Missing lights and confidence.
Discussion
We all know the country is at the beginning of the slowest economic recovery since World War II however the spin doctors want to put it. We're one poor financial decision away from needing bailout from Europe; provided we're still in the EU when that particular turd hit the fan. Public sector cuts mean the Police are stretched to breaking point and people are literally getting away with murder. So what harm does having one or two burned out lights bulbs on your car do?
If the passenger side headlight bulb is out on your car you only have roughly 30% visibility compared to having both lights working.
On my commute to work I have noticed that one in four cars has at least one light bulb of some kind out. Some who only have one headlight use their front fog lights as a back up. Some argue that it costs £150 to have headlight bulb changed at a dealership because it's a two hour job (Vauxhall Insignia for example); if you can't afford to get your headlight bulb changed why drive such a ridiculous car in the first place? Some say it's a company car...
So do I wait until daylight hours before I start cycling to work again or do I write to my MP, Council, Police Commissioner, God to try and get a clamp down on these
people driving dangerous vehicles on the road before the body count starts?
If the passenger side headlight bulb is out on your car you only have roughly 30% visibility compared to having both lights working.
On my commute to work I have noticed that one in four cars has at least one light bulb of some kind out. Some who only have one headlight use their front fog lights as a back up. Some argue that it costs £150 to have headlight bulb changed at a dealership because it's a two hour job (Vauxhall Insignia for example); if you can't afford to get your headlight bulb changed why drive such a ridiculous car in the first place? Some say it's a company car...
The Law said:
The driver is responsible for the condition of the vehicle they are in charge of.
I don't cycle in fog. I've had to have six-ish months out of the saddle due to being knocked off in broad daylight; fog is lethal. Driving to work the last couple of days as well as idiots with one or two lights out I've noticed hardly anyone using fog lights. Last night in less than fifty meters of visibility I caught up to a car with only the passenger side tail light, no fog lights and only a driver side headlight. So do I wait until daylight hours before I start cycling to work again or do I write to my MP, Council, Police Commissioner, God to try and get a clamp down on these
people driving dangerous vehicles on the road before the body count starts? Liquid Knight said:
I don't cycle in fog. I've had to have six-ish months out of the saddle due to being knocked off in broad daylight;
Hope you have now made a good recovery.Maybe your efforts would be better directed towards policing the motorists who can't see you in broad daylight because they are not looking!
Your comments on fog....... It isn't the fog that is dangerous - it's people who don't moderate their driving to the conditions.
It could be argued that putting more/brighter lights on cars is not a good idea, because it encourages the driver to drive faster - with reduced visibility it is an advantage if he drives slower.
Fastpedeller said:
It could be argued that putting more/brighter lights on cars is not a good idea, because it encourages the driver to drive faster - with reduced visibility it is an advantage if he drives slower.
Appears that way, based on what OP wrote!Liquid Knight said:
Last night in less than fifty meters of visibility I caught up to a car with only the passenger side tail light, no fog lights and only a driver side headlight.
Anyway, me and my missus both have MX5's. We must have dodgy electrics because we both get through several headlight bulbs a year. But we always replace them as soon as possible (ie, when we notice one is out and we are somewhere where we can do it - we usually have spares with us). But sometimes they just go and you've gotta continue on your way home. You will always notice more cars with bulbs out at this time of year because its darker more, and its cold and damp.(admission time - I have a sidelight out. I have no intention to replace it until MOT time because I never use sidelights on their own and even if I did, they are so pathetic you couldn't see them from 20 ft - just have the main lights on as soon as its a bit dingy)
Hells teeth, the Liquid Knight is right, though.
One Alfa around here is running on a nearside sidelight as his only front light - no offside side marker lamp to even gauge width. In the dark it appears to be a motorcycle, in fog my first thought was bicycle. He/she is an accident waiting to happen - one dark morning someone will pass a parked car on their side and run head on into this Alfa. Or maybe it won't happen, through sheer dumb luck, but it doesn't make it any less dangerous. I haven't been able to report it, though, as I only ever see the front of the car and can't read the numberplate at a closing speed of about 50/60mph.
That's just the worst example. I'm not sure I agree about the ratio being as bad as 1 in 4, I'd say it's closer to 1 in 6 cars locally that have some sort of noticeable lighting fault.
This sort of thing is an easy fix, too. The problems are so obvious (from the front, at least) that a couple of PCSOs could write up the tickets at a simple check point. Repeat the checks for a week, on various local roads, and get the offenders to present their vehicles for inspection within , say, 3 days and 90% of the problem is sorted (for a short while).
