1931-01-21 — Page 2

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DAZZLE HEADLIGHT

WAR.

DANGER OF NIGHT-DRIVING

[BY A LONDON CORRESPONDENT.]

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1931.

MOTOR

Many motoring problems have been dealt with, by Britain's new Morrison making the use of some Road Traffic Act, including the form of anti-dazzle devies compuls menace of careless and dangerous Bory. Dolay, I suppose, is due to driving, but curiously enough one the fact that it is considered that of the most vital problems of all this would impose a rather heavy the hosts of financial burden on hats, so far, heen ignored.

I refer to the dazzle-light dan-owners of cars not equipped with ges, and danger is a mild word to such devices.

use.

Dazzle headlights are the source of a great number of accidents. Matters have not greatly improved this winter, even though the major ity of new cars are equipped with some form of anti-dazzle device.

Night driving to many inexperi. enced drivers is a nightmare, especi ally when a journey has to he made on a main road against a heavy stream of traffic. Even drivers of long experience liave confessed to

ne that they have never become used to driving against a blaze of approaching headlights.

It seems curious, therefore, that an Act designed to bring our motor- ing laws up to date and aimed chiefly at making the ronds safer neglects the dazzle peril.

But it must not be assumed that nothing is going to be done in the matter, Actually Mr. Herbert Mor- rison, the Minister of Transport, under the Act is empowered to make regulations regarding the safe construction of motor vehicles. Our new traffic dictator has a perfect right to issue regulations saying what type of lamps may be used on cars, and also to enforce the use of anti-dazzle devices.

Unenviablo Task,

In all probability, when other of the many complications of the Act have been cleared up, the dazzle difficulty will receive serious atten. tion, I do not envy. Mr. Morrison his task,

Tabre is no motoring question 80 controversial as that of the best] method of doing away with this night driving menace.

In any case, it is to be hoped that the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Transport (July 1929) will not be followed too The commission recom- closely.

ended as follows:-

All cars carrying headlights should be fitted with apparatus for dipping them, thus prevent ing them from dazzling on-coming drivers while still giving a certain view in front, or else for swivel- ling them to the left, ie, towards the near side of the road,” This suggests that the methode outlined above are the best methods of eliminating the trouble, whereas there are other methods which, in my opinion, are equally satisfactory and even better."

Another point to be considered is that many British motorists now take their cars abroad, especially in the winter, for foreign toura, In most foreign countries, where the rule is drive on the right side of the road," lamps that swivel to the left would be uncless. ·

In France and other European countries the rule is that all cars must be equipped with anti-dazzle lamps.

When one ear approaches another the drivers must ni once use the device. Further, the lampe when dimmed must give a sufficient driv ing light-a minimum length of beam being stipulated.

On the Continent the most popu. lar system is that of the double filament bulb.

:

SPEED OF THE

MOTOR-COACH.

NEW LIMIT WITH NEW

YEAR...

There seems still to be some con- fusion of mind regarding the new speed limit of thirty miles an hour for motor-conches, which came into force with the New Year. Hitherto motor-coaches has been subject to the same law as other vehicles. There was a speed limit of twenty miles an hour, which was diare. garded by them, ns by other vehicles, and they paid the penalty as often but probably no oftener.

That is now changed. The private car has now no speed limit, but the motor-conch has a new limit of

thirty miles an hour. It has, we all know, been accustomed to go much faster than this in the past, and its time tables have been frankly based on the expectation that it would go faster. What is it going to do in the future?

We think that motor-coach pro- prietors must once and for all got out of their bends the idea that the new restricted speed limit is going to be a dead fetter like the old general one. That-old limit became more and more difficult to enforce as the years took its further and further away from the conditions under which it was established. But the new limit for motor-conches was discussed and laid down ne part of the law of the land in 1930. It may be right or it may e wrong it may ultimately require reconsideration; but no one is going to be allowed to treat it as though it were obsolete in 1931.

Employers to Blame?

