Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-01
HEADLIGHT GLARE
STILL BIG MENACE
Enforcing Laws Difficult Be-
cause of Car Faults, Baugh-
man Says.

Traffic officials are virtually help
less in the battle against glazing head
lights because illuminating engineers
themselves still are far from so.
luton Of the problem. This is the
opinion of Z. Austin Baughman,
Maryland motor vehicle commissions
er, who points out that a vast ma
jority of automobilists and safety adj
vocates are viewing the situation
from an illogical perspective.
THE effort toward clearing the
highways of this admitted menace in
wolves three distinct angles says
Commissioner Baughman.
"Glaring lights remain the menace
they are because Illuminating en-
gineers are still wrestling with a
puzzle not easy of solution, under the
system of rapid production of popular
priced cars.
THE interests which have been
studying the elimination Of headlight
glare have been working along the
lines of inspection and laboratory
tests followed by approval or rejection
of lenses.
This work done through labora-
tory tests and actual nightdriving
demonstrations have established the
fact that certain lenses, with intel
ligent focusing, can be so adjusted
that they viii not produce glare.
Other lenses have been outlawed he
cause the tests and demonstrations
show that no amount of attempted
adjustment behind them will eliminate
glare.
Some Lamps Jar Loose.
at has been found. however. that
with even this system Of outlawing
certain lenses which cannot be ad.
justed properly mechanically so as
not 10 glare. and the approval for
use on the highways Of others that
can be focused properly, the glaring
lens remains a grave menace.
This, in a measure. is due to the
fact that manufacturers in their eff
fort to market 'popular-priced' cars
are turning out vehicles Of so eco
nomical a type Of construction that
the various parts Of the lamp
assembly will lar loose continually,
due to vibration. particularly over
rough spots in the highways.
This jar and vibration, sometimes
within a few blocks or a few miles
after the light had been so focused
as to eliminate glare upsets the ad-
1ustments and again creates a glare.
THE Eastern Conference Of Motor
Vehicle Administrators, which has
been doing good work through co.
operative effort and action, some time
since determined not to approve here
after only lenses. II is required now
that the entire lamp assembly be sub
mitted for test. In fact, the entire
machinery for Illuminating the high.
ways now must stand or fall in seek
ing legal approval upon a test given
It as a single and complete unit
Too Few to Enforce Law.
"At the same time there remain on
the highways hundreds OF thousands
of cars which were registered and IL
censed prior to the adoption of the
new ruling.
while the facts outlined do not
look cheerful. especially in those
States-of which Maryland is one
where an-insufficient corps of officers
Is available for continual and inten-
sive drives against this menace, there
remains the hope that Improvement
NAV be gotten if every driver viii as
sumo hts just responsibility in this
matter
THE operator and owner should be
as careful in his inspection of his
lights as he is of the inspection of his
tires, etc. Many drivers almost in
variably take a look at their tires be-
fore starting out. In this way the
oft heard excuse, L did not know my
lights We're glazing, can be relegated
to the background in large measure.
IF a driver. after testing his lights
by looking into them himself before
starting to drive and after observing
when out on the highways whether or
not the beams are thrown high up so
as to illuminate branches Of trees and
left-hand roadside objects, still is un
certain about his proper focus. there
remains one other conimon-sense test.
when the cars approaching you
dim and fash their lights in signal to
you, YOU may know that your lights
are causing them trouble through
glare.
"One nervous driver may not be a
clear indication of this, but when car
after car approaches you in this man.
ner it is safe to assume that your
lights are menace to the other users
Of the highway, as we'll as to your
self. because a glare-blinded operator
is just as likely to drive into you as
into the ditch.
Don't kick about the other fell
lows lights until you are sure that
your own are -giaring."