Improving safety - lights on at all times
Discussion
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=192728&f=23&h=0& << mostly o/t discussion here.
I drive with my lights on at all times. It makes me more visible to other road users in a variety of situations. Simple...kinda.
I drive with my lights on at all times. It makes me more visible to other road users in a variety of situations. Simple...kinda.
Periphal vision, is the answer why we all should with headlights (not sidelights) your brain will recognise there something is there. Otherwise you have to look to see, it's simple as that. Add in the % of drivers with poor eyesight, those that don't look & this countries varied roads under trees with vast differences in contrast.
For those who are against it take a double check on just how invisible some cars are. See thats thread above.
For those who are against it take a double check on just how invisible some cars are. See thats thread above.
Our black TT is very invisible to many motorists when driving in the shade/shadows of trees. Of course it is quite the opposite (blinding) whenever the Xenons are on.
Get a bright red TVR - IMO a major contribution to road safety. People see you, people hear you, people tihnk you're going faster than you really are and don't pull out on you or get out of your way.
Get a bright red TVR - IMO a major contribution to road safety. People see you, people hear you, people tihnk you're going faster than you really are and don't pull out on you or get out of your way.
targarama said:
Get a bright red TVR - IMO a major contribution to road safety. People see you, people hear you, people tihnk you're going faster than you really are and don't pull out on you or get out of your way.
Noisy green ones work well too. From inside the Tiv the world seems to be full of people looking and pointing. Makes you wonder whether I'm a mobile accident blackspot because people around me are looking at me instead of each other?
cptsideways said:
Periphal vision, is the answer why we all should with headlights (not sidelights) your brain will recognise there something is there. Otherwise you have to look to see, it's simple as that. Add in the % of drivers with poor eyesight, those that don't look & this countries varied roads under trees with vast differences in contrast.
For those who are against it take a double check on just how invisible some cars are. See thats thread above.
Great, so everyone gets used to looking for headlights rather than cars/motorbikes/pedestrians/invalid carriages etc. If people are driving with eyesite poor enough that they can't see what is around them, then they should be arrested and banned fdrom driving until they get it sorted out. Simple as that.
What will happen when everyone has their headlights on, apart from the old dear who's just left the house and hasn't rememebered yet. Trying to pull out of her road and nobody sees her because they're looking for headlights, not cars.
This kind of do-good-for-the-sake-of-it attitude winds me up. We don't need lights on a clear day. We need observant drivers who are fit to be behind the wheel in the first place!
All IMHO ofcourse.
groomi said:
[quote=cptsideways] We need observant drivers who are fit to be behind the wheel in the first place!
And while we're at it, let's get rid of speed cameras, raise or erase motorway speed limits, make every pass their driving test annually, and make sure every BiB is as fair handed, car loving and reasonable as the PH BiBs.
Right. I'll start doing pre-flight checks on the pigs then.
Well the government will be happy if we all drive around with our lights on. Ok, more bikers will have accidents because they no longer stand out, the visually challenged will pull out on anyone without lights on etc., so road safety won't be improved. But we will have higher petrol consumption for the same mileage, and so put more squidlets in Mr. Brown's coffers - he'll be delighted.
IMHO headlights aren't needed all the time in fine conditions it's OTT.
What about the rear foglight drivers who will now be driving on full beam too! If they can't see the rear fog warning light illuminated on the dash they wont see the blue full beam warning light either.
I can think of a good time when day time headlights are warranted though, but very few use them... when the sun is very strong and around 20 degrees or less above the horizon. Travelling with the sun behind me I always use dipped beam so I'm not just another silhouette to those coming towards me hiding behind their sun visors.
What about the rear foglight drivers who will now be driving on full beam too! If they can't see the rear fog warning light illuminated on the dash they wont see the blue full beam warning light either.
I can think of a good time when day time headlights are warranted though, but very few use them... when the sun is very strong and around 20 degrees or less above the horizon. Travelling with the sun behind me I always use dipped beam so I'm not just another silhouette to those coming towards me hiding behind their sun visors.
Has anyone else noticed that the last drivers to use their headlights in dull/drizzly/wet conditions are always the one driving wet tarmac coloured cars.
My car is quite pale coloured and in certain light conditions it does become awkwerd to see, added to its usual, higher than other traffic velocity, I tend too use my dipped beam quite often.
I have almost given up on the use of flashed headlights as a warning though due to the almost universal misuse of this warning signal by the masses. Several occasions i have had someone pull out from junctions because they think i am "flashing them out", never mind the fact that my speed and position clearly makes it impossible.
