Lighting Up

[Bush Tucker Man]

Given the manky, wet, & indeed, mucky nature of this morning during the 'school-run' at 08:00, why was it that I saw so many cars not showing a single evidence of lighting??

And, it was the usual suspects too.......

Grey, Silver & other dark coloured cars whos drivers were the worst offenders  :roll:


I realise that their argument would be the usual "Well, I can see perfectly well, & don't need lights"


Surely though, they need to be seen too??
If the rain/sleet is coming down, a grey car blends into the background


And, if there is a collision, no matter who's fault, surely that phrase beloved of lawyers will be introduced into the equation; 'Contributary Negligence'


So, if you know someone who's has a car of these colours, please give them a hint about grey cars disappearing in bad lighting conditions, so they don't become a statistic.

[Disco Matt]

I see exactly the same thing on a regular basis. I've even had some of these wallies flashing their lights at me. Err, yes, I know I have my lights on. It's so you can see me!

[kourgath]

Don't get us Driving Instructors started

Plenty are the numpties who feel that as they can see so there will be no problem. As you say it seems to be silver, light grey and light gold cars that are the worse in fog/mist. At night it does seem to be the dark cars.

The french make some amazing camoflage colours for the UK weather, Moonstone silver (or mist) was one I had on a Pug 605 V6...

I put my lights on almost all the time mostly side lights.

What about all those eejots who have got badly adjusted dips or those who can't find the dip switch?

Adios
Gavin /kourgath

[Thrasher]

Ah the joys of automatic headlights :)

..and of course some clever programming! If the automatic wipers come on and sustain a length of time (a minute or so I think) - then blammo - lights are turned on automagically too - wether it is dark or not  :D

[Yoshi]

Yeah, then there is those who go too far and have their fog lights on when there is no fog!!!

[Thrasher]

Another rather neat trick of the new systems - if auto lights are ON, then fog lights are not enabled. Hence - you HAVE to think about what lights you are using.

I'm still baffled as to why fog lights do not reset to OFF when the ignition is off.

[Disco Matt]

What about all those eejots who have got badly adjusted dips or those who can't find the dip switch?

Adios
Gavin /kourgath

I'm firmly convinced that the average motorist doesn't look beyond the end of their own bonnet. Otherwise how come I can see their headlights reflected from trees, roadsigns, etc before they round a bend (meaning I've dipped my lights before they see me, so they don't get dazzled) but they can't see mine?

Edit: Last night I used my foglights for the first time in ages. Mainly as I was the only person about, it was snowing hard, and I didn't fancy being run over by a snowplough. Note how this is different to using them on a dry night and ruining the night vision of the person behind...

[discowoman]

Or the people on a motorway when its pouring - who believe sidelights are perfectly fine - until you pull out to overtake something , and then they find their main beam very quickly....Hubby is a HGV driver so I know all about this!

[muddycarl]

personally i can't stand it when folks are driving around in brilliant sunshine with their foglights on .......is there a point to this practice that i'm missing
thought there was a set distance of visibility before you can have foglights on at all :roll:  :roll:

[Disco Matt]

personally i can't stand it when folks are driving around in brilliant sunshine with their foglights on .......is there a point to this practice that i'm missing
thought there was a set distance of visibility before you can have foglights on at all :roll:  :roll:

There is - I forget what it is though.

[kourgath]

Ah, fog lights during the day....

from the Highway code

Rule 226

You MUST use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced, generally when you cannot see for more than 100 metres (328 feet). You may also use front or rear fog lights but you MUST switch them off when visibility improves (see Rule 236).

Rule 236

You MUST NOT use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226) as they dazzle other road users and can obscure your brake lights. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves.

the words MUST and MUST NOT mean it is law not just good advice.

EU are probably going to require cars are fitted with daytime running lights, which I think means 10w as over 20w needs a dipping function - not certain about this.

Still if we all obeyed the highway code our roads would be a different place...

Apple cart <-push
Gavin / kourgath

[Jake]

I still believe that front fog lights should be on the same switch as the rear ones.
If its foggy then turn on the lights, all of them
If its not foggy you wont annoy other road users with your over bright, show off lights on  
 8)

[Bush Tucker Man]

personally i can't stand it when folks are driving around in brilliant sunshine with their foglights on .......is there a point to this practice that i'm missing
thought there was a set distance of visibility before you can have foglights on at all :roll:  :roll:

There is - I forget what it is though.

There is, it's called the 'Look At Me!!!!!!!!' syndrome


See here a fuller explaination

[JumboBeef]

I have always driven with dipped lights on at all times for at least the last ten years, even on the brightest summer day (comes from driving abroad alot).

I put my lights on almost all the time mostly side lights.

Er, isn't driving on side lights (except at night, in a 30mph area with street lights) illegal?

[carbore]

Lots of muppets on the way from Cornwall to Glos last night.

Fog lights on in Drizzle (adamnt about it)
Driving too close
Driving in the middle lane at 60 coz its "safe" so I was in the inside lane and constantly pulling out to overtake (and people wonder why undertaking is on the rise)

I hate them all, profoundly.

