Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-21
M|SHAPS TRACED
TO LIGHT FAULTS
Head Lamp Defects Blamed
for Most of Mechanically
: Caused Accidents.

: Caused Accidents.
With accident surveys indicating
that the human factor largely is re
sponsible for 80 per cent of the mis-
haps that mar the motoring expert
ence of the Nation, interest among
observers of the traffic situation is
centering in the question what fac
tor is responsible for the majority OF
the 10 per cent, laid to mechanical
failures"
Various positions are taken in dis
Cussions of the subject. In the past
some observers have maintained that
defective brakes were the chief factor
in accidents traced to equipment.
Weakened and badly designed steer
ing mechanism also has been blamed.
However, with the engineering prog
ress that is to be noted in these two
fields, search for an accident cause in
the mechanics of the automobile has
invaded new realms.
Lights Now Are Blamed.
Today, instead of brakes or steer
ing, a majority of observers are lean
a primary factor in those highway
mishaps that cannot be laid to the
human element.
The current Summer, with surveys
conducted in all parts of the country,
showing an amazing proportion or
maladjusted and inadequate head
lights, has revealed the problem of
correct driving lights as one of the
most serious confronting motordom
according to Rudolph Jose, a leader
in Washington automotive circles for
% wears Brakes and steering
mechanisms have become almost fool
proof, but headlights, regardless of
their fine design and quality, still are
dependent to a degree upon the car
owner for their measure of efficiency
he says.
THE glaring headlight is a menace
which every one who has to meet the
car so 'misequipped' is thoroughly
acquainted with. The solution of this
problem is one that is occupying the
attention of the best Illuminating engi.
neers in the country. How close to
or how far away from the ultimate
solution the engineers now are is yet
to be determined. But there can be
no question as to the personal re-
sponsibility Of the operator and owner
who drives, or permits the driving of
a car that has but one head lamp
burning.
Hazards Not Realized.
"a 'glaring' head lamp may be a
menace that the operator of the car
fails to realize because of the full
driving comfort it's bright illumination
of the highway in front of him gives
him as he speeds along the night
draped highway.
"A one-eyed car is more Or less
deliberately created menace. No per-
son Of even ordinary intelligence and
observation can truthfully say that he
did not know he was driving with
only one head lamp functioning when
this is the case. The degree of illumi-
nation on the highway in front of him,
the presence of a blind spot to one
side or the other of the road are but
two of the many indications that one
light is out.
when the car coming in the oppo-
site direction collides with one of these
careless and slovenly operated and
maintained cars after installing it
for motor cycle, the moral and Grim
inal responsibility rests solely with
the driver of the 'one-eyed' car. Tn
fortunately. the limited number of
policemen fails to permit the drastic
enforcement Of this provision of the
law which its seriousness justifies."
Another menace of frequent occur
renee on the roads. Mr.. Jose says, is
the absence or misplacing of the red
rear light. This light, he points out,
is designed to warn following cars
that there is motor vehicle on the
highway in front of them. While,
theoretically, the presence on the high
way of anything so bulky as an auto
mobile should be self-evident at all
times, the fact remains that autos and
trucks do get SO thoroughly covered
with dust that to distinguish their
outlines against the perspective back
ground of the highway is very often
extremely difficult.
Good Tail Lights Vital.
1.-THE red taillight is a necessary
precaution against rear-end COLI.
sions," declares Mr.. Jose. Its
absence constitutes a danger so plain
as to require no elaborate statement.
Unfortunately, it's very presence at
times constitutes almost as great a
danger. Viewed in perspective, the
small red disk of a tail lamp, to the
experienced driver, tells of the prob.
able distance in front of the car it
Identifies. This probable distance is
gauged upon the proper placing of the
light at a certain position on the car
carrying it-at the extreme rear, and
about on level with the rear springs
axle or fender. But when it is placed
way to the front of the middle of the
car and high up on the cab-as is
often the case with commercial
vehicles and trucks-it appears to the
driver Of the car following or overtak-
ing 1t to be much farther away than
Is really the case.
THE result of this misjudgment Of
distance on the part of the following
car causes many accidents-and al.
most invariably the driver and owner
Of the automobile bearing the mis-
placed taillight Immediately proceeds
to lodge a complaint against the per-
son who runs into the rear Of his car
When they are not severely punished
the persons really responsible for the
accident Immediately proceed to talk
ahnnf 1favoritian1' in tho admin, CT