The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-04-25
Bv VINCENT F. CALLAHAN

GuC TOdus
The headlight laws viii likewise
be strictly enforced, although
motorists will be given until August
1 to make necessary changes in
their equipment. Director Of Traf-
fic EIdridge says that police will
look out especially for glaring head
lights and will arrest in every
instance.
New Rules for Brakes.
The new code defines certain
standards for brakes, among them:
Every car must have two sets
of brakes, each able to meet the
following requirements:
Foot brakes-On q dry, hard,
level road the foot brakes shall be
capable of stopping the car going
at a speed Of twenty miles per
hour within a distance of fifty feet.
Hand or emergency brakes-On a
| dry. hard, level road these brakes
shall be capable Of stopping the
| car going at a speed of twenty
miles an hour within g. distance of
seventy-five feet.
The regulations provide that
/ trucks of one and one-Quarter tors
or less shall have brakes meeting
the same requirements as those on
automobiles. For those exceeding
one and one-Quarter tons, the
brakes must be capable Of stopping
the machine within forty feet
while going at fifteen miles an
hour.
To Train Police.
Director Eldridge plans to select
from ten to twenty policemen and
give them a course in brake testing
officials of the Bureau Of Standards
acting as teachers.
After these men become thor
oughly acquainted with brakes,
they will be put on the street."
Eldridge says They will roam
around the city, picking out motor
lists at random in most instances
and make tests Of brakes. To en-
able accurate testing, these police
men will carry instruments for
the purpose.
These men win have the au-
thority to stop any motorist to
make these tests.
Brake testing will not be con-
fined to this squad. Every other
policeman will be on the lookout,
particularly the crossing men at
| intersections. II they see motorists
making unsuccessful efforts to stop
behind the white lines at inter
sections, they win investigate the
brakes on the motorists car"
Director Eldridge also says 1t Is
likely that police Investigating acct
dents will make brake tests OF the
automobiles involved.
Headlight Rules
Briefly, the headlight regulation
provides:
Each automobile shall have two
lamps Of approximately twenty-One
candle power. The lights shall be
powerful enough to enable motor
list to see a substantial object (such
as a man, woman or child or
IautomobiIe) 200 feet ahead.
No red or green light shall be
visible from the front Of an auto
mobile.
The rear light shall be red and
strong enough to be seen 800 feet
lin the rear Of the car. A white
light shall illuminate the license
tag so that it can be read 90 feet
in the rear.
Parking lights are permitted and
should be placed on the left slde
of the car with a white light show
ing from the front and a red light
from the rear. The rear shah be
visible for 500 feet.
Lights Shall Not Dazzle.
Headlights shall not project q
dazzling or glazing light. Dim
lights are not allowed, however, I'M
less the car is being run on
well lighted street.
Headlights will comply with tne
provision covering glazing lights II
none Of the main bright portion OF
the headlamp beams rise parallel
to the level road upon which the
loaded vehicle stands and in no case
higher than AZ inches IS feet ahead
of the automobile.
On and after August 1 next, al
headlights must be examined 10y
the police and necessary equipmen1
must be added or adjustments made
to insure the light regulations are
complied with.
After August 1, no automobile
will be licensed or registered which
does not have proper headlights.
A list of approved headlight de
vices may be consulted in the OF
flee of the director of traffic in the
District building.
No headlights which are unlawful
shall be sold in the District after
August /.
Spotlights are only allowed or
streets not lighted.
Director Eldridge declares thu
light regulations will be enforced.
Until August /, we will carry OF
a campaign Of education" he said
1--WE will give motorists until this