Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-26

some thoroughfares than on others Is
due only to the greater volume OF
traffic on some streets than on others.
Warm weather, with its greater night
driving. has served to accentuate the
situation.
AS q result, there is held TO be
overabundant proof that the irreg
ular automobile lamp is shooting its
shafts of peril night after night
Motorists may be heard lamentinG
the widespread evil continuously. but
it is always the headlights Of the
other fellow that are wrong, and thus
offenders in this respect continue to
be unaware of the potential danger
Of which they often are the unin
territorial source.
Many Unconscious Of Defects.
What measures may be taken tc
control a condition of this serious
ness may vary in the minds Of those
who have observed the menacina
glare that adds to the completely OF
increasing traffic problems. The
swelling protest leaves little doubt
that the majority of residents OF the
National Capital see the need for
forceful and immediate remedial
measures.
The means of disposing Of such
a definitely Objectionable and hazard
GUS condition is held to be in the
hands Of two parties to the situation
car owners themselves and the police
If the former acted as a group, each
motorist checking his own lights OF
seeing to 1t that they are adjusted
by some one competent to perform
that task, action by the latter would
Ioo ho ~
course, that there is a large mum
Der of motorists who use cars with
decidedly Unlicensed headlights and
are wholly unconscious of the danger
Ignorant of his offense, this type OF
car owner continues to add to the
discontinue and insecurity of his fel
low users Of the city's streets. Here
experience indicates, Is where a wore
from a policeman, IL no other warn
ing aWakens a response, may be
productive of the necessary action or
the part of the unthinking motorist
| Many will respond to warning OF
| this sort. but there always will be
| found a number of car users who are
unwilling to act upon anything sc
| passive as a warning. In those in
stances more decisive action is de-
| clared necessary and, here again, the
Police Department must be depended
upon to bring about the improve
ment by moving promptly when the
warning Is allowed to go unheeded
Immediate arrest and the imposition
! of an adequate fine Is held to be the
remedy for Indifference to this vital
regulation.
| Law Is Two Years Old.
Nearly two years ago an amend
ment to the traffic regulations. which
| made it obligatory for motorists to
carry properly adjusted lighting equip
ment, became effective. This pro.
vision OF the regulations reads as fol
| lows:
ION and after August /. 1925. every
motor vehicle, whether new or used
when sold, traded or unchanged. must
| be examined and necessary equipment
added or adjustments made to insure
| the lighting equipment complies with
| these regulations, provided the We
| hicle Is to be operated during the
hours when lights are required"
This regulation was intended To
eliminate the glaring headlight evil
| 1t did on occasions, but the present
tide of protest indicates they have
been rather infrequent and the great
or part of the time that portion of the
traffic code which makes 1t possible
to bring about an Improvement in the
use of automobile lights is ignored by
a great many motorists and seemingly
forgotten by the police.
From time to time warnings have
been issued but they have been
needed only for a while and then the
matter completely passed out of mind
There are many motorists, it Is found
! who believe that their lights need nc
adjustment. They think that because
the lamps have not been. knocked