Is this a thing now? (always on indicators)
Discussion
sonnenschein3000 said:
But the new shape Range Rovers and Range Rover Sports have a big amber line on the front lights that come on with the headlamps. OK, fine, the indicator bulb is just below it and so is s separate bulb, but it looks the same.
These were cars, at dusk, with nothing but indicator bulbs on solidly. No sidelights, no headlights, no DRLS. So a little different, in my experience Range Rovers are lit up like Christmas Trees at the best of times, so no issues with visibility.Jonno02 said:
Is there any legal issues with that? I hate the big transporter vans you see with the big stick out yellow bulbs on the side above the front wheel arch. Just strikes me as incredibly stupid design when at a glance, many people will mistake it for an indicator.
They're side markers, and are a legal requirement on anything longer than 6 metres total. At least one in the middle 1/3 of the vehicle, one within 3m of the front and 1m of the rear, and one every 3m max.
Look, just at the front of the rear door...
Twin-rear wheel and wide-bodied Transits put the indicator repeater on a longer stalk to meet the minimum angles of visibility. Seems daft not to use it for the side marker, too, as do many trucks.
If somebody happens to be so unobservant as to never have noticed that big things have orange side markers, I'm not sure that's the manufacturer's fault...
Drummond Baize said:
Learn2MergeInTurn said:
JakeT said:
Learn2MergeInTurn said:
bony_13 said:
I'm sure on my Z4 and the same vintage E46 3series, that the indicator lights come on solidly if there is a bulb fault. Always seemed like a wierd thing to me, why you would actively want to do that I don't understand at all.
On the e46 if the sidelight bulbs fail it puts the side repeaters on permanently, many 'scene' people unfortunately put blown sidelight bulbs in the headlights to make the car do this... 
tigger1 said:
But definitely still illegal, and unsafe.
Things like this I'd like to see police given powers to just seize the car in question, only returning it a few weeks and a large fine later. It's all well and good saying I'm grumpy and "just don't like it" (I am and I don't)- but it's deliberately modifying a car in a way which makes it non-roadworthy (and potentially dangerous).
potentially dangerous is pushing itThings like this I'd like to see police given powers to just seize the car in question, only returning it a few weeks and a large fine later. It's all well and good saying I'm grumpy and "just don't like it" (I am and I don't)- but it's deliberately modifying a car in a way which makes it non-roadworthy (and potentially dangerous).
i'm awaiting the string of "but what if" scenarios that never really happen
rampageturke said:
potentially dangerous is pushing it
I haven't been for a couple of years now so can't remember for sure, but I'm fairly sure many cars in the US drive around (as standard) exactly as I've described. So presumably it's not dangerous (i.e. somebody has studied it).Clearly disabling sidelights/DRLs and just running with indicators on at dusk, as I've seen, is a different kettle of fish though.
ukaskew said:
I haven't been for a couple of years now so can't remember for sure, but I'm fairly sure many cars in the US drive around (as standard) exactly as I've described. So presumably it's not dangerous (i.e. somebody has studied it).
Clearly disabling sidelights/DRLs and just running with indicators on at dusk, as I've seen, is a different kettle of fish though.
They drive on the right there too - I imagine that would be dangerous if you tried it here in town! It's not dangerous in the US because everyone knows that's what an indicator behaves like there (and because everyone is too busy getting shot, obviously).Clearly disabling sidelights/DRLs and just running with indicators on at dusk, as I've seen, is a different kettle of fish though.
I've seen two today, one Golf GTi and one E46 BMW 3 Series Coupe. They weren't dim either. It seems to also be a thing with motorcycle riders who want to look like they're in American biker gangs.
Meanwhile, people in the USA like to modify their cars to European spec as far as possible.
https://www.customeuropeanplates.com/great-britain...
I had a Polo which had to be repaired after the front offside corner got whacked by a van driver cutting a corner. The unit housing the lights, including the indicator, had to be replaced. When I got it back the indicator would sometimes stick on instead of the headlight. Tightening up the connectors at the back fixed it.
Meanwhile, people in the USA like to modify their cars to European spec as far as possible.
https://www.customeuropeanplates.com/great-britain...
I had a Polo which had to be repaired after the front offside corner got whacked by a van driver cutting a corner. The unit housing the lights, including the indicator, had to be replaced. When I got it back the indicator would sometimes stick on instead of the headlight. Tightening up the connectors at the back fixed it.
