Glaring Error

No matter how impressive the driver of a U.S. automobile looks, he sees badly. This is the dim view of Optometrist Merrill T Allen of Indiana University.

Fancy styling often fogs the drivers vision to the danger point, Allen told an optometry convention at Miami. After testing 56 recent models of all manufacturers Dr. Allen decided that not a single one provides "a suitable visual environment for daytime driving."

Dirt on the windshield is seldom important. Far worse for the driver's safety is light reflected off the top of the dash board and back into the driver's eyes. Such reflections can be dangerously confusing Dr. Allen showed a photograph taken through the windshield of a car equipped with a light-absorbing black velveteen covering on its dashboard. A near by pedestrian was clearly visible. Another photo, taken after the velveteen was removed, glittered with reflections that hid the pedestrian from the driver.

All cars tested by Dr. Allen had bright chromium trim in the driver's held ot vision. Even small bits of brightwork, such as chromium windshield wipers or decorations on the dash, can reflect sun light and cause spots of glare. Attempts to express the space age in instrument panels end with the instruments poorly grouped. Their needles or other indicators are hard for many drivers to see Many new car models share a common feature: a hood that covers the instrument panel so that its lights will not reflect at night in a stylishly sloping windshield. Under many daytime lighting conditions this shading makes the panel so dark that a driver cannot read it at a glance. To check on his fuel or how fast he is going, he must rest his eyes on the pane for an appreciable moment. When he looks back at the road, his eyes have partly adapted from the dim light. The bright light from the road may dazzle him for a moment-and it may be the wrong moment.

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