Evening star., 1936-05-10

parade will. include delegates sent by:
clubs affinated with the A. A. A. from
q score of widely separated States. An
outstanding feature this year will be
the first national convention of patrol
members. Highway safety and the
traffic regulations which confront the
patrolmen in the regular course Of
their duties will be discussed. It Is
hoped that President Roosevelt will
send message by telephone from the
White House to the sessions which
will be held Friday evening before the
day of the parade. Preparations to
have the delegates visit the Depart
ment Of Justice criminal exhibits are
being made.
The parade will form at Sixth street
and Constitution avenue and will pro-
coed along Constitution avenue, pass
ing reviewing stand near the Wash
ington Monument Government, school
and police authorities and motor club
officials will review the procession as
it passes the stand. Here Army Off
GERS of high rank will select winners
from the crack drill teams which will
perform special maneuvers. Team
trophies and individual ribbons will
be awarded by the A. A. A. to mem
bers of winning teams.
Regarding the coming event. less
than two weeks off, Thomas P. Henry,
president of the American Automobile
Association, states:
Because I am overly enthusiastic
about the school safely patrol, 1t Is
difficult tor me to speak restrainedly
about the safety work that it has done.
From small beginning in 1921 the
organization has grown until today it
is represented by nearly a quarter
million members in $500 cities and
towns.
THAT these protectors of millions
OF school children have done an IN
spring job is acknowledged by safety
statistics, which show that the fatal
ity record of the early grammar
school-age group has decreased con-
sistently over period Of years.
In recognition Of the splendid
achievements of these patrons, A. A. A.
motor clubs have each year sponsored
the entertainment of delegates in
Washington at or near the end of the
school term We expect that there will
be some 5000 out-of-town boys and
girls in the parade this year. Certain
it is that the parade will be larger
and more colorful than that Of a
year ago. which broke all attendance
records.
Hundreds of parents are coming
with their children and the District
of Columbia Motor Club, as official
host, has planned extensive sight
seeing trips through the city.
Today the School Safety Patrol pa
rade holds a unique position on the
calendar of national events as the
largest safety demonstration by school
children in the country"
Continuing the series of the re-
ports made to the Accident Prevention
Conference here by the Automotive
Parts and Equipment Manufacturers,
Inc, through John L. Lovett, chair
man Of the Subcommittee on Contact
with the Automotive Industry, the
subject Of lights is taken up in this
column today.
In answer to the question: why,
with all the engineering skill that
the industry possesses, has no greater
progress been made in taking the
dangerous glare out of headlights?"
Mr.. Lovett's report states:
"The headlighting problem has re-
ceived the serious consideration of the
lamp and automobile manufacturer
for many years, during which substan-
tial progress has been made in the
way of laying the foundation for real
and lasting improvement.
'"Ten years ago, practically all head
lamps were of the single-beam type.
For many years prior to that time.
it had been presumed that single
beam could be SO aimed as to reveal
obstacles at safe distance ahead
without dangerous glare. The fallacy
in this assumption was obvious when
we consider few self-evident facts.
First, the driver must see obStruc-
tions at distance of several hun
dred feet ahead to drive safely at the
higher speeds. Second, the objects
which the driver must see at this
distance are almost in line with an
oncoming drivers eyes. Third, the
oncoming driver can stand only a
very small fraction Of the amount of
light needed to reveal these obstacles.
Fourth, the up-and-down aim of the
beam changes throughout a wide
range due to the fact that roads are
not level. Fifth, rear-seat loading
raises the beam as much as feet
at 300 feet ahead in the case of
the predominating short-wheelbase
cars.
1.-THE automotive industry recognized
the hopelessness in the Single-beam
practice, particularly In view of the
trend toward higher speeds, softer
springs and lower drivers eyes. The
obvious alternative was to provide at
least two beams, one aimed high
enough and of sufficient intensity to
reveal obstacles at a safe distance
ahead, regardless Of glare, for use
when no other driver Is in a position
to be affected, another aimed low
enough to really avoid glare when
meeting, the driver to be responsible
for using the proper beam at the right
time.
with very little encouragement, and
q good deal Of opposition, the automo-
tive industry. almost single-handed,
undertook the tremendous job of
changing over from the single-beam
to the multiple-beam practice. To-
day. 10 years later, approximately 80
per cent of the vehicles on the road
are equipped with multiple-beam
headlamps. The large majority of
these lamps are capable of being
maintained, adjusted and used in such
manner as to provide safe lighting
under all ordinary conditions of oper-