Frankly I was disappointed with the demonstration. A fair amount
of ingenuity had evidently been expended both on anti-dazzle devices and upon signalling arrangements, but with the former it would seem impossible to stop dazzle sufficiently and yet provide a safe driving light ; while with the latter the most general drawbacks are, in my opinion, the lack of automaticity, inability to give indication sufficiently in advance both in front and behind, and shedding a light into the driver's eyes which, if not dangerous, is at any rate incon- venient. One or two types of signaller are however pro- gressive and go a fair way to meet essential requirements. As to the anti-dazzle schemes, it would seem that we must here put up with a compromise, and that the mechanical alteration of the direction of the beams of light either with mechanical or pneumatic control offers the best solution at the present time. Inany case without some form of regulation and standardization it is unlikely that the troubles of road travellers will be appre- ciably minimized on these two scores. The Ministry of Transport is considering whether, in the interest of public safety, it may be desirable to lay down that such devices, if used, should give results complying with certain specific re- quirements. This is a step in the right direction, and if the demonstration merely served the purpose of stimulating interest in these safety devices and emphasizing the need of a system to be adopted by all it will have proved of definite use. Instances of spot-light traffic officers were shown. It may be recalled that in a demonstration last year the B.A.C. showed the advantages to the driver of spot or flood-lighting police officers on traffic duty. I believe that the educative value of these examples led to the adoption of such methods in a number of centres. It is to be hoped that further progress will be made. * * * *
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