Gloomy foggy weather and no lights
Discussion
I have made the mistake of thinking my lights were on when in fact I only had the DRLs on. After the third flash I realised and switched dipped beams on. In my defence it was the day we took delivery of the car and I haven't done it since.
As as biker I also find it frustrating when people don't put any type of light on in the gloom. Even with best efforts to keep it clean and dry, looking through a helmet visor is never likely to be as clear as a windscreen in decent nick.
As as biker I also find it frustrating when people don't put any type of light on in the gloom. Even with best efforts to keep it clean and dry, looking through a helmet visor is never likely to be as clear as a windscreen in decent nick.
paulrockliffe said:
They should remove sidelights, they serve absolutely no purpose and enable people to drive without their headlights on.
I have my headlights on whatever the weather, day and night and really don't see why people would do anything else.
Sidelights also act as a marker light if one of your headlight bulbs fail. Then other traffic at night can see the width of your car and not assume you are a motorbike.I have my headlights on whatever the weather, day and night and really don't see why people would do anything else.
Maybe there should be a function when the engine is started that puts the dipped headlights on if the lights were on the sidelight setting. A bit like the sidelight to dim dip setting in late 80's / early 90's cars.
Regarding driving with headlights on all the time, obviously a personal choice but seems a bit of overkill to me.
For some reason, people with fog lights on when not needed really annoys me. There isn't really a reason for this and I should probably relax a bit but it winds me up!
I've rarely felt the need for rear fog lights as in fog you're driving slower (or should be) so you're closing on the other cars at a slower speed and can spot tail lights no problem.
I've only needed front fogs twice in 13 years and had to turn off headlights due to glare so was driving with front fogs and sidelights to even see the country road properly. Granted I did have my rear fogs on too so maybe ignore the previous point!
Agree that sidelights only shouldn't be an option, good as a back up for failed headlight lamp but if it's dull/dark enough for sidelights then it's dull/dark enough for headlights in my opinion.
Driving my old Land Rover must have been interesting in the fog for people behind me I'm sure as the little red candles can't have been very visible. New lights all round have covered that problem! Driving a Lotus Elise is a bit of a nightmare when lights are needed sometimes, so many badly aligned lights from others that blind you in the low driving position.
I've rarely felt the need for rear fog lights as in fog you're driving slower (or should be) so you're closing on the other cars at a slower speed and can spot tail lights no problem.
I've only needed front fogs twice in 13 years and had to turn off headlights due to glare so was driving with front fogs and sidelights to even see the country road properly. Granted I did have my rear fogs on too so maybe ignore the previous point!
Agree that sidelights only shouldn't be an option, good as a back up for failed headlight lamp but if it's dull/dark enough for sidelights then it's dull/dark enough for headlights in my opinion.
Driving my old Land Rover must have been interesting in the fog for people behind me I'm sure as the little red candles can't have been very visible. New lights all round have covered that problem! Driving a Lotus Elise is a bit of a nightmare when lights are needed sometimes, so many badly aligned lights from others that blind you in the low driving position.
Barrington90 said:
I've rarely felt the need for rear fog lights as in fog you're driving slower (or should be) so you're closing on the other cars at a slower speed and can spot tail lights no problem.
As soon as there is a gap behind you, you are at risk of someone slamming into the back of you.This person could be distracted, part blind, drunk, motorcyclist with a foggy visor, have a misty dirty windscreen.
Always assume the worst.
k knows if they are on full or not...I will need to double checkVery timely thread this. Its been total gloom down south since Wednesday morning with this super heavy low cloud and so many numpties driving around with either no lights, or the fecking DRL brigade who don't have their rear lights on. How hard can it be to switch on your headlights....Having an old banger myself, at least I don't have the day time light option.
Worst offenders with DRL seem to be Kia Sportage (new shape) drivers and for some reason Ford drivers in general...not sure why....
We've had a lot of fog this winter, don't know why. Used my rear fog lights for the first time ever, a few weeks ago in that thick fog which hung around for three days...have never had cause to use it before, hardly any fog for years down our way, until this winter.
Many cars I'm driving have auto lights - most just won't switch the lights in daylight fog. Probably the reason for many of the cars without lights on in such conditions. More and more cars seem to now have lights that you can have in the proper headlights on position which then turn off completely upon removing the key. Just leave them on all the time, so much easier and safer.
greenarrow said:
Worst offenders with DRL seem to be Kia Sportage (new shape) drivers and for some reason Ford drivers in general...not sure why....
A friend of mine had a Kia Sportage. Not long after getting it they set off (I was a passenger), at night with no lights. The dash was lit, presumably all the time and the DRLs were that bright, lighting up the road immediately in front of the car they thought the lights were on until someone flashed them. Might be safer if any car with DRLs has auto headlights too. Not that it would solve the issue of folk not turning on lights in dull weather, fog or rain.
funkyrobot said:
bungz said:
One that does me is people using front fogs instead of dipped lights, what the hell is that about 
Cool, innit.I'm seeing more and more cars being driven by morons doing that. Sidelight and foglight combo. Great!
montyjohn said:
Barrington90 said:
I've rarely felt the need for rear fog lights as in fog you're driving slower (or should be) so you're closing on the other cars at a slower speed and can spot tail lights no problem.
As soon as there is a gap behind you, you are at risk of someone slamming into the back of you.This person could be distracted, part blind, drunk, motorcyclist with a foggy visor, have a misty dirty windscreen.
Always assume the worst.
I'm quite trusting of other drivers, it makes for a more relaxed drive
Barrington90 said:
I see your point but I'm not "wired" that way to think about worse case scenarios! I'm just going on my experience of always being able to see other's regular tail lights in foggy conditions.
I'm quite trusting of other drivers, it makes for a more relaxed drive
I'm really not convinced about trusting other drivers - the advice I was given on my motorcycle training course over 40 years ago - "assume the other guy is an idiot, better a pleasant surprise than a fatal one!" has helped me avoid lots of accidents in over 400,000 miles of driving I'm quite trusting of other drivers, it makes for a more relaxed drive
But on the subject in question, I do switch the headlights on my
The rear fogs get used in moderately bad visibility on fast roads, but the front fogs only get used when it is down near red-flag man levels.
1- lights not on in low light: most likely caused by auto lights in most cars now
2- Why do people get so bent out of shape about people running their front fog lamps? They do not blind you in the least bit, they are pointed at the freaking ground! In our BMW, the foglamps illuminate the sides of the road much better, I use them when driving late at night on B roads and lanes.
2- Why do people get so bent out of shape about people running their front fog lamps? They do not blind you in the least bit, they are pointed at the freaking ground! In our BMW, the foglamps illuminate the sides of the road much better, I use them when driving late at night on B roads and lanes.
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