One single thing that makes you think "knob" Vol 4
Discussion
alpha channel said:
A white Astra this morning, wet, lots of spray? yep, dark? yep, both front headlights blown (completely), running on DRL's and fogs.
The DRL's double up as side lights on the Astra, so chances are they were driving on side lights and front fog lights, which amongst some crowds is classed as super cool.silver1011 said:
alpha channel said:
A white Astra this morning, wet, lots of spray? yep, dark? yep, both front headlights blown (completely), running on DRL's and fogs.
The DRL's double up as side lights on the Astra, so chances are they were driving on side lights and front fog lights, which amongst some crowds is classed as super cool.Lots and lots of "bulb blown, awaiting MOT to get it fixed" knob-ends, as per usual.
Worst one was some easily forgettable Korean (I think) hatchback. Not only were they running with only a left hand tail lamp lit, but the reflectors in the bumper were filthy to the point of not reflecting any light back at me, and they had an illegal non-reflective number plate. So from the rear it looked like it might be a scooter/moped ahead (it wasn't being driven fast enough to pass for a 'proper' motorcycle
), until I got close enough that my dipped headlamps threw some light on the dark coloured car.
And then there was the "cyclist". There's a road near me which has a 30 mph speed limit, but it's routinely ignored, and used as a rat run. Upon it, last night, was a stupid young lad on a 'Ninja' bike. Almost a perfect storm really. An extremely difficult-to-spot cyclist and a determined corps of bad drivers.
The lad (think Roland Browning "off of" Grange Hill) was drooging along in dark clothes, in the dark, in the rain, on a bike fitted with no lights, and with ALL of it's reflectors removed. He was lucky that a) I'm a keen cyclist so I'm always looking for cyclists, b) I'm one of the few drivers who doesn't zoom up that road at well in excess of the speed limit, and c) I didn't so much see him as much as I spotted a darker patch of darkness. He was in a 'dead spot' between two streetlights too, which made him harder to spot. I gave him three sharp toots of the horn, at which he got off the carriageway and onto the footway. I hope he stayed on it too, as he was in extreme danger of being squashed if he'd stayed on the carriageway. I was considering stopping to explain why I'd used the horn, and to advise him to get some lights, but you don't know what kind of reaction you'll get these days so I left it and hoped he'd realise why.
And another cyclist this morning, a commuter turning into Fleet Station. I spotted him only at the last moment again. He had a front light, but it was barely there at all. About as bright as the "power on" indicator light on a kettle. A candle would have been brighter. He was lost in the refracted lights of other cars, etc, in the dark and rain, and I only spotted him when he got between me and the headlamp of a car behind him.
I'm glad I've just taken delivery of 2 x 1600 lumen front lights for my bike now! I'm hoping I'll be visible to the crew of the ISS...
Worst one was some easily forgettable Korean (I think) hatchback. Not only were they running with only a left hand tail lamp lit, but the reflectors in the bumper were filthy to the point of not reflecting any light back at me, and they had an illegal non-reflective number plate. So from the rear it looked like it might be a scooter/moped ahead (it wasn't being driven fast enough to pass for a 'proper' motorcycle
), until I got close enough that my dipped headlamps threw some light on the dark coloured car.And then there was the "cyclist". There's a road near me which has a 30 mph speed limit, but it's routinely ignored, and used as a rat run. Upon it, last night, was a stupid young lad on a 'Ninja' bike. Almost a perfect storm really. An extremely difficult-to-spot cyclist and a determined corps of bad drivers.
The lad (think Roland Browning "off of" Grange Hill) was drooging along in dark clothes, in the dark, in the rain, on a bike fitted with no lights, and with ALL of it's reflectors removed. He was lucky that a) I'm a keen cyclist so I'm always looking for cyclists, b) I'm one of the few drivers who doesn't zoom up that road at well in excess of the speed limit, and c) I didn't so much see him as much as I spotted a darker patch of darkness. He was in a 'dead spot' between two streetlights too, which made him harder to spot. I gave him three sharp toots of the horn, at which he got off the carriageway and onto the footway. I hope he stayed on it too, as he was in extreme danger of being squashed if he'd stayed on the carriageway. I was considering stopping to explain why I'd used the horn, and to advise him to get some lights, but you don't know what kind of reaction you'll get these days so I left it and hoped he'd realise why.
