Could you do me a favour please?

neilmcl

Joe_Horner wrote: »

Neither of which seems to be within the capabilities of a large number of road users!

Too true

almillar

neilmcl:

If you have difficulty seeing a car with sidelights on coming towards you in a lit street on a clear night then yes, you do need to check your eyesight!

Read my post again - how far away can you see the unlit car? How far away can you see the one with sidelights? How far away can you see the one with headlights? Irrespective of eyesight, the car with headlights on can be seen better.

lit up like a xmas tree dazzling everyone

Maybe you should get your eyes tested, clean your glasses, or your windscreen. 2 legal dipped beam lights should not dazzle you, except on certain corners or crests of hills. Cyclists and pededstrians, should of course be making their own efforts to be seen.

Johnmcl7 (and Spicy McHaggis, Retrogamer) thanks, I stand corrected - unbeleivable rules!

Retrogamer:

Not mines, they're really bright.
They use a similar cree LED to the one used in modern smartphone flashes and are much brighter than standard

And the rear of your vehicle?

C_Mababejive:

If the road is well lit and i do not perceive any hazards then i will drive on sidelights. I also drive within the speed limit. Modern vehicle sidelights (i.e usually headlights but not main bulb) are very efficient and not like the candle lights of yesteryear.

What if you're not in a 'modern vehicle' with these wonderful bright sidelights?

Inappropriate use of dipped main beams

You mean 'dipped beam' rather than 'main beam' - and IMO there's no such thing as inappropriate use of them!

neilmcl

almillar wrote: »

neilmcl:
Read my post again -how far away can you see the unlit car? How far away can you see the one with sidelights? How far away can you see the one with headlights? Irrespective of eyesight, the car with headlights on can be seen better.

On a lit street, on a clear night with good visibility, far enough. And I'm also able to spot objects around them easier, such as pedestrians waiting to cross or cyclists about to be overtaken.

Retrogamer

almillar wrote: »

Retrogamer:
And the rear of your vehicle?

The brightness of my tail lights stays the same, regardless if my sidelights or headlights are on.

cherryblossomzel

This is one of my pet hates. The side lights on some cars are utterly pointless while driving.

Similar to people who apparently refuse to use lights during the daytime, regardless of conditions. So many light-less cars during fog or torrential downpours. Don't they look around them, and realise that those cars with lights on are significantly more visible?

Retrogamer

neilmcl wrote: »

On a lit street, on a clear night with good visibility, far enough. And I'm also able to spot objects around them easier, such as pedestrians waiting to cross or cyclists about to be overtaken.

I agree. Sidelights on gives me better viability of the actual car and things directly around it but with dipped beam on all i can see is too beams of light that make it difficult to see the actual car and things directly around it.

There's a few motorists around my way this time of year that always forget to put lights on and i still see them at quite a distance because of the street lights.

jaydeeuk1

Strider590 wrote: »

Then on top of that we have the fuel saving crew, who think lights cost petrol.

They do. Unless you drive a diesel.

alastairq

I've got to the stage where I no longer care whether I'm seen, in my vehicle, or not. [kiss my rusty bullbars?]

As long as I show the correct lights, at the correct times, [with due regard to the visibility, as stated in the HC]...., I no longer care if my presence gives others issues.

Like many on here, I used to try to educate the unknowing, now I just don't bother!

After all, with all this quaffle about lights, it really is about time those who complain, actually went around their vehicles [regularly, like, once or twice a day?] to see if all their legally required lights are working?

So, if one wishes to moan about others, first check all your brake lights are working?

What people forget is, the road is a public highway....not their own personal bit of motorway...so someone driving a 1948 AEC London Transport double deck bus, will only be required, by Law, to have one brake light one dipped headlight, and candles for the rest!..

Live with it!

If you don't see it, and hit it, you will find yourself having to answer awkward questions.......and trying the excuse ''this is 2015, not 1915, '' won't wash in Court.

Trouble is, folk get used to only looking for lights....then complain when they hit a skip in the fog!

Drivers have become lazy, with their observation.

Spicy_McHaggis

Richard53 wrote: »

This thread brings together my three pet hates:


1. It's only mist, not proper fog, so my sidelights will do. (Hint: many times I see your whole car before I see the dim little sidelights, so they aren't helping at all.)


2. I'm not going very fast on this unlit country road, so I don't need my main beams at all. I'm sure the car behind me is happy with this.


3. It's slightly drizzling (or it was when I started off an hour ago) so I can leave my rear fog light on.


And don't get me started on the 'I know I have only one headlight working, but I'll get it done in time for the MoT in April' crew.


Grrrrrr.

I find dipped beam more than enough for 60mph.

Retrogamer

Spicy_McHaggis wrote: »

I find dipped beam more than enough for 60mph.

I could be wrong, but think that poster meant dipped.

Dipped = main beams
Hi beams = full beams