[Disco Matt]

Does anyone else get the ones who're convinced that because you're driving a Land Rover you'll be slower than them? Or the ones who take great offence to being overtaken and try to outrun you?

[Llanigraham]

Sorry, lets rename those things that used to be called side lights to what they really are nowadays
>>>>>>>

PARKING LIGHTS!!!

Perhaps then the stupid pillocks would stop using them when driving!!!

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

And there was me thinking that this was another Anti Smoking thread!

[Wireless]

Does anyone else get the ones who're convinced that because you're driving a Land Rover you'll be slower than them? Or the ones who take great offence to being overtaken and try to outrun you?

Ah yes, but these people must have been let out recently, because I've only had this happen in the last few days within Shrewsbury.

They tail gate you to such an extent that you know there's a glow behind but can't see any headlights, and then pull out to overtake in the most dangerous spot, but then slow down to remain at the same speed as they were before they overtook.  These people just HAVE to have a clear road in front, and a dirty great 4x4 is just something in the way, something to be OVERTAKEN immediately.

Sometimes they just seriously under estimate the V8, maybe as indicated in another thread, they all believe 4x4's are diesel powered?

The dangerous ones are the ones that are talking and tail gating, they are spending more time looking at the passenger than the road ahead, when you pass the parked cars they almost collide with them, one day, one day I'll see this happen.

[hobbit]

Been law in Germany, since at least 1979, when I was driving there, rain, snow, fog or other inclement weather during the day = dipped headlights

Shame they cant send some of the more useful laws and rules over to the uk

[Range Rover Blues]

Like you can't learn to drive with someone who isn't qualified as an instructor :D

Anyway, someone mentioned about fog lights all being on one switch, unfortunatley the law permits you to use front fog lights in falling snow, when the use of rear fog lights would be rather dangerous.  However this is only permitted if the fog lights are fitted on the outside edge of the car, within a certain distance of the extreme width ie they mark the size of the car.

But I strongly believe they should auto cancell when you either turn off the sidelights or the ignition.  They can do it with heated rear screens easily enough.

[Disco Matt]

Sometimes they just seriously under estimate the V8, maybe as indicated in another thread, they all believe 4x4's are diesel powered?

Heavens no! If they thought all 4x4s were diesel it'd put a huge dent in the anti-4x4 brigade's efforts! :lol:

I think they just associate anything with an older numberplate with being slow, and don't bother to check their speedo. Usually they overtake while the TDI is slogging up to 60 coming out of a town, then I catch them up on the first serious bend we come to...

[Sider]

Mondeo's fog lights are on the same switch as the side/main lights. Once the headlights are on (by twisting the switch) you have to pull the switch one notch for the front fog's, two for the rear. The moment you switch off the side lights, the fogs reset to the off position. If you want them on again, you have to pull the switch.

It is doable, and it cannot be that difficult to do something similar.

[McGuire]

Front and rear fogs should be permanently connected so you cannot turn one set on without the other. Should greatly increase the chances of them being used only when necessary.
 I firmly believe that dipped headlights should be used when driving with a low sun behind you. Gives those driving into the sun a better chance of seeing you.

[SteveGoodz]

Been law in Germany, since at least 1979, when I was driving there, rain, snow, fog or other inclement weather during the day = dipped headlights

Shame they cant send some of the more useful laws and rules over to the uk

Same law in France too IIRC and the speed limit is reduced by 10km/h

[Dr Evil]

I'm still baffled as to why fog lights do not reset to OFF when the ignition is off.

Mine do...Peugeot 406.
I think the main problem is, most fog light telltales are down on the right by the fog light switch (most cars) where you can't see them. My wifes Vitara is like that, but the Peugeot's is on the dash, so when you glance at the speed or fuel the fog telltale is easily seen.

[kourgath]

I have always driven with dipped lights on at all times for at least the last ten years, even on the brightest summer day (comes from driving abroad alot).

I put my lights on almost all the time mostly side lights.

Er, isn't driving on side lights (except at night, in a 30mph area with street lights) illegal?

Nicely spotted :) don't do evening lessons in the car! I wouldn't dare just drive with sidelights only in town - too many bling/blind eejots

[kourgath]

Does anyone else get the ones who're convinced that because you're driving a Land Rover you'll be slower than them? Or the ones who take great offence to being overtaken and try to outrun you?

All the time get these muppets who look at Lara and don't notice the Star Trek type warp stripes comming out the exhausts :)

In the learner car I get people insisting on overtaking no matter what and pulling out just to get in front...

Cheers
Gavin/kourgath

[kourgath]

Sorry, lets rename those things that used to be called side lights to what they really are nowadays
>>>>>>>

PARKING LIGHTS!!!

Perhaps then the stupid pillocks would stop using them when driving!!!

I use them during the day in my black car particularly to enable people to see me when comming out of dark tree lined roads into the sun.

If the EU get's it way then we will all have to have daytime running lights.

As to the use of Parking Lights I don't think most people have an idea of how to use them given the lack of sense in parking...

[Range Rover Blues]

In the learner car I get people insisting on overtaking no matter what and pulling out just to get in front...

Cheers
Gavin/kourgath

That's why I stopped using a roof box (for my L plates).