Dim-dip headlights
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AN ITEM in your issue of February 26 entitled "Dim-dip reprieve" could mislead your readers. Compulsory use of dipped beam adjustment devices — headlamp levelling — now being considered by the European Commission, is in no way the same issue as the use of dim-dip headlights which is currently before the UK Government. You compound the confusion by including the details of the reaction to the dimdip proposals towards the end of your report.
Headlamp levelling devices are used to compensate for changes in vehicle loading so that headlamps may continue to be correctly aimed and reduce dazzle. The industry would welcome the removal of the requirements from this particular EEC directive, which deals with lighting installation on the vehicle, and would recommend that the requirements be put into a separate directive that will ease the acceptance within the Community of the original lighting requirement.
To return to the issue of dimdip in the UK, in line with all the world's major road safety authorities, the motor industry supports the requirement for use of ordinary dipped headlamps on moving vehicles in built-up areas after dark. It considers that unilateral action by the UK to introduce dim-dip would be out of step with modern safety requirements.
The answer to reducing dazzle is proper enforcement of the regulations, with headlamps correctly aligned at all times, and requiring the use of low beam always after dark.
K. B. BARNES Chief Engineer SMMT London, SW?