Should Black Or Dark-Coloured Cars 'Wear' Hi-Viz?

Lord_Baltimore

j0nathon2 wrote: »

Regarding Daytime running lights, they're stupid.

Can't turn off the lights on my motorcycle, they're on and you don't get a choice.

System

I just wish that people would realise that DRLs are only front lights not rear lights as well and are no substitute for headlights or even sidelights.

j0nathon2

Lord_Baltimore wrote: »

Can't turn off the lights on my motorcycle, they're on and you don't get a choice.

I think for motorbikes and pushbikes it does help to make them stand out more if they have some kind of light, although I personally don't use one on my bike during the day.

For cars I am a bit bemused as I don't know if we've solved a problem that didn't exist - did we really struggle to see cars that didn't have them during the day?, while creating a problem, that is making the cars without them less visible.

nearlyrich

DUTR wrote: »

Strange, I thought the in colour for cars is white now? Anyways, balck cars have been around just a little less time than cyclists, it's up to all road users to ensure their safety and the safety of others, I'm a cyclist myself, but a lady on a push bike the other morning nealry missed xmas through her lack of low visibilty clothing on a winter morning around a busy roundabout, where there have been fatalities in the past.

Yes white is the new black I just got a white one after 20 plus years of driving black

Kite2010

All vehicles on the road should be painted in reflective yellow paint, such as the paint used in rail tunnels (and by Del-Boy when painting the takeaway)

Then you can't say "I never saw it coming" :rotfl:

Lord_Baltimore

If we really want to make things safer, all cars driven by women should be painted bright yellow so we know where they are:D.

Now, now ladies, it's just a little joke...

Rolandtheroadie

OP, genuine suggestion here.

I was prescribed glasses for reading and watching tv at 16.

When I passed my test, my eyes were fine to pass the distance to read a numberplate, but I found in certain levels of light, certain colours of cars were harder to see (it also depended on if they were masked by the road surface i.e coming downhill or going uphill).

It came to a head when I nearly took my own head off in the half light of morning and I hit a tree. In hindsight, I might have been fiddling with the radio too, but from that day on (some 20 years ago) I've wore my glasses constantly and never hit a tree since.

Just for your own piece of mind, I'd suggest an eye test.

---lee---

Kite2010 wrote: »

All vehicles on the road should be painted in reflective yellow paint, such as the paint used in rail tunnels (and by Del-Boy when painting the takeaway)

Then you can't say "I never saw it coming" :rotfl:

I drive a 6 ft high bright yellow defender. You would be surprised how many people don't see me - or rather do see and then just go for it anyway. I've had more near misses from people pulling out in front of me than any other vehicle I've driven in 20 years. Another common problem is people overtaking me and not realising that I'm part of a queue - not the cause of a delay, this is inevitably followed up with them pulling directly into my braking space in front and then slamming on the anchors.

I don't think they appreciate that it's basically a reinforced set of railway tracks heading for their upper body/window height with nearly 3 tons of weight behind it. The results of a collision are not going to be pretty, especially front to side.

Strider590

j0nathon2 wrote: »

Regarding "parking" lights, it's perfectly legal and sensible to use these alone if there is street lighting in a <30mph zone.

It's perfectly legal in those circumstances..... I'd argue it's not sensible, because people can't see you as easily.
Also as a cyclist, such cars are like ghosts, they turn up suddenly at your side without any warning whatsoever. You can shoulder check all you like, but in that split second check your brain often only registers the cars that have proper driving lights turned on.
That headlight reflection on the road is often invaluable........

The real problem with parking/side lights though, is the ***king idiots who do the same when it's foggy.

There is NO REASON AT ALL, not to have headlights on in all but sunny conditions. In fact in many European countries they have their headlights (not DRLs) on ALL the time. It's just us Brits being ***king morons.......

custardy

DRLs

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daytime_running_lamp