Edited by Blakewater on Saturday 22 October 23:02
I didn't think it was illegal so long as the sidelight bulbs work as normal? You can buy dual bulbs and carriers for £15 something like 9w sidelight 55w indicator. My understanding is that so long as the normal sidelight bulbs work any extra lighting is legal so long as it's coloured legally, amber is a colour you can have as a front facing secondary light.
KM666 said:
I didn't think it was illegal so long as the sidelight bulbs work as normal? You can buy dual bulbs and carriers for £15 something like 9w sidelight 55w indicator. My understanding is that so long as the normal sidelight bulbs work any extra lighting is legal so long as it's coloured legally, amber is a colour you can have as a front facing secondary light.
I think the point is that they disable DRLs/sidelights and just have the permacators (love that description!) on, maybe with front fogs for added knobbishness.Blakewater said:
It seems to also be a thing with motorcycle riders who want to look like they're in American biker gangs.
A lot of bikes (in particular Hondas) are now coming from the factory with indicators set up like this, so definitely not a legality issue.ukaskew said:
I think the point is that they disable DRLs/sidelights and just have the permacators (love that description!) on, maybe with front fogs for added knobbishness.
Clearly running without headlights in the dark is wrong, and would be on any cars. Disabling DRLs in the day time not really a big issue, loads of cars were sold without DRLs and don't have issues. And as above, it appears the amber sidelights they are trying to replicate are acceptable from a type approval situation.sonnenschein3000 said:
But the new shape Range Rovers and Range Rover Sports have a big amber line on the front lights that come on with the headlamps. OK, fine, the indicator bulb is just below it and so is s separate bulb, but it looks the same.
The E60 5-Series seems to have been the car that started that trend.
As said previously, it works perfectly well in the USA.
Indicator bulbs are lit at the front, then flash when indicating.
On the rear, one of the (red) brake lights flash as the indicator.
Then you have cars like the Mustang with sequential indicators.
Of course, this all presumes that somebody actually indicates to where they intend to go.
Is all of that illegal over here? Yes. Should it concern you and turn you into "Mr Angry of Tunbridge Wells"? Not really.
Just like tinted windows, missing front plates and anything else of that ilk.
Let the Police deal with it and concentrate on your own s
t.I don't really buy into this "at a glance you might think it's an indicator" idea. If your glance is so quick that you can't differentiate between a constantly lit indicator bulb and a flashing indicator mid-flash, then I may suggest your glance is too quick and you aren't properly observing the scene to look for hazards.
HD Adam said:
Just like tinted windows, missing front plates and anything else of that ilk.
Let the Police deal with it and concentrate on your own st.
These are all good indicators that there are other things wrong with the car usually I guess? Just a shame that there aren't more police on the road to regularly stop and check all the cars belonging to tosspots who do these things.Let the Police deal with it and concentrate on your own s
t.Are you lot actually enthusiasts? Can you not think back to your youth and remember how much of a daft twit you were following some kind of fashion at some point?
Who bloody cares. As has been stated, the indiciators are not a problem in the States, so why are they suddenly dangerous over here? The talk about imposing fines and crushing cars is ridiculous.
Who bloody cares. As has been stated, the indiciators are not a problem in the States, so why are they suddenly dangerous over here? The talk about imposing fines and crushing cars is ridiculous.
hondansx said:
Are you lot actually enthusiasts? Can you not think back to your youth and remember how much of a daft twit you were following some kind of fashion at some point?
Who bloody cares. As has been stated, the indiciators are not a problem in the States, so why are they suddenly dangerous over here? The talk about imposing fines and crushing cars is ridiculous.
Point is indicators aren't on your car to make you look good, they are on your car to assist other road users. They're about working in a accepted and expected manner which in turn helps everybody else to anticipate and plan and make better progress and never in a million years are they a fashion statement. Who bloody cares. As has been stated, the indiciators are not a problem in the States, so why are they suddenly dangerous over here? The talk about imposing fines and crushing cars is ridiculous.
So why force everybody else to hesitate and have a WTF is that retard about to do double take moment on a busy junction because your indicators aren't working properly and been permanently lit instead, and all for nothing more than you've fallen victim to the latest craze among the self centered and hard of thinking?
It's all about Meeeeee really isn't it? Hey - look at Meeeeee everybody! Check those liiiights Guys, aren't I a coooool Dude!
t
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