And another cyclist this morning, a commuter turning into Fleet Station. I spotted him only at the last moment again. He had a front light, but it was barely there at all. About as bright as the "power on" indicator light on a kettle. A candle would have been brighter. He was lost in the refracted lights of other cars, etc, in the dark and rain, and I only spotted him when he got between me and the headlamp of a car behind him.
I'm glad I've just taken delivery of 2 x 1600 lumen front lights for my bike now! I'm hoping I'll be visible to the crew of the ISS...
OpulentBob said:
Too bright can be as dangerous as not bright enough. These 1600W lights, angle them down and please avoid strobe mode, thanks.
Don't fret Bob. The light will be angled down, where it's of most use to me. And the 1600 lumens setting will only be used in the deepest darkest woodland to assist me in NOT crashing into trees or slipping on wet roots. It's got four less bright settings to choose from for road use, along with some flashing settings (which I probably won't use except as DRLs), but no real 'strobe' mode, thank Goodness. Drawing the amps to run at 1600 lumens the batteries won't last 2 hours, and you're right, it's probably too much for road use anyway. Ideal for the night time trial event at the Battle On The Beach mountain bike race I enter each Spring though... jamei303 said:
yellowjack said:
in dark clothes, in the dark
Not sure how that is relevant. Is your car yellow, orange or pink? Don't you think you should paint some bright colours on it so you can be seen more easily?But hey? If you think it's OK for pedestrians and cyclists to scoot about in top-to-toe black at night "because there are black cars" then crack on. I'll stick to wearing a bright yellow jacket and 'slap wrap' reflectors on my ankles, and hope it has more than just a placebo effect on my safety on the roads...
yellowjack said:
Weird thing this, but in my car I just turn the switch to put my lights on. And cars, by law, have to have rear reflectors, and modern cars need yellow reflective number plates too. So even if it was a dark coloured car, with no lights on and a driver wearing dark clothes, then I'd have seen it sooner than the much smaller, matt black, entirely non-reflective cyclist. Also, even if the car had no lights on, and no reflectors, so long as it had been moving I would have been less likely to arrive behind it at a speed which would endanger it's driver. Whereas a porky lad on a bicycle struggling up a slight hill at less than 10 mph? At a closing speed of ~20 mph he's definitely taking a trip over the bonnet if I fail to spot him, and at the very least he's gonna have a headache in the morning.
But hey? If you think it's OK for pedestrians and cyclists to scoot about in top-to-toe black at night "because there are black cars" then crack on. I'll stick to wearing a bright yellow jacket and 'slap wrap' reflectors on my ankles, and hope it has more than just a placebo effect on my safety on the roads...
I didn't dispute the lack of lights and reflectors. Cars and bikes should have them.But hey? If you think it's OK for pedestrians and cyclists to scoot about in top-to-toe black at night "because there are black cars" then crack on. I'll stick to wearing a bright yellow jacket and 'slap wrap' reflectors on my ankles, and hope it has more than just a placebo effect on my safety on the roads...
What I did dispute was you criticising the colour of the cyclists clothing. If you think cyclists should wear bight clothing then surely you think cars should be brightly coloured too? Surely a pink car is much more visible than a grey one, regardless of the state of lights and reflectors thereon.
A pink car you say?
Well I suppose it would be easier to spot than a black one. Dependent upon the background, I suppose...
...but this is a forum. It's not about facts, it's about opinions. Especially this thread, and in my opinion the suicidal Ninja kid I only just saw to avoid was being a knob. Just the same as I think "Knob!" when I see yet another metallic gunmetal Corsa trundling along at dusk or dawn with no lights on, blending into the background. But if the Corsa's lights are on, then I'd not give it much thought at all, other than to drive properly around it. Much like a cyclist wearing dark clothing but using a bike with reflectors fitted and it's lights on. I'd see the lights, then reflectors, and realise it was a bicycle and drive appropriately to overtake it, and never make an effort to remember what clothes the rider was wearing. It only becomes worthy of a remark when it's the "straw that breaks the camel's back" in terms of camouflaging the appearance of the road user you think is being a knob...
Well I suppose it would be easier to spot than a black one. Dependent upon the background, I suppose...
...but this is a forum. It's not about facts, it's about opinions. Especially this thread, and in my opinion the suicidal Ninja kid I only just saw to avoid was being a knob. Just the same as I think "Knob!" when I see yet another metallic gunmetal Corsa trundling along at dusk or dawn with no lights on, blending into the background. But if the Corsa's lights are on, then I'd not give it much thought at all, other than to drive properly around it. Much like a cyclist wearing dark clothing but using a bike with reflectors fitted and it's lights on. I'd see the lights, then reflectors, and realise it was a bicycle and drive appropriately to overtake it, and never make an effort to remember what clothes the rider was wearing. It only becomes worthy of a remark when it's the "straw that breaks the camel's back" in terms of camouflaging the appearance of the road user you think is being a knob...
I suspect this comes up every now and then, but still amazed by the number of people who drive through thick fog, with no lights on at all. Oddly there seems to be many who do this, in dark/silver/grey cars which blend into a nice thick grey pea soup fog perfectly.
The funny thing is that those who do this, seem only too quick to start flashing their head lights if a car coming the other way strays into their lane, After which they immediately go back into the `no lights at all, you can`t see me, stealth mode' Odd that.
The funny thing is that those who do this, seem only too quick to start flashing their head lights if a car coming the other way strays into their lane, After which they immediately go back into the `no lights at all, you can`t see me, stealth mode' Odd that.
yellowjack said:
OpulentBob said:
Too bright can be as dangerous as not bright enough. These 1600W lights, angle them down and please avoid strobe mode, thanks.
Don't fret Bob. The light will be angled down, where it's of most use to me. And the 1600 lumens setting will only be used in the deepest darkest woodland to assist me in NOT crashing into trees or slipping on wet roots. It's got four less bright settings to choose from for road use, along with some flashing settings (which I probably won't use except as DRLs), but no real 'strobe' mode, thank Goodness. Drawing the amps to run at 1600 lumens the batteries won't last 2 hours, and you're right, it's probably too much for road use anyway. Ideal for the night time trial event at the Battle On The Beach mountain bike race I enter each Spring though... Many years ago my Dad told me that where oncoming cars had very bright lights, or their lights on high beam, not to do the natural thing, and look at them, but instead focus on the nearside kerb, which greatly reduced the effect of the oncoming headlights, even where the oncoming vehicle has a moron at the wheel, who has left his headlights on high beam.
Pan Pan Pan said:
Some head lights these days do seem to be super bright, but oddly like moths to the flame our attention seems to be drawn to them.
Many years ago my Dad told me that where oncoming cars had very bright lights, or their lights on high beam, not to do the natural thing, and look at them, but instead focus on the nearside kerb, which greatly reduced the effect of the oncoming headlights, even where the oncoming vehicle has a moron at the wheel, who has left his headlights on high beam.
A wise man your dad, who'd have thought it was a good idea not to stare at bright lights while trying to find your way in the dark?Many years ago my Dad told me that where oncoming cars had very bright lights, or their lights on high beam, not to do the natural thing, and look at them, but instead focus on the nearside kerb, which greatly reduced the effect of the oncoming headlights, even where the oncoming vehicle has a moron at the wheel, who has left his headlights on high beam.
yellowjack said:
OpulentBob said:
Too bright can be as dangerous as not bright enough. These 1600W lights, angle them down and please avoid strobe mode, thanks.
Don't fret Bob. The light will be angled down, where it's of most use to me. And the 1600 lumens setting will only be used in the deepest darkest woodland to assist me in NOT crashing into trees or slipping on wet roots. It's got four less bright settings to choose from for road use, along with some flashing settings (which I probably won't use except as DRLs), but no real 'strobe' mode, thank Goodness. Drawing the amps to run at 1600 lumens the batteries won't last 2 hours, and you're right, it's probably too much for road use anyway. Ideal for the night time trial event at the Battle On The Beach mountain bike race I enter each Spring though... The guy in the 67-plate Audi Q7 who parked next to me this afternoon and thinks this is an acceptable state for his front tyres to be in!
The way its worn makes me think hes probably spent a fair amount of time driving on under-inflated tyres too.
His parking wasn't exactly great either!
In fairness when I politely pointed it out to him and how dangerous it is he sheepishly thanked me and said he'd get it looked into asap, but still a knob for letting it get to that point!
The way its worn makes me think hes probably spent a fair amount of time driving on under-inflated tyres too.
His parking wasn't exactly great either!
In fairness when I politely pointed it out to him and how dangerous it is he sheepishly thanked me and said he'd get it looked into asap, but still a knob for letting it get to that point!
The cyclist causing mayhem on the Redheugh Bridge Southbound at about 0745 this morning. Torrential rain - narrow lanes - poor visibility and a 50mph speed limit.
I know he was entitled to be on that section of road, and as a rule, I'm very tolerant of cyclists, especially in the absence of a specific cycle lane, however, for the sake of self-preservation, I'd be using the footway, as most other cyclists do there. The guy didn't inconvenience me, however, he did nearly end up under the wheels of a 32-tonne tipper who may or may not have been able to see him clearly...
I know he was entitled to be on that section of road, and as a rule, I'm very tolerant of cyclists, especially in the absence of a specific cycle lane, however, for the sake of self-preservation, I'd be using the footway, as most other cyclists do there. The guy didn't inconvenience me, however, he did nearly end up under the wheels of a 32-tonne tipper who may or may not have been able to see him clearly...
Another old lady with DRLs and no lights.
I was behind her and flashed her repeatedly...nothing.
I managed to pass her and switched my own lights off so she could see my rear lights were not on and then put them on again.... nothing.
I put my hand out of the window and simulated rotating the light switch...nothing.
Tried my fogs....nothing.
Off she went, blithely ignorant of her lack of lights to the rear.
There was another SUV on the inside lane further on with the same issue..
Why don't they make DRLs front AND back, never really understood why only front.
I was behind her and flashed her repeatedly...nothing.
I managed to pass her and switched my own lights off so she could see my rear lights were not on and then put them on again.... nothing.
I put my hand out of the window and simulated rotating the light switch...nothing.
Tried my fogs....nothing.
Off she went, blithely ignorant of her lack of lights to the rear.
There was another SUV on the inside lane further on with the same issue..
Why don't they make DRLs front AND back, never really understood why only front.
The motorcyclist, giving all other decent riders a bad name by, riding over the pedestrian walkway areas & then utilising the mini zebra crossing to enter the Tesco petrol station at The Meadows, Sandhurst on Thursday afternoon.
He'd obviously decided that his route was the quicker one to enter the petrol station, rather than just riding around the entrance / exit road like everyone else does.
Ironically, his "shortcut" probably took him longer than it would have taken to just use the road at the 20mph speed limit. Especially once you accounted for the repeated instances of enforced braking / stopping & swearing (due to those stupid pedestrians getting in his way
) and stopping again on the zebra crossing from the car park into the petrol station, then blocking the road to swear at a woman in a Discovery who evidently nearly "killed" him. 
I think one staff member on a break in the car park appeared to be filming the latter stages on the zebra crossing, so with any luck said biker might get his details reported to the Police for being a twonk.
He'd obviously decided that his route was the quicker one to enter the petrol station, rather than just riding around the entrance / exit road like everyone else does.
Ironically, his "shortcut" probably took him longer than it would have taken to just use the road at the 20mph speed limit. Especially once you accounted for the repeated instances of enforced braking / stopping & swearing (due to those stupid pedestrians getting in his way
) and stopping again on the zebra crossing from the car park into the petrol station, then blocking the road to swear at a woman in a Discovery who evidently nearly "killed" him. I think one staff member on a break in the car park appeared to be filming the latter stages on the zebra crossing, so with any luck said biker might get his details reported to the Police for being a twonk.
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