Driving with Headlights on

GwylimT

I always drive with dipped headlights unless I need my full beams/fog lights on, our brain does register a vehicle with lights faster than a vehicle without lights, meaning drivers are reacting quicker as well as pedestrians.

Roland_Sausage

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Worrying that so many people can't see other vehicles unless they have some lights on, wonder how we managed all this time without then during daylight.

Just remember that not all vehicles have a rear windscreen and large interior mirror. Vans and other vehicles only have external door mirrors, which are smaller than an interior mirror and also prone to getting covered in dirt, water drops, etc.

When you are relying solely on side mirrors for the view behind, vehicles with lights on are a hell of a lot more visible than ones without.

TradePro

aardvaak wrote: »

Well it takes one tn know one!

aardvaak

TradePro wrote: »

You started the silly attack

Retrogamer

One thing i'll admit does annoy me though is people driving about with the front fog lights on when there's no fog.
With certain cars such as the Fiat 500, the DLR's look like fog lights. The problem is one is illegal and one isn't so i wonder how it will be enforced. Not that many police enforce the former any more.

aardvaak

Retrogamer wrote: »

One thing i'll admit does annoy me though is people driving about with the front fog lights on when there's no fog.
With certain cars such as the Fiat 500, the DLR's look like fog lights. The problem is one is illegal and one isn't so i wonder how it will be enforced. Not that many police enforce the former any more.

Yes I agree with you

mgdavid

aardvaak wrote: »

What on earth is DRLs?

and there lies your problem - you are not keeping up with changes in driving, manufacturer trends, new laws and EU directives etc etc

Tilt

Retrogamer wrote: »

One thing i'll admit does annoy me though is people driving about with the front fog lights on when there's no fog.
With certain cars such as the Fiat 500, the DLR's look like fog lights. The problem is one is illegal and one isn't so i wonder how it will be enforced. Not that many police enforce the former any more.

Well with the amount of Fiat 500's that appear to be on the road lately, I think you will soon get used to them. I think they look better than a line of small LED's as it dosn't appear to spoil the profile of the car like some others. Citreon's for example... I think the DLR's look tacky.

goosander

Although I don't agree with the OP's attitude, I must admit I share his dislike of DRL's and daytime use of headlights when visibility is good.

I have also noticed the increase in people using headlights during the day, and have been dazzled by quite a few to the extent that I suspect they were actually using full beam.

I understand why it is beneficial for motorcycles (but not using full beam as many do) but surely the wide spread use of DRL's reduces motorcyclist safety because they just become another vehicle with its lights on.

Also, I dislike the retina searing LED brake lights that seem to be fitted to many vehicles now. If you are stopped at the lights behind someone with LED's who keeps their foot on the brake, it can be quite unpleasant and also destroys your night vision.

Iceweasel

mgdavid wrote: »

and there lies your problem - you are not keeping up with changes in driving, manufacturer trends, new laws and EU directives etc etc

Dead right - I know I said I was not going to post anything else, but I've come back just to say I think this has been a 6 hour wind up.

And as for the 'what next - hi-viz vests?'

Yes - they are in the pipe-line for us too. An EU-wide directive is being drafted as we read this.

Hi-Viz vests (conforming to EU Directive EN 471 - of course) are already a legal requirement in at least 10 European countries I could name off the top of my head. Some with rules as to where they must be stored and at least one country that says all the occupant must have one available.

I'm sure Aardvaark will be astounded to hear about this in approx 10 years time when someone tells him they have been a requirement for the previous 2 or 3 years.

But don't worry Aardvark - you don't have to wear one while your driving - that would make you look a pratt - and we wouldn't want that now - would we.

Only when you break down, and exit the vehicle.

Oh yes - the Docklands Light Railway - yeah, yeah - pull the other one.

Very funny.