How many people are killed or seriously injured as the result of driving on side lights only. I recently nearly put a car into the central reservation, when changing from 2nd to 3rd lane. The weather was terrible, heavy spray just getting dark, I checked the mirror, nothing, indicated, pulled out slowly, only to have a dark BMW race past me missing me by inches.
Why had I not seen it? I followed the BMW for a couple of miles until he/she turned off the motorway, looking back I could see he/she was driving on sidelights, or to make matter worse, one sidelight.
I doubt if the people who drive with sidelights ever bother to check if they are working, so they could be blindly unaware that they have no lights because their dashboard lights are on.
A resulting front end crash could destroy any evidence that the car had no lights on, leaving the other party to pick up the insurance claim.
I seem to remember driving in France a few years ago, seeing a roadsign that showed rain and a car with its headlights on.
How difficult would it be to introduce a simple lights policy law, instead of leaving it to the cheapskate drivers who put themselves and others at risk.
Surprisingly its not the bangers I'm referring to, the majority are reasonably new, some very expensive models.
Maybe old habits die hard for some drivers. Rant over!!
Edited by Pugugly on 21/01/2009 at 19:36
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We don't need signs. Drivers should know the Highway code. It states quite clearly when and how lights should be used.
>>115
You should also
use dipped headlights, or dim-dip if fitted, at night in built-up areas and in dull daytime weather, to ensure that you can be seen
Maybe if the government stopped this reliance on speed cameras and put traffic cops back on the road we could have some enforcement!
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I don't drive on sidelights.
I find the glass tends to puncture my tyres ;-)
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"We don't need signs. Drivers should know the Highway code. It states quite clearly when and how lights should be used."
And some of the worst culprits are driving schools. I've lost count of how many don't use any lights in low light conditions. Its not the pupils fault.
I always flash them if I come across them. They should be being taught properly.
The worded warning signs on motorways should give out headlights on warnings. Yes we should all abide by the code. People just don't or forget. A gentle reminder would help surely, or automatic lights on all cars should be standard for the moronic few who refuse to light up.
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I always flash them if I come across them.
I can't be bothered because they won't take any notice. In any case they probably won't know why you've flashed. I can't see any point in prematurely wearing out my flasher switch and headlamp bulbs.
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Why had I not seen it? I followed the BMW for a couple of miles until he/she turned off the motorway looking back I could see he/she was driving on sidelights
I had a similar experience on a cold rainy night last November. I indicated to change lanes on a dual carriageway and only at the last minute saw a black car which raced past me at considerably more than the speed limit. Ironically I caught up with him at the next traffic lights. The reason I nearly didn't see him is that the car was a matt black camouflaged prototype of, I'm guessing, the next Mercedes E-Class (this was near Stuttgart). The lights had largely been covered up with tape. Imagine I'd hit that!
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I've posted various comments on this subject in the previous threads mentioned above, but having been working on the bikes tonight I'm reminded that on the Harley Sportster (and probably on a good many other bikes) the only way to have sidelights ONLY switched on is when the ignition is in the "Park" position, which "does exactly what it says on the tin" ie ignition OFF. I commend the idea to the House.
The original purpose of "side lights" was to mark out the extreme frontal edges of the car, in the days when they often had headlamps mounted more centrally than would be the case today. As such they had smaller lenses which concentrated the relatively small power of the bulbs making them much more easily visible than are the bulbs in the "greenhouses" which pass for car headlamp lenses today. This to my mind is part of the problem; the available luminescence on modern cars is so diffused as to be utterly worthless as a "running lamp", in fact some of them are not much use even in their proper role as parking lamps.
Add to that the fact that many owners are too negligent, lazy or tight to change duff bulbs and you've got problems.
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What I can't understand is the number of Volvos I see with faulty lights - yet all less than 10 yeard old Volvos that I've been in have bulb failure warning systems which reset every time you switch off the ignition and "bleep" every time you start up.
I like the US system - if it's wet enough to use your wipers, then you should have your headlights on - and woe betide you if you ignore the rule!
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Close forensic examination of the wreckage would prove the state of the lights.
If the lights break when they are hot, the filaments will have rounded edges to the breaks. If they were cold, then the filament breaks will be sharp and clear.
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I like(...) - if it's wet enough to use your wipers then you should have your headlights on
Why?
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Every day tens of thousands of drivers break the law in this respect. the law, not just the Highway Code.
There are lighting regulations which have the force of law. These do not recognise side-lights as adequate on a moving vehicle except in very specific circumstances , concerning the speed limit and degree of street lighting.
There is no basis in law for the bizarre habit of driving on sidelights in twilight and then switching to headlights later.
I lose count of how many people do this, compounded by the number who even then have one or more light non-functional anyway.
I have got really annoyed at the practice of driving on sidelights, at speed , in spray or fog. If on a motorway, when there is spray, I have seen the overhead gantries display "Spray-reduce speed" when it would be far more useful to point out that use of headlights is mandatory.
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Stop caling them sidelights. Surely they are parking lights.
Some time ago I started driving in Denmark, where it is law to run on dipped headlights or special runnings lights. About time it was introduced here. Turn on ignition, lights turned on too. So in fog, bad conditions, early morning, early evening, problem solved.