There's no excuse of "I didn't know" either, as surely most (if not all) modern cars have a fault indicator light on the dashboard to indicate a failed driving lamp? My poverty-spec 2002 Vectra certainly had one, as has every car I've owned since. Most of the cars I see like this are newer vehicles, too, so if a lamp fails after 18 months, do these fkwits drive around like that until first MOT time, 18 months down the line?
The longest I've driven with a failed lamp was 2 days, and to be fair, that was 'only' a numberplate lamp. The other side was working, and the spare lamp I carried didn't work due to a manufacturing defect. Maybe it's the 24 years I spent driving Military vehicles, whereby you could face disciplinary action for failing to carry out proper 'before use' daily checks, and for failing to carry a set of spare lamps that has drummed into me the importance of knowing that my vehicle is roadworthy before I get into it in the morning.
As lynus2004 said, though, I don't depend on someone else's lights to work properly - I use three separate rear lights on different modes at different heights, and reflective ankle bands to catch reflected light as I pedal. There's little more I can do, and at some point you have to admit that, and just cross your fingers and hope the bds see you 
One Alfa around here is running on a nearside sidelight as his only front light - no offside side marker lamp to even gauge width. In the dark it appears to be a motorcycle, in fog my first thought was bicycle. He/she is an accident waiting to happen - one dark morning someone will pass a parked car on their side and run head on into this Alfa. Or maybe it won't happen, through sheer dumb luck, but it doesn't make it any less dangerous. I haven't been able to report it, though, as I only ever see the front of the car and can't read the numberplate at a closing speed of about 50/60mph.
That's just the worst example. I'm not sure I agree about the ratio being as bad as 1 in 4, I'd say it's closer to 1 in 6 cars locally that have some sort of noticeable lighting fault.
This sort of thing is an easy fix, too. The problems are so obvious (from the front, at least) that a couple of PCSOs could write up the tickets at a simple check point. Repeat the checks for a week, on various local roads, and get the offenders to present their vehicles for inspection within , say, 3 days and 90% of the problem is sorted (for a short while).
There's no excuse of "I didn't know" either, as surely most (if not all) modern cars have a fault indicator light on the dashboard to indicate a failed driving lamp? My poverty-spec 2002 Vectra certainly had one, as has every car I've owned since. Most of the cars I see like this are newer vehicles, too, so if a lamp fails after 18 months, do these f
kwits drive around like that until first MOT time, 18 months down the line?The longest I've driven with a failed lamp was 2 days, and to be fair, that was 'only' a numberplate lamp. The other side was working, and the spare lamp I carried didn't work due to a manufacturing defect. Maybe it's the 24 years I spent driving Military vehicles, whereby you could face disciplinary action for failing to carry out proper 'before use' daily checks, and for failing to carry a set of spare lamps that has drummed into me the importance of knowing that my vehicle is roadworthy before I get into it in the morning.
As lynus2004 said, though, I don't depend on someone else's lights to work properly - I use three separate rear lights on different modes at different heights, and reflective ankle bands to catch reflected light as I pedal. There's little more I can do, and at some point you have to admit that, and just cross your fingers and hope the b
ds see you For balance, I commute in to the cycling mecca of Cambridge every day.
I see FAR more cyclists wearing black clothing, and having no lights, than ANY other vehicle with any sort of lighting defect.
I'd be looking for a clamp down on cyclists with little sense of self-preservation before going after the drivers.
(PS I commute in by bicycle)
I see FAR more cyclists wearing black clothing, and having no lights, than ANY other vehicle with any sort of lighting defect.
I'd be looking for a clamp down on cyclists with little sense of self-preservation before going after the drivers.
(PS I commute in by bicycle)
OpulentBob said:
For balance, I commute in to the cycling mecca of Cambridge every day.
I see FAR more cyclists wearing black clothing, and having no lights, than ANY other vehicle with any sort of lighting defect.
I'd be looking for a clamp down on cyclists with little sense of self-preservation before going after the drivers.
(PS I commute in by bicycle)
That's a fair and very valid point but, we're nearly all cyclists here not PoB's and I for one have three or four rear lights and two up front. I see FAR more cyclists wearing black clothing, and having no lights, than ANY other vehicle with any sort of lighting defect.
I'd be looking for a clamp down on cyclists with little sense of self-preservation before going after the drivers.
(PS I commute in by bicycle)
What's going to do more damage; a cyclist hitting something or someone due to poor lighting or a motor vehicle?
Liquid Knight said:
What's going to do more damage; a cyclist hitting something or someone due to poor lighting or a motor vehicle?
Absolutely, I completely agree with you. :yep:
But (and IMO) a car with one headlight out will still see a properly illuminated cyclist, and the cyclist will be able to see the car-clops. However, give the car fully operational headlights, and a cyclist with no lights or bright clothing etc pulls out of a side road, from behind a bus, whatever, then the cyclist is immediately in (at?) considerably more risk.
