LIGHTING CHECK TO BE MADE ON ALL VEHICLES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 25, 24 April 1950, Page 5

LIGHTING CHECK TO BE MADE ON ALL VEHICLES

Unless they want to run the risk of a possible unpleasant meeting with .traffic inspectors Whakatane motorists will be well advised to have their headlights and other lighting on their vehicles checked and corrected before May 1. From that day the Transport Department will be carrying out a check \of lighting on all vehicles throughout New Zealand and preparations are being made to cover the Whakatane district fairly extensively. At present many cars and trucks on the road have incorrectly adjusted headlights, which are always a danger to oncoming vehicles. They are definite requirements laid down.

For most vehicles two equalpowered headlamps capable of illuminating clearly objects at 150 feet, so that the centre of the main beam does not rise above the horibontal when the vehicle is on a level surface, are required in the front. At the back there should be one red tail light visible 300 feet to the rear and fitted at the rear centre or to the right. White lighting must be used to illuminate the rear number plate. The addition of a fog lamp is often useful to travellers but there has been some confusion as to when they can be used. Beside the headlamps vehicles may have a fog lamp but this must be used in a dipped position with two sidelights but with the headlamps extinguished. Fog lamps cannot be used in conjunction with the headlamps. Discussing the use of headlamps the traffic inspector, Mr M. C Bridge, has given details wnen lights should be dipped. He states that lights must be dipped when likely to interfere with the vision of another driver or rider, including a cyclist. Parking lights do not have to be used when a vehicle is parked and is clearly visible at 150 feet.

Check To Be Made Of

Whakatane Bicycles

A check on bicycle equipment at Whakatane is to be made time next month by the traffic inspector, Mr M. C. Bridge. He I. os urged all bicycle owners to check on their’ machines to see that they are fully equipped, especially during the winter months. Mr Bridge states that when a bicycle is ridden at night it should be fitted with a lamp capable of being seen from a distance of ?00 feet. There should be a red reflector on the rear mudguard which should also be painted white for about 12 inches.