CAR LIGHTS CHECKED

Chronicle (Levin), 4 June 1947, Page 4

CAR LIGHTS CHECKED

Inspectors Conduct Purge In Levin Putting into effect a warning issued last week that a check would b,e made of mctor vehicle headlights, the Gqvernment vehicle inspector, Mr. K. Wylie, assi&ted by Traffic Inspectors Davies and Kehoe, last night carried out a purge of traffic passing through . Oxford Street. A graduated white board was exec.ted ih' the Levin Primary Sehool grounds and cars w^eh4i appeared to -he offending v^lL^ direeted into the grounds by» an inspector on the xoad. • Altogether some 20 cars and one motor-cycle were tested and "tickets" issued to offenders. A small majority had their lights adjusted to the very maximum height, and they were retjuested, in the interests of other road users, to lower them slightly. Many of the vehichles stopped 'were long distance through traffic returning from holiday tours, and many of the drivers had not taken into conside.ration the effect on the headlights of the heavy load the vehicle was carrying". Motorists were required to have their lights correctly -adjusted at all times, said the inspector, when replying to the, explanations by these drivers, that their lights were focussed to regulation before loaded for the journey. It was the endeavour of the Transport Department that lights be adjusted slightly lower than. a parallel beam, and in the interests of other road users the regulations would have to be complied with. From experience the department had found that badly adjusted lights were a big contribution to roaU aeeidents. This was the first test in this district,, a.nd it was part of a Dominion-wide campaign against offenders. Many more checks will be made from time to time. The numbers , of all vehicles checked and found to be offending were taken, together with the particulars of adjustments • required. Besides being charged as traffic offenders, the numbers of the vehicles concerned will be cireulated to other "districts and the vehicles will be' watched to see if the adjustments are made.