Twerto Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 Having come back from holiday in Norway.. it has started to irritate me even more now when I see people not using there headlights when needed, ie in the evening sun when just about all you can see is the sun, mist, dusk, etc etc.. So I was thinking would it not be easier for us to just adopt the law that your headlights must always be on while the car is moving? would save any ambiguity as to when you should use headlight and when you shouldn't. and then the police could do something about drivers that don't drive around making them visible to other road users. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pooks Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 You would still have the same ridiculous amount of people who haven't figured out how to dip their headlights though. I for one wouldn't have a problem with that law being passed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fjool Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 Agreed. To see a silvery-grey car driving along on a rainy day, at dusk, without headlights fairly makes one wonder as to the sanity of the driver in question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostrider Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 Battery and alternator manufacturers profits would quickly soar if that law was brought in anyway. I can't say I see the benefit of lights at all times, it is extremely rare that I've had occasion to cuss someone for not having lights on, but extremely common, as Pooks says, to have to cuss the brain dead for using inappropriate or badly adjusted lights. In early twilight, and especially wet road conditions I actually find lights on a hinderance rather than a help. When dry your eyes acclimatise to the brightness caused by the approaching lights, then when they pass you're suddenly left in unaccustomed darkness, which is still too light for your own headlights to be doing a great deal of good, yet after having to get used to the brightness of the approaching lights, for the first 30-60 secs it appears totally black. In the wet, there's so much reflected light around off the wetness, it's permanently hard work figuring out where on the road vehicles actually are, and what and who is who. To me it looks at first glance like a twinkleing Christmas tree if there's a reasonable amount of traffic around, plus those damn orange street lights in the middle of it all. That said, I'm probably speaking for a minority, as I naturally have excellent night vision, but find seeing clearly in bright sunlight hard work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sludgegulper Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 You would still have the same ridiculous amount of people who haven't figured out how to dip their headlights though. I for one wouldn't have a problem with that law being passed. Also, you would have the same ridiculous people who haven't figured out how to drive with two working headlights let alone one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fjool Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 Reading these other posts, I do agree that there are times where headlights are unnecessary; driver discretion is desirable. Increased driver awareness of their proper use, however, is certainly to be encouraged. Incorrect use of headlights is both dangerous and inconsiderate. First time I drove my new car, everyone was flashing at me for dazzling them, even though I had definitely dipped my lights. Turns out there was a wee thumb-wheel hidden away which further adjusts the angle of the lights. After I sorted that, nobody flashed at me again. I wonder how many people are driving around with a similar problem. Decreased fuel efficiency and extra wear, as GR points out, are good reasons for not making it mandatory; especially when the idea of the 'carbon footprint' is so newsworthy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellsbells Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 My main bugbear is when some idiot drives right behind me with full beam on and the sun is blinding me in front as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humptygrumpty Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 My main bugbear is when some idiot drives right behind me with full beam on and the sun is blinding me in front as well A quick firm jab on your brakes usually serves to pucker up their butthole !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellsbells Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 mm might try that some night humptygrumpty, watch oot any shetlinkers who might be driving west in the future! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sudden Stop Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 It's a pretty well adopted practice that bikers have their lights on the whole time and it is now a requirement for new motorbikes to have the headlights hard-wired on the whole time too. If all vehicles had their lights on the whole time it would make motorcycles less obvious and I'm not in favour of that. If you are driving around without your headlights in conditions where they are appropriate, I would take the view that you are not paying due care and attention. It's down to the police to deal with drivers who are not driving safely. And of course, more education, regular re-testing pehaps? Every ten years maybe??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellsbells Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 Yes but how many of us would pass the driving test again?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellsbells Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 forgot to say I would probably fail if I had to do the test now as there have been things introduced in the test which I admittedly am hopeless at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medziotojas Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 Thankfully, I have a newer car now that warns me when I leave the lights on. This wasn't the case before. It is now compulsory to have your lights on all the time in Lithuania. I don't know when this came into force, but I'm guessing fairly recently. I was driving around in the daytime not so long ago when I suddenly became aware that every other vehicle had its headlights switched on. The problem with this is, when it's daylight you inevitably forget to turn your lights off when you leave the car. I suppose it becomes second nature after some time, just like you wouldn't try to get out of the car without unfastening your seatbelt. If people would adhere to existing laws, these new measures wouldn't be necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMouth Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 First thing that they need to do is get rid of side lights. What are they for anyway, for when it isn't very dark? The motorist sees his dash lit up so he thinks he has his lights on yet as the light fades outside of the car the driver bimbles along and no-one can see him until they are on top of him. I notice a lot of motorcyclists riding around with main beam on. What's that for? More likely to cause an accident than stop one. You have to face it as a biker, car drivers can't see you. It's usually because they are too busy changing the drum and bass track, re-programming the satnav, adjusting the temperature of the leather seats, reading the paper or putting their carpet slippers on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostrider Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 ^^^ Yup! Rule #1 for bikers. Assume everyone driving a larger vehicle is a nutter with a personal vendetta to see you wearing a wooden overcoat, using any means possible, and react accordingly to their impending approach. Then you may just live. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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