Simple motoring ideas
Discussion
Does anybody have any simple ideas that could have a positive impact on our motoring? You know, the sort of ideas that aren't really worth starting a thread over but might ultimately become a compilation that's worth reading 
One that I've often thought is for hazard lights to flash at a different rate to indicators so if one side of a car is obscured you can see whether they're indicating to pull out or they just have their hazards on. Surely it wouldn't be difficult to implement.
One that I've often thought is for hazard lights to flash at a different rate to indicators so if one side of a car is obscured you can see whether they're indicating to pull out or they just have their hazards on. Surely it wouldn't be difficult to implement.
Brake lights that are significantly dimmer when the car is stationary - far too often I sit at lights being completely blinded by the xmas tree in front with huge arrays of LED brake lights.
Some form of beam shaping lenses on fog lights would be good - so that you can use them as a complement to headlights in normal driving on cars which have less-than-stellar headlights. Folks with HID's don't realise how badly they affect the night vision of drivers with poor headlights.
Some form of beam shaping lenses on fog lights would be good - so that you can use them as a complement to headlights in normal driving on cars which have less-than-stellar headlights. Folks with HID's don't realise how badly they affect the night vision of drivers with poor headlights.
I've noticed a few newish cars driving round at dusk with no lights on!
Can only think culprit to blame is brightly lit dashboards, even when lights are supposed to be off, making people not realise.
If manufacturers are going to but well-lit dashboards in, they perhaps need to start installing auto headlights as standard.
When do we see sat nav as standard?
Can only think culprit to blame is brightly lit dashboards, even when lights are supposed to be off, making people not realise.
If manufacturers are going to but well-lit dashboards in, they perhaps need to start installing auto headlights as standard.
When do we see sat nav as standard?
djt100 said:
Re the Fog light issue, The Simple answer here, is to have them turn off when the lights are turned off. this could easily be done on the switch, lights off and fog lights have to be turned off, Always thought having a separate switch is asking for trouble from the idiots.
My old MK1 mondeo does this and have done since 1993.Not a fan of SatNav so hope it isn't a standard fit. Most people only really need it once in a blue moon, and only then because they are too stupid or lazy to read a map.
Bluetooth should be standard these days, no excuse not to for the pence it would cost per unit.
It would be nice if all manufactures fitted a rechargable tourch in cars, as BMW certainly used to do.
Re the question about Fog light lights, many don't have a light on the dash but on the button or switch which is usually well out of the line of sight when driving. Some do surprise me though as, for example, in a Mk3 Golf you have to make a concious decision to turn them on again for the next journey, assuming that you turned off the head lights...
Bluetooth should be standard these days, no excuse not to for the pence it would cost per unit.
It would be nice if all manufactures fitted a rechargable tourch in cars, as BMW certainly used to do.
Re the question about Fog light lights, many don't have a light on the dash but on the button or switch which is usually well out of the line of sight when driving. Some do surprise me though as, for example, in a Mk3 Golf you have to make a concious decision to turn them on again for the next journey, assuming that you turned off the head lights...
Krikkit said:
Brake lights that are significantly dimmer when the car is stationary - far too often I sit at lights being completely blinded by the xmas tree in front with huge arrays of LED brake lights.
Imagine stopping at the top of the slip road, then later another car comes up the slip road whilst you are still waiting at traffic lights. I've had this many times. Dim brake lights could mean the approaching car doesn't notice you in time. You could dim the brake lights if the parking sensors detect a stationary object behind it. But any failure could lead to serious safety issues.Come up with a standard/best layout for all the common switchgear. By mow manufactures should have evolved the controls to the point where the best set up is known, yet every car I drive has some sort of supid flaw in the design, often changed from the previous model which was fine.
I have a mk 3 mondeo and two i can name are...
1. The flash and the main beam are both activated the same way, you just pull harder to click the main beam on fully. half the time a flash ends up with the main beams full on.
It was so much better when flash was pull towards you, main beam push away.
2. The AC button has a tiny light on it (invisible in sunlight) to tell you its on. Very anoying if your wife likes AC on, and you don't. The dash has two different warning lights for ice, so why not one for the AC???
We've managed to come up with the best design for the primary controls, so how hard is it to come up with the best design for the secondary controls/switches?
I have a mk 3 mondeo and two i can name are...
1. The flash and the main beam are both activated the same way, you just pull harder to click the main beam on fully. half the time a flash ends up with the main beams full on.
It was so much better when flash was pull towards you, main beam push away.
2. The AC button has a tiny light on it (invisible in sunlight) to tell you its on. Very anoying if your wife likes AC on, and you don't. The dash has two different warning lights for ice, so why not one for the AC???
We've managed to come up with the best design for the primary controls, so how hard is it to come up with the best design for the secondary controls/switches?
A form of visual communication with the driver in front of you on a dual carriageway to encourage him to move over and let you past. Maybe with a reciprocal message which lights up in the back window to enable you to express your "appreciation" when you finally do get past!
ETA: in these high-tech days of radar-sensors and what-nots which keep an automatic eye out for other cars/obstructions, maybe cars can have integrated warnings which tell the driver to "Pull the F*ck over you Pr!ck", when they hover too long in lanes 2 or 3.
ETA: in these high-tech days of radar-sensors and what-nots which keep an automatic eye out for other cars/obstructions, maybe cars can have integrated warnings which tell the driver to "Pull the F*ck over you Pr!ck", when they hover too long in lanes 2 or 3.
Edited by LotusOmega375D on Wednesday 7th March 13:45
Edited by LotusOmega375D on Wednesday 7th March 13:46
durbster said:
One that I've often thought is for hazard lights to flash at a different rate to indicators so if one side of a car is obscured you can see whether they're indicating to pull out or they just have their hazards on. Surely it wouldn't be difficult to implement.
May not apply everywhere but in London you often do not know if a bus indicating right is going to pull forward, away from a bus stop or if it is going to pull out to the right because there is a vehicle parked in front of it. Thought that two sets of indicators would be useful. One for pulling away from bus stop and the other (or both sets one side) for moving out / turning right.Yes, I know you should let the bus go first but when they are in a bus lane they sometimes need to get around an obstacle and unexpectedly pull out into the passing traffic.
Rude-boy said:
Not a fan of SatNav so hope it isn't a standard fit. Most people only really need it once in a blue moon, and only then because they are too stupid or lazy to read a map.
Bluetooth should be standard these days, no excuse not to for the pence it would cost per unit.
It would be nice if all manufactures fitted a rechargable tourch in cars, as BMW certainly used to do.
Re the question about Fog light lights, many don't have a light on the dash but on the button or switch which is usually well out of the line of sight when driving. Some do surprise me though as, for example, in a Mk3 Golf you have to make a concious decision to turn them on again for the next journey, assuming that you turned off the head lights...
Eh? Its just another piece of technology designed to make life easier. I assume you have never used an automatic gearbox, escalator, phone with a speeddial (even for voicemail), instant coffee, automatic doors, ball point pens, digital camera, gas central heating etc.Bluetooth should be standard these days, no excuse not to for the pence it would cost per unit.
It would be nice if all manufactures fitted a rechargable tourch in cars, as BMW certainly used to do.
Re the question about Fog light lights, many don't have a light on the dash but on the button or switch which is usually well out of the line of sight when driving. Some do surprise me though as, for example, in a Mk3 Golf you have to make a concious decision to turn them on again for the next journey, assuming that you turned off the head lights...
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