylvania Massachusetts, California and
Wisconsin nothing experimental however, about
the Delaware headlight requirements and in fact other
had ample opportunity to experiment with SIM
liar requirements and learn their value and practcably
The Delaware Headlight Law, the adoption of which
was brought about largely through the efforts OF the Del
Automobile Association REQUIRES lha the Deall Vi
light shall not fall higher than it. above the ground on
level road at point of rs it. or more directly in front
and to the left of the car What IS more important Is tle
provision made that the Secretary of State shall prepare
list of headlight devices and equipment which, When
properly used, will make the heaahght comply WIN Lne
provisions the law This is stipulated in order that
with the provisions Of the law will not opeT
ate hardship the or operators OF motor We
hicles Secretary of State however is only empow
cred to which have been approved by recog
nized testing laboratories capable of satisfying the
legal requirements of the State of Delaware
The recent meetings held in Wilmington by the Della
ware Safety Council which, by the way is working in
conjunction with the Secretary of States Office in the mat
ter headlight control have served to emphasize the
fact that the Secretary Of State backed by the attorney
General intends to exact reasonable enforcement OF the
headlight law and to bring about an Improvement IN our
own conditions which IN the past nave unoouDteuy Deeh
responsible for number of serious accidents An nspec
Motor Vehicles has been appointed for each OF our
three and steps have been taken to the
cooperation of the State Highway Police the Citizens
Highway Police, the Police Department Of wilmington
the Delaware Safety Council the Delaware Automobile AS
sociaon other agencies, in bringing about proper
through the medium of arrest and fine AS the
policy is to be the education of the driver first
no attempt will be made to enforce the law until Febru-
ary l. 1922 shortly after The State does not wish to
any hardship the drivers of automobiles though
expects from them obedience of the law and WILL if nee
eisv in enforcing the law during the present admnis
tration has been due difficulties encountered in test
ing headlight devices and compiling approved list
should understood that the Secretary of States office
does not headlight devices ITSELF but requires that
manufacturers shall submit certificates of approval from
recognized testing laboratory these certificates certify
ing that device in question will comply when proper
ly adjusted with the requirements of the Delaware Law
This been done to date by the Electrical Testing
Laboratories of York City whose experts have been
in constant communication with Secretary Bensons Office
There BEEN also considerable interchange OF exper
ience between and the other states that have
been engaged with similar problem so that full advan-
tage might be taken of their experience Since there is
similarity
advanced sates headlights that approved in Della
ware be expected to almost any other state re-