Driving with lights on
Discussion
Newbie. Hiya and all that.
Now, I learnt to drive in Switzerland, and it's current taught practice to drive with headlights on at all times. Since I've moved over here, I've continued doing this, but regularly (about once a day) get flashed by someone who seems to think I'm unaware I have my lights on.
So, are these guys idiots for flashing me? Or is driving with lights on during the a day bad thing? If so, why? Does anyone else out there (Volvo drivers excluded, you have no choice) do it?
And anyone care to explain the thing for driving with fog lights on? When there's no fog. I just don't get it.
Now, I learnt to drive in Switzerland, and it's current taught practice to drive with headlights on at all times. Since I've moved over here, I've continued doing this, but regularly (about once a day) get flashed by someone who seems to think I'm unaware I have my lights on.
So, are these guys idiots for flashing me? Or is driving with lights on during the a day bad thing? If so, why? Does anyone else out there (Volvo drivers excluded, you have no choice) do it?
And anyone care to explain the thing for driving with fog lights on? When there's no fog. I just don't get it.
Don't generally see anything wrong with driving with the headlights on... I regularly do it myself because I've got a bad history of people not seeing such a small car (in a land dominated by Falcons, SUVs and Commodores on the roads)... I'm not generally so pissed off about front fogs/driving lamps... but people who drive at night in the clear with rear fogs REALLY piss me off!
I often used to drive with dim/dips or sidelights on in dull conditions as it does make the car stand out.
My Saab has daytime running lights as standard. I could pull the fuse, but why would I want to? They don't dazzle, and people see the car, so it suits me just fine.
In fact, I actually leave my headlamps on all the time, don't need to remember to switch them on at night, and they are linked to the ignition
My Saab has daytime running lights as standard. I could pull the fuse, but why would I want to? They don't dazzle, and people see the car, so it suits me just fine.
In fact, I actually leave my headlamps on all the time, don't need to remember to switch them on at night, and they are linked to the ignition
towman said:
Always have the lights on in town. Question on the insurance claim form!
That's a very good point Towman, as is the use of indicators (after an accident).
Slightly different in Europe though, usually anyone (Germany) travelling at "high" speed will use their headlights to pre-warn motorists ahead of their speed. Something that us here stuck in 1960's Blighty, need not do as we proceed recklesssly at a whole 70mph!!!!!!..............WOW! Frightening!....Yeah!
..
>> Edited by 8Pack on Tuesday 12th July 01:40
In winter i run with sidelights on. Never use headlights unless it's too dark to see, endangers those without headlights on too as they become harder to see. Then we all run with headlights on, then some of us will use main beam the whole time, then we all use main beam, then what? Lasers, just to eliminate the slightest possiblity someone might crash into you?
I have my lights on dipped all the time, and regularly get flashed. There's one person I pass in the opposite direction nearly every morning who insists on flashing me and wavign arms about pointing fingers downwards, I get disappointed if I don't see him to make me laugh first thing...
but seriously in bright weather like today when wearing sun glasses if you then have to go through a covered shaded area if a black car is oncoming you cannot see them immediatley as it takes a few seconds for your eyes to adjust. If they had their lights on you would be able to see them - same as when going through tunnels, the amount of dark cars who don't turn on their lights is quite high.
And Alfa's/most italian cars the lights only work with ignition so you don't have to make the extra effort to turn them on/off.
but seriously in bright weather like today when wearing sun glasses if you then have to go through a covered shaded area if a black car is oncoming you cannot see them immediatley as it takes a few seconds for your eyes to adjust. If they had their lights on you would be able to see them - same as when going through tunnels, the amount of dark cars who don't turn on their lights is quite high.
And Alfa's/most italian cars the lights only work with ignition so you don't have to make the extra effort to turn them on/off.
mungo said:
Side lights are parking lights
So why does my car have sidelights and parking lights? I find sidelights are better than headlights in some circumstances. At dusk they give enough light to aid visibility, but not so much that they mask other cars behind you, or affect others' judgment of your speed.
Sidelights to be seen, headlights to see.
mungo said:
And anyone care to explain the thing for driving with fog lights on? When there's no fog. I just don't get it.
It's very sad, some people think it looks cool... it doesn't.
It's also an offence to drive with fog lights on in clear conditions for which you could recieve a £30 fine
please please start fining these numpties then
On the advanced driving courses I have done, the general line has been - make sure you are visible to other road users.