It remains to be seen what effect this will have on the development of that network of motor-coach routes which has been spreading alf over the country during the last ten years. Undoubtedly some, of the services will be obliged to become appreciably less expeditious than they have been, and will be so much less able to compete with the rail-. way companies. A maximum speed į This gives a long and penetrating of thirty miles an hour meahs on driving beam. On the pressing of a long journeys a decidedly lower button this beam is converted to a broad beam that gives a good light skilful the driver the more closely average speed. No doubt the more on either side of the road a reason-his average speed for the whole able driving light ahead, and it journey will be approximate to bir also is of such a height as to avoid maximum speed during any part of dazzling approaching drivers.

A Good Device.

At the present time the situation is complicated by the fact that any cars have anti-dazzle devices aud still more have not.

Before the introduction of these devices on a large scale, the motor ing associations advised all drivers, except in special circumstances, such as on very narrow roads, to I have recently carried out experi keep their headlights on when ments with this system, and, in my dazzled by hn approaching car in view, it is one of the best anti- preference to dimming. It was dazzle devices yet introduced. Argued, and rightly, that any driver is especially good in fog. who suddenly switched off his head. It is for this reason that I con- lights and relied on his side lights sider that. any attempt to limit was blinded for a short, hut danger anti-dazzle devices to dipping and Some drivers, however, complain! swivelling would be short-sighted. that they are blinded in any case if the other fellow keeps on his headlights.

ous space of time.

it.

But, as every motorist knows, the most skilful driver in the world must slow up through towns and It should go cautiously through villages, round corners, over cross- roads and so forth, and that the

་

effect on his average rate is bound to be considerable. It is clear that

the times which some of the mater- coach companies have promised their patrons in the past will not When be possible in the future.

There are also numerous other anti-dazzle lamps on the market that are. officient, and it would be

a motor-coach driver is summoned unfair to the inventora and the for speeding the time-table will cer The tainly be called in evidence to show users if they were barred. principles most in vogue in England whether bis offence was a private are the dipping and swivelling recklessness or was committed in accordance with a system set up by headlamps.

his employers,

Of the two I prefer the plain dipping headlight.

This is true in some respects. But of the two methods, that is, if the two cars approaching each other have no anti-dazzle device other than the use of side lamps, I prefer the keeping-the-headlight-on method. If you do not look at the approach. ing lighta, but keep your eyes fixed

It illuminates most of the road pick up any object ahead, such as in some swivelling devices you have on your side of the road, you can immediately ahead of you, whereas cyclists and slow-moving carts. all the light concentrated on one

In any case, the safest thing to

side of the road. Another method do if you cannot see is to stop!

But what is happening frequently is to switch off the off-side lamp and swivel the light of the hear-side now is that a car, equipped with lamp on to the road edge. dipping headlights or some other device of this nature, approaches a ear that has no such device,

The driver of the anti-dazzle car, as soon as he sees the other car approaching, dips or swivels his headlights, The other driver would like to return the, compliment, but is not in a position to do so..

He remembers the advice given to him by the motoring sasociations and keeps on his headlights. The other follow becomes angry, and retaliates by switching his lights full on.

This practice takes away half the value of the modern anté-dazzło de- -VICES,

Any driver who retaliates in this manner is doing a foolish action.

He is losing the advantage of his anti-dazzle devico, for-such devices. not only help the other fellow, bat, As a rule, the driver of the car, 60 equipopd., Ch

•

This system in my view is not so satisfactory. The off-side lamp, which is a guide to on-coming traf fic, should never be switched off. Even swivelling lamps are not infal lible in cortait circumstances.

If a driver is dazzled and the off- side headlamp of the approaching ear is switched off an accident is. often inevitable.

FORD DE LUXE MODELS:

A NEW TRUCK FINDS A

READY MARKET.

