MOTOR HEADLIGHTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 December 1923, Page 3

MOTOR HEADLIGHTS.

A HI ACT ICE CONDEMNED. V'KLI-l NGTOX, December 19. A well- know ii N\'<-1! ill Lit <in motorist, Mr George Shirti lilfe, Ims returned from ii visit to California with the* o]>i it ton iis a lcsiilt ol I■. is American experience, tioit New Zealand motonsis should do away with the- practice ol' dimming headlights on passing cars, hecmisc it is onsior to avoid accidents liV adhering very strirtly to tin' rolo ol the road. ‘Tfeie wo are supposed t„ dim mu headlight,” remarked Mr Shirtclilfe. ‘•Such a thing is tin hoard ol' in California. It would ho iiiipossihlr for motorists then- 1o ho continually diiximiiifA their headlights, hi-otiu.se t.rnOle is so douse. So strirtly is the riih' of tin- road observed ami oid'oroed i„ California that ears pass at nighttime wdli their lights full oil. even in fairly narrow roads. They <h> so practically without risk. Drivers can always see the edge of the roadway, SO that In- hoe-ring well in towards the l a .,h they know Unit they are perfectly s:i fe. 1 have come to the eouelusion that this dimming of headlights is really dangerous unless it is done by |,oth drivers tdirn two ears are approach iug one another.'’ Mr Shirtelill'e added that he had hern inclined to this opinion before he went, to California as a result of persona experience hem. He now considered t| ia t the Automobile Association m'ght .rjve consideration whether it would mu he wiser to seek strict enforcement of the rule of the mad at, nighttime rather than continue dimming headlights, except hehaps on very narrow roads, where’ there was nut, room for two ears in pass one another conveniently. ‘•Tt is no rare occurrence m C nlitoioiu,” proceeded Mr Shirtcliflc. to f»ot. into a procession ol cars ten to tilleen miles long. Tridlic is going doth ways, tv It ieh shot's how impossible it would he lor moloiixts to dim their h„j,ts. There is no danger, however, a! motorists keen strictly to their own side of the mad. Very heavy penalties are imposed on tnoso drireis who no gleet to observe the rule. -