My car is quite pale coloured and in certain light conditions it does become awkwerd to see, added to its usual, higher than other traffic velocity, I tend too use my dipped beam quite often.
I have almost given up on the use of flashed headlights as a warning though due to the almost universal misuse of this warning signal by the masses. Several occasions i have had someone pull out from junctions because they think i am "flashing them out", never mind the fact that my speed and position clearly makes it impossible.
deeps said:
Travelling with the sun behind me I always use dipped beam so I'm not just another silhouette to those coming towards me hiding behind their sun visors.
Hmm. Thought I was the only one that did that ....
Having said that I wonder if the Wilts section of the M4 (running East/West) was affected by sun induced accidents at certain times of the year and at certain times of the day. I had a look at all the shunts recorded in the official database since 1993. If there is an effect it is darned difficult to spot from the figures.
Likewise the flash of lights as a warning. Waste of time. However an EXTENDED blast of light seems to be enough to make some people think twice, even if they start to move. Safest avoided though since most people seem not to think at all.
I do think that the govt. could do much more to ensure all vehicles are safe colours though. For a start all the ministerial limos should be a dayglo colour rather then black - much more visible. Just ask H$SE (or the Spaniards). The sales of things reflective yellow must have increased dramatically recently. Pity so many insects think they have just found a giant flower.
There were couple of NTL engineers working at the house at the end or our close the other day. Both wearing yellow jackets. I assume the house owner needed to be made especially aware that they were around on his driveway. The Transit parked across the end of the drive was clearly not enough warning.
Come to think of it, now that nearly everyine seems to be wandering around in bright yellow jackets neaarly all the time - I hardly notice them any more. I mean, I do see them, but I don't pay much attention to them since they are so ubiquitous.
Final pet hates. Bright red cars where the brake lights seem to be lost against the red paint - quite common in certain lighting conditions. And the new style of sticking the front indicator somewhere in the middle of the headlight cluster. SPot the one indicating to turn at night ... in fact if they have their lights on during the day as well, spot the ones indicating during the day.
Now where's that link for the report mentioned earlier?
Even perfect eye sight has trouble adapting from bright midday sun to a shaded area. Theres a few bits on my normal roads where you can go from clear roads and bright sun into a dark twisty bit though a copse of trees and it does takes your eyes a few moments to ajust. Cars with sidelights on stand out alot more than ones with out.
But i can see there might be a problem if every car had them on at all times, it might lead to joe driver only looking for headlights rather than other hazzards on the road.
But i can see there might be a problem if every car had them on at all times, it might lead to joe driver only looking for headlights rather than other hazzards on the road.
Surely it is a matter of what the ambient light is. This is perhaps why it is a requirement in Sweden to have day light running lights (dark a lot of the time) but illegal in Portugal (light most of the time)
Do what you are comfortable with but do we really want the Nanny state to start dictating in yet another matter. Another instance where they can fine you and endorse your lisence??
Do what you are comfortable with but do we really want the Nanny state to start dictating in yet another matter. Another instance where they can fine you and endorse your lisence??
deeps said:
I can think of a good time when day time headlights are warranted though, but very few use them... when the sun is very strong and around 20 degrees or less above the horizon. Travelling with the sun behind me I always use dipped beam so I'm not just another silhouette to those coming towards me hiding behind their sun visors.
That may not be a great idea; I believe that the Israelis found that if you wanted to hide a jet coming out of the sun the best way was to put bright lights on the nose.
IMHO, there's no case for legislation here, but I doubt that will stop em trying.
On the other hand I think there is a good case for some proper scientific research. It seems obvious to me that peripheral vision is good for sensing movement of high contrast objects. I know mine makes a really goood job of this. I can't telll you whats coming, but I can see it before I look at it. If using your headlights to stimulate this sensory capability, works for most people, then driving with lights on must be a saftey benefit.
The trouble is that the legislation will come before the research. That's cos the former is cheap and the latter expensive.
On the other hand I think there is a good case for some proper scientific research. It seems obvious to me that peripheral vision is good for sensing movement of high contrast objects. I know mine makes a really goood job of this. I can't telll you whats coming, but I can see it before I look at it. If using your headlights to stimulate this sensory capability, works for most people, then driving with lights on must be a saftey benefit.
The trouble is that the legislation will come before the research. That's cos the former is cheap and the latter expensive.
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