The first part of last year BAW two new developments in the busi- ness of the Ford Motor Company, both of which had their share, în Increasing the company's business One of these was the introduction of de luxe models designed to ap peal to those who desire appoint

On the whole, however, we do not think that the travelling public will

who have not at one time or an- grumble at this curtailment of its convenience. There are few peopis other been terrified by the spectacle of a gigantic motor coach hurtling at 50 miles. an hour along roads which certainly were not construct- ed for that sort of traffic...

Perhaps the change will hasten the day, when we shall have reads that are constructed for that sort" of traffic. Wo must beware of sun- posing that the new Traffic Act has solved the problem for all eternity. It is really no more than a transi- tion measc and the experience wo shall gain from its working ought to lead to something much botter.

FOR MOTORS ONLY.

TRAFFIC BOARD'S SCHEME FOR OXFORD-STREET.

A recommendation that horse traffic should not be allowed in Oxford Street, the main highway through the West End, has been made to the Minister of Transport by the London Advisory Board.

New Swivel Light, Take the now swivel type of anti- dazzle light. This throws a good light on the road edge, enabling the mente, and refinements, unusual in driver to keep his direction. Even the low-priced fold. The Ford A wonderful mechanical "horse" if the approaching car has its head-line now includes a sedan, coupe, with which the LM.S. Railway lights full on it is better to use the and phaeton in the de luxe class, Company hopes cyentually to equip swivel lights!

If all drivers who have osrs fitted all of which have the standard, all its 30,000 horse vane, had its

Model A chassis.

successful trial run" in London rest month

with modern anti-glare lamps would

last for

of theivers who have got this advan. tage, road manners at night would improve 100 per cent., and the presont nightly display of ill-humour would vanish.

The question of legislation is a difficult one.

In fact, the only solution seems to be the issue of regulations by Mr.

the abge flavalgomenta wse the introduction of a now truck chasis with four-speed transmission, deed of the new ng napred! rear wheels, and an optional wheel pushing the horse out of its place base of either 131 or 157 inches. in modern city and town trafic, This new truck has no extended the that in regard to Oxford Street has usefulness of the Ford that within come about as the result of the com- the first half of last year, it found prehensive scheme drawn up by the. its way into many fields in which London Traffic Advisory Board and

the Ministry of Transport. it had not previously been a factor:

NOTES.

L.M.S. the difficulty would be greatly reduced.

The "horse" is a three-wheeler low-loader tractor of two types, With one the front wheels of the standard horadcart are removed and replaced by legs while the van is being loaded. Later the "horse" is attached to the ordinary turn table of the cart.

When developed it will result inmittee that the light system would Camden Town goods depot of the nil the traffic of the West End of be a failure if slow-moving horse: London being controlled by auto-vehicles were allowed to remain, matic light signals,

called for a complete ban, with the provision of signs in all streets con- The Blow Horse.

verging on Oxford Street, warning horse drivers, not to enter that Westminster,

Marylebone and thoroughfare. Holbom councils have approved the idea in principle. Only a question of costs stops the first experimental section, from St. Giles-circus to the Marble, Arch, being undertaken.

Scotland Yard and other experts convinced the traffic advisory com-

Agents:

wheels of the van clear of the ground on to the tractor,

Both "horads" are fitted with engine of only 7 h.p. This is cap- able of taking three-ton loads on existing horse lorries at a speed of 18 miles per hour on the level, and restarting from a stop on a ono in eight gradient.

Its manœuvre-ability in congested goods yards is quicker and greater than with live horses. It is claimed that one mechanical horses will do the work of two animala at the cost of one animal and a quarter.

The company intend gradually to displace the horse and use instead the mechanical ** horse." About 30,000 railway horse-vans are affect-- ed. Horse drivers, it is understood, will be trained to drive the new power units as they are brought into

Enter, the Robot Horse. Railway horse vehicles have always been a problem in solving With the other the front wheels any system of speeding up traffic, remain attached, and when the With the change over to the horse is backed to it a hydrau- mechanical horse demonstrated atlie jack raises the front frame and use,

W. B. LOXLEY & Co.,

YORK BUILDING.

Telephone: 22285.

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