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>> I like(...) - if it's wet enough to use your wipers then >> you should have your headlights on Why?
Because it stops idiots driving in poor visibility without adequate lights. If you need to ask........
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>> Because it stops idiots driving in poor visibility without adequate lights.
That's got nothing to do with the statement I replied to, or my question.
If you need to ask........
Re-read posts.
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Re-read posts.
Done - my statement stands, please clarify your "why".
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?? Obvious - that you need to use your wipers does not mean visibility is poor.
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?? Obvious - that you need to use your wipers does not mean visibility is poor.
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True, but it still stops the idiots driving without lights when it is poor. I use my headlights on fast rural single carriageway roads in good visibility, the "be seen" bit of "see and be seen" applies.
Edited by Old Navy on 23/01/2009 at 15:31
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>It still stops the idiots driving without lights when it is poor ..
Only those idiots who have remembered to use their wipers.
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I am happy to go with the argument against driving on 'side' lights, but no-one has mentioned the significant downside. It is all about making moving vehicles visible to others, but in the conditions at issue (rain, dark) using main beam will do that, but perhaps at the cost of making many other things less visible in the glare; possibly causing a collision with something else. A balance has to be found, and my feeling is that the steady move to brighter lamps has not necessarily helped here.
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I am happy to go with the argument against driving on 'side' lights but no-one has mentioned the significant downside. It is all about making moving vehicles visible to others>>
I believe that DRLs are a happy medium. OK off you go Im back below the parapet.
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I feel sidelights are pointless unless used as a parking light. How often have we seen some plank driving along in fog, low light, heavy rain and all he has on is a sidelight (usually the other has blown). He can be almost impossible to see and that can make the difference to whether some poor soddage pulls out in front and gets hit. I'm convinced some drivers feel they're immune from crashing just because they have some form of lighting on.
I don't necessarily agree that all cars need running lights, afterall it saps some power and affects economy, but certainly manufacturers could make cars so that when the headlights are switched on, dipped beam is the only option rather than a pathetic weedy sidelight. They could then include a sidelight switch which would only work with the engine off for parking only. LED's should also be used more because they last longer than filament bulbs.
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This morning, 8am, just light, but raining and it's very grey, lots of spray.
About to enter onto a 60 limit road from a standing start. Road has an overtaking lane. Car approaching is signalling left and slowing. I being to move out, then notice a car in the outside lane, but moving into the inside lane.
A light grey Toyota Celica with NO lights on. He was doing well over 60 (he slammed on for the camera). The colour of the car and lack of illumination meant he blended perfectly into the general murkiness of the day.
Idiot.
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What's the reason for not switching on lights when required?
[1] forgetting to do it
[2] to increase life of light bulbs
[3] over estimating other people's eye sight
[4] not being able to understand the reason for it
[5] ???
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[5] save electricity / fuel.
[6] brain dead.
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[7] Female
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I have nothing against females, I own one, and have half shares in two more, (and no, she doesnt read this), but they do seem to be reluctant to use their lights.
Edited by Old Navy on 23/01/2009 at 17:02
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Nice sweeping generalisation there.
I never turn my lights on....
... I've got auto lights :)
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... I've got auto lights :)
they can catch you out though....if you drive down a wet m/way for example and the auto lights are on...then it brightens up a bit, but there's still rain and spray..the damned auto lights can turn themsleves off and you might not notice
i've started to turn the light switch to manual in those circs
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Auto headlights also tend not to come on in fog, so don't get too complacent with technology.
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i've started to turn the light switch to manual in those circs
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I agree, auto lights are good but not inteligent, I overide mine "on" if required in daylight. I only claim to be more inteligent than a light sensor.
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have half shares
In every port ?
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8) Panel lights are permanently lit so driver hasn't realised lights are not on.
Caused by.......
9) Driver has not RTFM when he/she bought the car.
I make a point of reading the owners manual (if available) when I take over a new or unfamiliar vehicle (in a lorry especially it can save you from embarassing and expensive mistakes) or at least going through ALL the switches to see what they do. I also check the lights as a matter of course.
Much of this is ingrained in me from my teenage days as a soldier, and like anything else which is well taught it becomes habit. Perhaps a pre-drive check should be a compulsory part of the driving test?
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river has not RTFM when he/she bought the ca
A little unfair - When I use the Office Honda IMA its easy to miss that your lights are off - the dashboard is so garishly lit its awful. For the first time in many years I use a car that fails to turn its headlamps off when you take the keys out (even 80s Metro did it) - left me stranded ooutside a dodgy house a couple of weeks ago.....stupid, stupid thing.
Edited by Pugugly on 23/01/2009 at 22:18
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In every port ?
No, my daughters, good idea though if I wasnt retired.
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Parking lights...
Took dog for a walk this evening, not one single parked car with parking lights on.
Let's call them marker lights, for that is what they are.
Can't see vehicles in poor visibility...
Probably because every Thomas, Richard and Henry has 1000 megawatt DMF DPF Xenon LED lights on.
Open eyes.
Works for me ;-)
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