Being right does not equal being alive at the end of the journey!
My day-to-day sees me quite heavily involved in road safety, and the lack of self-preservation of the vast majority of cyclists scares me. My biggest fear behind the wheel is taking out a cyclist. Unfortunately, working where I do and seeing the cyclists I do (17yo student straight off the night boat from Shanghai, anyone think they're gonna be particularly safe?), I think it's only a matter of time before there's a coming together.
I know it's unworkable in a practical sense, but I believe cycles should have some form of tracability/competency qualification before heading out on the road.
Apart from war licencing cyclist is the second most discussed topic in government. The poorly illuminated, improperly clothed riders with no road sense you describe are PoB's (Pedestrians on Bikes) not cyclists. There is a vast difference and many shades of grey between. The main front light I have on my bike is as efficient as any headlight I've ever had on a car, morotbike, van or bus I have ever driven.
I've found PoB's with single LED £2.99 eBay specials are worse than someone with no lights at all. "I've got lights so if anyone hits me it's their fault" attitude and the Injury Shyster 4U culture means every commute is like cycling or driving into a war zone with the sword of Damocles hanging over you.
I've found PoB's with single LED £2.99 eBay specials are worse than someone with no lights at all. "I've got lights so if anyone hits me it's their fault" attitude and the Injury Shyster 4U culture means every commute is like cycling or driving into a war zone with the sword of Damocles hanging over you.
[quote=yellowjack]
There's no excuse of "I didn't know" either, as surely most (if not all) modern cars have a fault indicator light on the dashboard to indicate a failed driving lamp? My poverty-spec 2002 Vectra certainly had one, as has every car I've owned since. Most of the cars I see like this are newer vehicles, too, so if a lamp fails after 18 months, do these fkwits drive around like that until first MOT time, 18 months down the line?
quote]
My headlight went out one day on starting the car to commute home, there was no warning on the dash. The only reason I knew was I could see the light was dim on the reflection on the car in front's bumper.
The next day it came on and worked ever since. No doubt it will go again soon since the other side was replaced not long ago and they are quite likely to go around the same time.
It was a real PITA to replace so was not looking forwards to another hours struggle to be honest so am quite glad it is working again
If you want to be seen, suggest use of lights and reflective clothing, I wear a reflective jacket when I break down or have a puncture. Sensible cyclists of course know this ............
There's no excuse of "I didn't know" either, as surely most (if not all) modern cars have a fault indicator light on the dashboard to indicate a failed driving lamp? My poverty-spec 2002 Vectra certainly had one, as has every car I've owned since. Most of the cars I see like this are newer vehicles, too, so if a lamp fails after 18 months, do these f
kwits drive around like that until first MOT time, 18 months down the line?quote]
My headlight went out one day on starting the car to commute home, there was no warning on the dash. The only reason I knew was I could see the light was dim on the reflection on the car in front's bumper.
The next day it came on and worked ever since. No doubt it will go again soon since the other side was replaced not long ago and they are quite likely to go around the same time.
It was a real PITA to replace so was not looking forwards to another hours struggle to be honest so am quite glad it is working again
If you want to be seen, suggest use of lights and reflective clothing, I wear a reflective jacket when I break down or have a puncture. Sensible cyclists of course know this ............
OpulentBob said:
For balance, I commute in to the cycling mecca of Cambridge every day.
I see FAR more cyclists wearing black clothing, and having no lights, than ANY other vehicle with any sort of lighting defect.
I'd be looking for a clamp down on cyclists with little sense of self-preservation before going after the drivers.
(PS I commute in by bicycle)
Agree with this. When I started commuting by bike (after a lifetime of avoiding cycling in the dark due to lack of lights) I was amazed just how many people on bikes there were with no lights, in black hoodies etc usually on the pavement. Previously, whilst driving the same roads I just hadn't noticed them at all so didn't really think it was as big of a problem as it is. That was the really scary thing- realising how invisible people become. Same goes for runners and dog walkers that walk/run along cycle paths, impossible to see until you're virtually on top of them.I see FAR more cyclists wearing black clothing, and having no lights, than ANY other vehicle with any sort of lighting defect.
I'd be looking for a clamp down on cyclists with little sense of self-preservation before going after the drivers.
(PS I commute in by bicycle)
when I'm out on the roads in the dark, I'm firmly in the multiple front and rear lights/reflectors/reflective clothing camp. Wasn't a cheap investment- night riding gear cost me over £200 altogether- but I want to give myself the best chance possible when faced by a bunch of numpties driving at me in a metal box.
Edited by lufbramatt on Thursday 23 January 12:35
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