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Friday, May JO, 1940motors and motoringGlaring Light MenaceBy Leonard WardStillthat people arc becom-of headlamps atALTHOUGH my observation has shown me 'mg much more considerate in their use lime, more frequent use being made of the dipper” at of other traffic, it is obvious that night driving is still because far too many drivers are still lacking incourtesy, and others omit to take ordinary precautions.night the approachdangerous the elements ofordinaryIn the Inst few years head lumps have Improved enormously In their strength and power of sending a long i,r;im fnr ahead, Improvements which . (wilile a driver to maintain a. far hitfliw speed at night than he could h(.fure; init, as a complement :to that advantage, their dazzle is extremely dangerous. . • .,*Pee;iuse of that, it should .be an almost automatic reflex action on the •art of si driver to dip his headlights, as soiui as another car appears from the opposite direction. It also Is up lu hiii* to see that, both lights are properly fo«MiKsecl i»n the. ioad ahead.Willi the tinner methods of mounting tlx- lamps in iim* to-day. there Is litiIp danger of one la nip. through vibration, being eoelted slightly side-uviys. hm a slight hump on one front mr.ird may tipsev the focussing. Even though nothing Is done to the- guard, r.'ip lamp should he reset to Its former position.Then, there is the question of keeping the whole (lipping mechanism in working order, f know of one aocl-rl.-ni that occurred recently mainly l.coausc one of the drivers involved Could not dip his lights even if lie wished to. been use the switch would not work. .Sometimes the dipper goes out of action because* the low brain filaments in the actual lamps burn out. This also Is easy of rectification anti there Is little excuse for itThe Dirty WindscreenIf every driver has the moral oblU Ktition to dip his lights when another motorist approaches, in no lesserdegree Ik it up to him to keep his own car in such a condition that the dazzling effect of other headlamps will not be exaggerated. .By !thls I mean primarily that every time (he goes out at night he should see that, his windscreen is spotlessly clean. When it has . dried rain spots on. It, or a film of dirt, the dazzle from , approaching headlights becomes infinitely^ worse;- -I should not have to point that out', but It Is surprising how many mo tor r lets go out at night with their windscreens in that, condition. .Similarly, a worn windscreen wiper blade, by not wiping the glass cleanly In rain, will leave in Its path streaks of water which will have a similar effect. . . . :“Flvinir Blind”Finally, I* want to sound a note of warning n’galnst the pig-headcdness so often found in new drivers;,: ., *.If yoii are properly dazzled ’’and cannot see '.at all, for heaven's sake slow right down and,:if it makes you feel safer, pull off ■ the .'road.The .experienced* man has no hesitation, In. doing/this,, but the new driver often is fearful that his passengers' may take- that action as asign of his inexperience and so continues on his way,' flying blind, so to apeak. If you can tell me anything more dangerous,' I would- like to hear of it.. ■• In such circumstances, I am always afraid of’ the invisible cyclist and that is why I refuse, to continue, whatever others may think.
Newspaper Details
Sydney Land
Sydney, New South Wales, AU
Fri, May 10, 1940
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
GB 16 Aug 2021
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