Evening star., 1942-06-17
DC. Heads Ban
Full Auto Lights
In Test Tonight
OverruIe Van Duzer;
Young Orders Masks
Or Dimmed Lenses

An eleventh-hour mixup over
the type of lights motorists are
to use during tonight's blackout
test was cleared up promptly to-
day when the Commissioners
overruled a statement issued last
night by Traffic Director william
A. Van Duzer advising drivers
not to use coWl or fender lights,
but to display full lights" if they
drive during the test.
Civilian Defense Co-ordinator
John Russell Young. after a hur-
r1ed conference with the other Com
missioners and Col. Lemuel Bolles,
civilian defense director. announced
that the official blackout order, call
ing for the use of masked, screened
or dimmed' lights, still stands.
Voicing surprise over the instruc-
tlons issued by the traffic director,
Mr.. Young decided to make no
change in the formal blackout order.
He said he had been advised by
Corporation Counsel Richmond B.
Keech that Mr.. Van Duzer did not
have the authority to adopt traffic
regulations. That is up to the Com
miSsioners, he said.
Buses May Have Full Lights.
Mr.. Van Duzer had advised mo-
torists to use the depressed" or
city-driving headlights instead of
coWl or fender lights.
Mr.. Van DuZer conferred with Col.
Bolles during the day and said the
situation had been Strengthened out,
but declined to elaborate
To clear up any possible con-
fusion, Co-ordinator Young issued
this statement:
The Commissioners order stated:
During the practice blackout pc
riod headlights on vehicles will be
masked or dimmed; driving with
full headlights or at speed in
excess of Is miles an hour is pro-
hibited'
"Co-operation of the people of our
area in carrying out provisions Of
this order Is very important. There
have been interpretations of the
Commissioners orders which ap-
parently have led to some public
confusion. This confusion must be
ended. Vehicles must have lights
dimmed or masked if they are
drive on the streets after 10 o'clock
tonight The blackout continues
all night.
Need for Care Stressed.
with street lights out and We
hicles moving with dimmed or
masked lights. 1t is absolutely neces-
sary that every one, young and old,
pedestrian and driver. be extremely
careful. AS has been pointed out
this splendid cooperation and
carefuln SIS of our people has given
Washington one of the best black
out safety records in the country
I'VE want to keep that record in
tact"
Civilian defense officials said
streetcarS and buses would be per-
mitted to operate with normal head
lights during the test. but must
keep within the 15-mile-per-hour
speed limit which applies to all
vehicles. Buses and streetcars will
be halted during the afraid alarm
period, which will be held some
time after the blackout begins at
10 pm.
Street Lights to Go Off.
The blackout, in which for the
first time street lights will be shut
off for its duration. will be the most
complete so far attempted in this
area.
During the first Is minutes of the
afraid alarm, which will come
at some time during the period and
will last for not less than half an
hour, they added there will be a
total blackout with the exception
Of the new War Department Build
ing now under construction in Ar
lington County.
Government buildings. railroads
and post Offices have indicated they
will cooperate completely during
the afraid test and will make
every effort to continue their ac-
tivity with the smallest amount Of
Hght curing the remainder OF the
blackout.
Prosecutions Forecast.
Tonight's test will be given added
significance by ar ouncement of
the Commissioners that willful vio-
lations will be followed Immediately
by strict prosecution. A statement
to this effect was included for the
first time in the blackout order Is
sued by the city heads.
The order instructed wardens to
report violations to the nearest
(See RLACKOUT. Page A-6)