Evening star., 1930-04-06
SPEED LIGHT HIT
BY VISION EXPERT
Proposed Daytona Beach
Plan Declared Dangerous
for Drivers.

The proposed string of lights outlin-
ing the speed course at Daytona Beach,
Fla, would more than likely result in
q fatal accident, and in any event
defeat its purpoSe-that OF aiding the
drivers vision-according to DR.. Edwin
H. Silver, chairman of the motor vision
commission of the American Optometric
Association.
DR.. Silver, who is a recognized author
ity on motor vision. says that the only
safe measure Tor this type of speed test
would be to use contrasting color line
on the beach, which the driver could
follow by means of sight mounted on
the cowl of the car And in addition
to this DR.. Silver proposes that the
driver wear goggles, a sort OF binders,
that would permit him to see only what
was directly ahead of him, and so re-
duce all chance for fatigue that comes
from overemphasis of sideward vision.
Barrel" Vision Is Best.
He further states that a person with
barrel vision. one who can only see
objects directly in front of him, would
make the ideal speed tester. from a
visual standpoint. Though this very
type would not be granted an automo-
bile license to drive on q public high
way, DR.. Silver points out that there
would be none better for driving on a
Straight-aWay course where no energy
would be lost in visualizing objects on
either side. Racing on a track is an
entirely different matter, and requires
Sideward vision, but there the speed Is
not nearly so great.
THE use of string of lights as an
aid to the driver in keeping on his
course would have quite the opposite
effect" DR.. Silver said. THE lights
would necessarily have to be hung from
poles on the beach side of the course
This would mean that the drivers side
ward vision would be kept active all the
ton directly ahead. visual emphasis
would be on the bright lights at the
side.
From the physiological standpoint
this would mean that the macular, OF
part of the eye which controls the CEN
ter of vision, would have to share q
large portion of its nourishment with
the peripheral,. or part which handles
the Sideward vision. The eye only gets
q limited supply of blood, and if the
macular is not properly nourished the
object Is not sharply defined. The
natural result of this situation is q
fatigue that is likely to prove fatal
where every ounce of energy is needed
to Offset the strain when travelling at
Sucn a tremendous rate OF speed.
Shadows Produce Fatigue.
"In addition to this there is that
other very essential factor that would
produce fatigue-the change from light
to shadow caused by the spacing of the
lights. A concrete example of this car
be made by recalling the tremendous
irritability that resulted from the ole
type incandescent lamp in which the
current hickered on and Off
Though the speed of the automobile
going from 200 to 300 miles per hour
would make the lights seem like one
continuous streak, yet there would be
a make and break coming from the side
The natural reaction is to turn the head
toward motion, and with the head
turned at an angle there would be a
very dangerous tendency to turn the
body slightly, which would turn the car
up the beach into the soft sand, and
perhaps one of the poles. Vision is the
most essential element in speed test
ing, but it must be limited to objects
directly ahead of the car to insure
safety and the greatest possible speed"
The amount Of wages paid by the
auto industry annually exceeds the total