One Headlight

DUTR

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

But dipped beams would still illuminate the white lines, and the kerb/verge. Sidelights wouldn't at all.


It would be extremely dangerous to use sidelights only in thick fog, as oncoming vehicles wouldn't see you at all.

It seems perhaps you have not experienced thick fog where you can see barely beyond the bonnet.

Jamie_Carter

DUTR wrote: »

It seems perhaps you have not experienced thick fog where you can see barely beyond the bonnet.

Yes I have, many times. If you can't see beyond your bonnet then you shouldn't be driving in it, and certainly not without dipped beam on so that other people can see you. You should drive according to what you can see. If you can't see then don't drive.


In an emergency I have no choice but to drive in thick for, and believe me, the worst lights for reflecting back from the fog are blue lights.

DUTR

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

Yes I have, many times. If you can't see beyond your bonnet then you shouldn't be driving in it, and certainly not without dipped beam on so that other people can see you. You should drive according to what you can see. If you can't see then don't drive.


In an emergency I have no choice but to drive in thick for, and believe me, the worst lights for reflecting back from the fog are blue lights.

You are 'lucky' it's many times, however I know when it's safe for me to drive, if the fog is thick and low, then sidelights and front fogs work on the roads I have commuted, as said it's only been a handful of times over the last 20 years, the oncoming vehicles are aware of my presence due to the lighting on the car (front fogs) , as said most of the fog times there is no need to use fogs front or rear as visibility is not reduced to less than 100m.

Just to add, when it is snowing the reflection off the falling snow can reduce visibility too (but you knew that) this is a time when dipped beam and front fogs were in use



with the dipped beam on the visibility was about 3 bonnet lengths due to reflection of the falling snow.

Buellguy

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

Oh dear, my daughter has a C3. And as part of teaching her to drive I am also teaching her general car maintenance, but haven't got around to changing bulbs yet. So it could be fun.


It must be a Citroen thing. Years ago my mother had a Citroen GSA. To change the spark plugs I had to remove one headlight unit and the air filter box.

Nah, I've got a C3 Picasso and it must have taken me all of 90 seconds to change the headlight bulb in that - really easy

Unclefoobar

Buellguy wrote: »

Nah, I've got a C3 Picasso and it must have taken me all of 90 seconds to change the headlight bulb in that - really easy

C3 and the C3 Picasso are different cars so maybe the C3 Picasso is a lot easier, but I can tell you from experience the C3 is not easy.....:beer:

Lum

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

Yes I have, many times. If you can't see beyond your bonnet then you shouldn't be driving in it, and certainly not without dipped beam on so that other people can see you. You should drive according to what you can see. If you can't see then don't drive.

But if it comes down like that while you're driving what are you going to do? Get out and walk, only to get run over by someone still driving, and then come back the next day to find the back end of your car smashed in.

If need be wind the window down, stick your head out and follow the white line to the side of your car.

In an emergency I have no choice but to drive in thick for, and believe me, the worst lights for reflecting back from the fog are blue lights.

Agree with this. I have yellow foglights and they are lovely in this kind of situation, they illuminate a slightly wider area than the main beam, but they don't cause glare. I usually hit the really bad fog a couple of times a year and will drive on sides+fogs. It works really well and nobody can claim they can't see you.

Jamie_Carter

DUTR wrote: »

You are 'lucky' it's many times, however I know when it's safe for me to drive, if the fog is thick and low, then sidelights and front fogs work on the roads I have commuted, as said it's only been a handful of times over the last 20 years, the oncoming vehicles are aware of my presence due to the lighting on the car (front fogs) , as said most of the fog times there is no need to use fogs front or rear as visibility is not reduced to less than 100m.

Just to add, when it is snowing the reflection off the falling snow can reduce visibility too (but you knew that) this is a time when dipped beam and front fogs were in use



with the dipped beam on the visibility was about 3 bonnet lengths due to reflection of the falling snow.

Ah, you never said that you also had your front fog lights on. That would put a completely different complexion on things. I don't know if you realise but the conversation was about people with just their sidelights on the front of their vehicle, making them almost invisible in the fog.


With many modern cars it is actually impossible to have the front fog lights on without dipped beam.

Jamie_Carter

Buellguy wrote: »

Nah, I've got a C3 Picasso and it must have taken me all of 90 seconds to change the headlight bulb in that - really easy

Isn't the Picasso a completely different shaped vehicle to the normal C3?

Jamie_Carter

Lum wrote: »

But if it comes down like that while you're driving what are you going to do? Get out and walk, only to get run over by someone still driving, and then come back the next day to find the back end of your car smashed in.

You find a safe place to stop as soon as possible, and don't drive any more until it is safe to do so. You wouldn't drive with a blindfold on would you?

Avoriaz

Lum wrote: »

...If need be wind the window down, stick your head out and follow the white line to the side of your car....

Can you imagine the mess if two drivers doing that going in opposite directions hit heads. :eek: