RE: Numpty Dazzlers
Friday 11th October 2002
Numpty Dazzlers
Winter time is coming, prepare to be dazzled by the masses
Discussion
"A check on headlight adjustment is an integral part of the MOT, so cars that have received an MOT examination recently should be fine."
This statment, sadly, maybe utter tosh.
The only reason Twink failed her MOT this year was on headlight adjustment, and no matter how much we fiddled with them, we just could not get them right.
Closer inspection revealed that the lights were yank spac so their diffusion patterns were back to front. The only remedy was new light units...
...the words rocking, poo and horse come to mind.
Anyway that was irritating, but doubley so when i tell you that was the third test I'd put her through. The latest was not at my usual garage.
I had been running round for two years with f**ked headlights, and I never knew. Kind of explains why they never seemed very good, and why people were always flashing at me.
Goes to show the MOT system isn't infallible, wonder what else they miss...
Mouse.
This statment, sadly, maybe utter tosh.
The only reason Twink failed her MOT this year was on headlight adjustment, and no matter how much we fiddled with them, we just could not get them right.
Closer inspection revealed that the lights were yank spac so their diffusion patterns were back to front. The only remedy was new light units...
...the words rocking, poo and horse come to mind.
Anyway that was irritating, but doubley so when i tell you that was the third test I'd put her through. The latest was not at my usual garage.
I had been running round for two years with f**ked headlights, and I never knew. Kind of explains why they never seemed very good, and why people were always flashing at me.
Goes to show the MOT system isn't infallible, wonder what else they miss...
Mouse.
CarZee said: I never realised what a pain this can be until last night, out in the Tiv after dark..
I've never had a car before where you're sat so low down, so never noticed what a pain oncoming lights (and foglights too..) can be.
I got passed by what I think was one of these:
the other night, the bloody lights are so high up they give the full on dazzle effect to any 'normal' car. I hate 4x4s even more now.
Dangermouse does in fact identify a problem with modern car design.
When glass and polymer production techniques were less advanced virtually all cars had a 7" round headlamp of similar design and performance. If you acquired a new car it was very obvious if your headlamps were not performing well. The solution was either to replace the light unit, to improve the earthing or to reallign the lamp unit, generally using a couple of chalk marks on the garage wall.
The myriad designs of today have different cut offs, beam shapes etc and the difference between main and dipped varies tremendously.
It is quite possible to drive around for years just thinking that your lights are poor by design when, as in the Mouse's case the real problem was elsewhere. So come back Danger Mouse all allegations of creeping numptyism withdrawn.
If we all drove Bristols with Quad 7" Cibe Bioptics this problem would of course disappear.
>> Edited by gnomesmith on Friday 11th October 16:19
When glass and polymer production techniques were less advanced virtually all cars had a 7" round headlamp of similar design and performance. If you acquired a new car it was very obvious if your headlamps were not performing well. The solution was either to replace the light unit, to improve the earthing or to reallign the lamp unit, generally using a couple of chalk marks on the garage wall.
The myriad designs of today have different cut offs, beam shapes etc and the difference between main and dipped varies tremendously.
It is quite possible to drive around for years just thinking that your lights are poor by design when, as in the Mouse's case the real problem was elsewhere. So come back Danger Mouse all allegations of creeping numptyism withdrawn.
If we all drove Bristols with Quad 7" Cibe Bioptics this problem would of course disappear.
>> Edited by gnomesmith on Friday 11th October 16:19
Yes the dazzling season is back, however some progress to report on daytime lights (DRL).
With input from the BMF and FEMA, the UK and EU bikers organisations, they successfully united EU bikers, EU cyclists and EU pedestrians organisations against ACEA the EU car manufacturers. ACEA were prevented from introducing DRL this model year. Now the EU have initiated a report into the effect of daytime headlights on less conspicuous more vulnerable road users.
So its a slow haul, but eventually we may get those irritating 4x4s and Volvos from ruining your vision when trying to look out for Gatsos and Plod.
Not to mention someone's child!!!
Regards to all
Roy Milnes
DADRL drivers against daytime running lights UK
www.dadrl.org.uk
www.lightsout.org
With input from the BMF and FEMA, the UK and EU bikers organisations, they successfully united EU bikers, EU cyclists and EU pedestrians organisations against ACEA the EU car manufacturers. ACEA were prevented from introducing DRL this model year. Now the EU have initiated a report into the effect of daytime headlights on less conspicuous more vulnerable road users.
So its a slow haul, but eventually we may get those irritating 4x4s and Volvos from ruining your vision when trying to look out for Gatsos and Plod.
Not to mention someone's child!!!
Regards to all
Roy Milnes
DADRL drivers against daytime running lights UK
www.dadrl.org.uk
www.lightsout.org
thrust said:
I got passed by what I think was one of these:
the other night, the bloody lights are so high up they give the full on dazzle effect to any 'normal' car. I hate 4x4s even more now.
I may be wrong about this, but shouldn't lights that are higher up be LESS dazzling, as they have to point downwards more. (As opposed to fogs/'driving' lights, which dazzle more due to pointing up from low down. Clear as mud, I know...) Sort of.
Too many pies, Ted?
It's all a very complicated matter of geometry, but...
If the lights are high up, even if they are pointed down more, there comes point where it is possible to glance right along the line of the beam (causing severe dazzlement).
If your eyeline is higher than the origin of a downward beam this can never happen.
I could draw a picture...?
I get it all the time in the cr-x. When I was younger and more niave, in the Mini, I was forever flashing (my lights FGS!) at people to put their ligts down, only for them to oblige me by demonstrating that they were all ready down.....ouch!
I don't do that anymore. The IAM rather commically suggests...
..."If an on coming driver accidently leaves his lights on highbeam, don't flash in order to chastise him, instead divert you gaze to the side of the road and use the extra light to gain more useful information about the road ahead"...
...all very well, once you've blinded!
Mouse.
>> Edited by danger mouse on Monday 14th October 13:59
danger mouse said: When I was younger and more niave, in the Mini, I was forever flashing (my lights FGS!) at people to put their ligts down, only for them to oblige me by demonstrating that they were all ready down.....ouch!
Ah the heady days of old mini ownership.
At times in the rain, I have been reduced to following the lane lines on the M4 through the driver's side window, as the headlights were fcuk all use at the best of times and might as well have been switched off once I'd been dazzled a couple of times.
:sniff: loved that car, though
If an on coming driver accidently leaves his lights on highbeam, don't flash in order to chastise him, instead divert you gaze to the side of the road and use the extra light to gain more useful information about the road ahead"...
what--like study the offside verge where do these ideas come from?
what--like study the offside verge where do these ideas come from?
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