M56, 11pm, DRLs only.
Discussion
Was travelling along an unlit section of the M56, very light traffic. In the distance could see a vehicle in lane 1 that appeared to be unlit. Sometimes failed trailer lights might make the vehicle lights obscured. As I got closer (they were doing ~65 mph) I could see it was a car showing no lights to the rear. I put main beam on on approach. Went past and could see that front DRLs only were on. Pulled in and turned my lights on and off to flash rears. There was no response. I pulled away again and all the time it was in sight the vehicle's lights were not turned on.
Was there any other signal or action I should / could have taken?
Was there any other signal or action I should / could have taken?
I don't think there's much more you could have done. Perhaps called 101 and reported it.
It seems to be a combination of people that don't pay attention when driving and just zoom around in auto pilot mode combined with dashboards that are lit up all the time.
If i happen to pull away and forget to turn my lights on, i notice almost straight away as the dashboard isn't lit.
It seems to be a combination of people that don't pay attention when driving and just zoom around in auto pilot mode combined with dashboards that are lit up all the time.
If i happen to pull away and forget to turn my lights on, i notice almost straight away as the dashboard isn't lit.
Ive seen this a few times on the M56. People seem to get in their cars, see that lights are on at the front of the car and drive off.
New cars should all have auto lights.
It seems to be mainly Jukes that I see. Maybe because of the headlight arrangement.
You did what I would, then I would have just left them in case they were intoxicated or drugged up.
New cars should all have auto lights.
It seems to be mainly Jukes that I see. Maybe because of the headlight arrangement.
You did what I would, then I would have just left them in case they were intoxicated or drugged up.
Alucidnation said:
One would have thought not being able to see any dash controls or the speedo might have given them a clue.
The problem is though that some cars light the dashboard up even if the lights are not on, so the only thing you've got to go on is the little green headlight symbol.Don't know why DRLs aren't how Saab & Volvo used to do them - front AND rears on. The number of cars I see at night who drive thinking that DRLSs work the rears.... Same in rain - why do people not use headlights? Are they not aware that their rear lights don't come on with DRLs?
Why can we not do what the USA does - if it's wet enough to need your wipers, then its dull enough to use your headlights.
Why can we not do what the USA does - if it's wet enough to need your wipers, then its dull enough to use your headlights.
It's easy to do. My daily drive has full auto lights, drl's and even auto full beam and dip, I very rarely actually touch the lights at all, my o/h's car has very bright drl's and an on all the time dash but manual selection for "proper" lights. I've done it several times, hoped in her car driven off dash all illuminated, drl's giving a nice spread of light in front and it's not normally till I reach a completely unlit section of road that I think "these lights aren't very good? ahhhh bugger" Pretty sure I'd have sussed if someone was flashing and turning their lights off in front of me though.
speedking31 said:
Was travelling along an unlit section of the M56, very light traffic. In the distance could see a vehicle in lane 1 that appeared to be unlit. Sometimes failed trailer lights might make the vehicle lights obscured. As I got closer (they were doing ~65 mph) I could see it was a car showing no lights to the rear.
Not sure what the problem is here - you seemed to see the car just fine?Re the dash light thing - in wife's Honda an indication you've forgotten to put the lights on is the dashlights look very bright. They dim when the outside lights are one.
I think auto-lights during rain or fog are a bigger problem - in her car if they're off, then a couple of clicks goes past auto to sidelights, but you think you've turned the headlamps on.
grumpyscot said:
Don't know why DRLs aren't how Saab & Volvo used to do them - front AND rears on. The number of cars I see at night who drive thinking that DRLSs work the rears.... Same in rain - why do people not use headlights? Are they not aware that their rear lights don't come on with DRLs?
Why can we not do what the USA does - if it's wet enough to need your wipers, then its dull enough to use your headlights.
It doesn't have to be raining for it to be a dull day... I got told off for once taking someone's lights of auto on a day like that. "Do you want someone to crash into your car or what?"Why can we not do what the USA does - if it's wet enough to need your wipers, then its dull enough to use your headlights.
Reminds me of a year or so back when I was heading down the M23 towards Brighton late one winter's evening - pitch black and very few cars on the road. I was in the left lane doing about 70mph and I could see rear lights up ahead.
As I was checking behind me, starting to indicate to move into the middle land, I suddenly realised I was gaining on the vehicle much, much quicker than I had thought.
As I whooshed past it, having got a lot closer to the back of it than I had intended, I could see it was a trailer being pulled by some old 4x4 at a very slow speed. The 4x4 didn't have any rear lights and the trailer had very faint rear lights set close together - the effect was to make it look like it was much further away than it was.
As I was checking behind me, starting to indicate to move into the middle land, I suddenly realised I was gaining on the vehicle much, much quicker than I had thought.
As I whooshed past it, having got a lot closer to the back of it than I had intended, I could see it was a trailer being pulled by some old 4x4 at a very slow speed. The 4x4 didn't have any rear lights and the trailer had very faint rear lights set close together - the effect was to make it look like it was much further away than it was.
With the way a lot of people behave in their cars and the sorts of reactions you can get from people for absolutely nothing, I don't even bother flashing or trying to alert them when I'm in my car. People seem to take headlight flashing offensively these days rather than a warning.
I look at them, think they're a right moron and carry on my journey keeping well away from them and the inevitable accident they are going to cause.
I look at them, think they're a right moron and carry on my journey keeping well away from them and the inevitable accident they are going to cause.
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