Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-14
BY H. CLIFFORD BRoKAW.
AutopsohiIa Tafbnieai Adviser

"Daylisf1t saving" with an extra hour
or so of light in the evening, has done
its share in eliminating automobile ac-
cidents, for the simple reason that it Is
more dangerous to drive after dark and
considerable automobile driving is being
done during the evening hours.
Night driving is almost twice as in
volved as that of the daytime because
of the absolute necessity of properly
lighting up the way ahead and indi-
eating the position of ones own car
with proper danger signals. There are
almost as many vehicles on the streets
and highways, for big trucks as we'll as
private cars ply between cities to a con-
siderable extent during the night. Be
sides. many drivers feel a little extra
speeding or avoidance of regulations in
the city are not so observant at night
by the traffic police. Instead of tight
ening up on their vigilance after the
sun has gone down they are the cause
of an extra element of danger.
Talk of Safety.
There is a great deal of talk about
safety. Towns and cities stage their
Safety week campaigns every once in
while and they serve their purpose
well But there is one important item
contributory to safety which always
should be kept in mind when travel
ing at night-the matter of lights. One
should have lamps strong enough to il
Illuminate the road ahead some 200 feet
and light up any objects that might be
in the way; lights that have spread
enough SO that people walking along
the side of the road may be easily seen
lights too, that have power enough tC
show up any defect in the pavement.
One danger, which perhaps is not sc
common, but does happen, Is letting g
car stand at night with no lights on
Some may think that lights are not
necessary then, that another automo-
bile approaching will spot the car with
their own headlights, that If the car Is
parked off to the side bit no one will
run into 1t. But it is a good principle
to turn on the parking lights when II
gets to be night, no matter where one
may be. Other drivers will take it fol
granted that the road is clear if they
see neither headlight nor taillight and
innumerable accidents have happened
because of neglect of this item. Stand
ing still or driving, ones danger signals
should be as bright as the storage bat
terry will allow.
Eliminating Glare.
But good, SUFFICIENT headllght is MOI
all that is necessary for safe, depend
able driving at night. Eliminating OBJ
jectionable glare has become problem
of national concern and is problem Of
intimate and anxious concern to the
individual when he meets one car after
another sending their headlight rays
directly into his eyes and for the in
slant binding and distracting him. II
is hard enough to drive at night with
out having, as some one said, "a pain
of glittering eyes glare at one and stab
ones optics like stilettos. About the
only thing one can do then is hold on
and trust to loving Providence" Ones
car should be equipped with lens which
will prevent such glare in the eyes OF
the driver approaching. Glare can be
prevented by focusing the lamp so as tc
throw the light down on the road in
stead Of up. Practically all lamps now
made have an adjustment for focusing
the rays so that there is really no ex-
cuse for any one having dazzling head
| lights. These adjustments are more OIL
| less accessible. Some have a piece or
| the side of the lamp by which the bull
can be turned to a desired focus. Their