Should Rear Lighting be Standardized ?
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IN the interests of national safety and the prevention of accidents, I would like to draw particular attention in "The Commercial Motor" to the urgent need for some action to be taken by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and the Ministry of Transport in connection with vehicle rear lighting.
As you know, there are at the present time more vaneLies of rear light than there are of vehicle, and I am sure it would be true to say that many avoidable accidents, fatal and otherwise, have been caused in the past and will be caused in the future, by no official action having been taken in this matter It is surely time for a minimum standard of rear light to be adopted to cover size, position, angle, wiring, etc., and for clarification as to the number of rear lights that may be carried, which would give some clear distinction between rear lights, stop lights, reversing lights and parking lights. I think that a rear light should be fitted within 6 ins. of the, near end vehicle width, that it should be at least of 3 ins, diameter as to light, to be of ribbed anti-glare glass, not more than 6 watts, at right angles to the road, and about 2-3 ft. minimum and maximum height from the road surface. A second light, if double rear lights be deemed advisable, should have similar details of fitment.
The off-side rear light should also have a standard form of rear number-plate lighting, with standard position of plate.
To my mind, the present fancy rear lighting fitments on both old and new vehicles, with colours from white to red, simply ask for accidents to happen, and it is almost criminal to fit them.
We have had Belisha this, Morrison that, and Anderson the other—why not have a Barnes rear light?
" C. TOMPKINS.