From this, I was told that side lights have little or no function other than for parking in unlit places. Similarly, headlights are no match for normal daylight - they frankly don't make a difference. However, if the weather conditions are poor or if it is becoming dark, then dipped beam should be used.
Remember that Saabs ( I have one ) and Volvos hark from Sweden where, due to their closer proximity to the North Pole, it is darker much more of the time for parts of the year, right through the day. It is therefore compulsory to have extra lighting on all the time, by law.
As for using front foglights in daylight in the UK, this is to make it easier for you to spot the tosser doing this. He in return hopes that you will appreciate that his car has the optional extras fitted, and if you are female, hope that you may sleep with him. Other than that, completely pointless and only done to annoy others.
From this, I was told that side lights have little or no function other than for parking in unlit places. Similarly, headlights are no match for normal daylight - they frankly don't make a difference. However, if the weather conditions are poor or if it is becoming dark, then dipped beam should be used.
Remember that Saabs ( I have one ) and Volvos hark from Sweden where, due to their closer proximity to the North Pole, it is darker much more of the time for parts of the year, right through the day. It is therefore compulsory to have extra lighting on all the time, by law.
As for using front foglights in daylight in the UK, this is to make it easier for you to spot the tosser doing this. He in return hopes that you will appreciate that his car has the optional extras fitted, and if you are female, hope that you may sleep with him. Other than that, completely pointless and only done to annoy others.
I always flash people who use there lights during the day, and i'll tell you why...
If everyone starts running with lights on constantly then those road users who currently use them to stand out (like motorcyclists) or those who havn't got as bright lights (cyclists) will become comparitively less visible on the road. If your eye is used to just picking out the headlights then it will be easier to miss a cyclists as you're pulling out of a junction etc. That's my view anyway, we've managed perfectly well without 'running lights' for years - why change it?
Cheers,
Rob.
If everyone starts running with lights on constantly then those road users who currently use them to stand out (like motorcyclists) or those who havn't got as bright lights (cyclists) will become comparitively less visible on the road. If your eye is used to just picking out the headlights then it will be easier to miss a cyclists as you're pulling out of a junction etc. That's my view anyway, we've managed perfectly well without 'running lights' for years - why change it?
Cheers,
Rob.
I'm convinced running with lights on (albeit on a dim drizzly morning) nearly caused me to have a crash.
I'm tootling down an A-road doing 40mph (lights on) approaching a cross roads. A woman in a Fiesta pulls up to the junction on my left. Then I think she may have just glanced at my car- thought I'd flashed her out and pulled out into the middle of the main road and stopped as soon as she realised I wasn't stopping.
She was very nearly hit side-on by 2.5 tonnes of 4x4- luckily I swerved round her in time onto the opposite carriageway. There's now a 40 tonne Rugby Cement lorry headed my way- another swerve back onto the right lane (nearly causing my truck to roll over) and everyone gets away unhurt- just.
So- that's my reason for no longer using lights in marginal conditions. I'll only put them now in daylight if the weather's really sh*tty.
I'm tootling down an A-road doing 40mph (lights on) approaching a cross roads. A woman in a Fiesta pulls up to the junction on my left. Then I think she may have just glanced at my car- thought I'd flashed her out and pulled out into the middle of the main road and stopped as soon as she realised I wasn't stopping.
She was very nearly hit side-on by 2.5 tonnes of 4x4- luckily I swerved round her in time onto the opposite carriageway. There's now a 40 tonne Rugby Cement lorry headed my way- another swerve back onto the right lane (nearly causing my truck to roll over) and everyone gets away unhurt- just.
So- that's my reason for no longer using lights in marginal conditions. I'll only put them now in daylight if the weather's really sh*tty.
Rob_F said:
I always flash people who use there lights during the day, and i'll tell you why...
If everyone starts running with lights on constantly then those road users who currently use them to stand out (like motorcyclists) or those who havn't got as bright lights (cyclists) will become comparitively less visible on the road. If your eye is used to just picking out the headlights then it will be easier to miss a cyclists as you're pulling out of a junction etc. That's my view anyway, we've managed perfectly well without 'running lights' for years - why change it?
Cheers,
Rob.
Yes, I'm in general agreement with that. It is not always true to work on the basis of more light being best.
I don't bother flashing people who drive with headlights on in daylight, but I do sometimes flash people who drive around at dusk with no lights on at all. More often than not the message seems to be ignored. Just occasionally someone waves to say thanks for the reminder, but that is very rare.
...and there is of course the mentality that offers a different form of gesture!
Best wishes all,
Dave.
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