Who do you dip headlights for?

[anonymous-user]

In the morning, my daily commute is now in full darkness. The following 'road users' are usually encountered at least once on Lincolnshire's unlit twisty 'A' and 'B' roads, so a decision needs to be made whether to 'dip' headlamps or not:

Cyclists - in same direct of travel
Cyclists - oncoming direction of travel
Runners / dog walkers - in same direct of travel (with/without pavement)
Runners / dog walkers - oncoming direction of travel (with/without pavement)
Parked cars/lorries in layby - in same direction of travel
Parked cars/lorries in layby - oncoming direction of travel

What would be your normal 'etiiquette' in these circumstances?

[surveyor]

Anyone I may dazzle.

[Glosphil]

surveyor said:

Anyone I may dazzle.

That's the criteria I have always used.

[anonymous-user]

If it’s oncoming, yes.

[mac96]

Glosphil said:

surveyor said:

Anyone I may dazzle.

That's the criteria I have always used.

Agreed. Would never dip for pedestrian/cyclist/horse going in same direction - they don't usually have mirrors to dazzle, and I want to be able to see what they are doing, and give them maximum warning of approach. I'd be interested if anyone, particularly horse riders (as I know nothing about horses), disagrees.

[Ice_blue_tvr]

Let the full beam assist figure it out

[Bill]

mac96 said:

Agreed. Would never dip for pedestrian/cyclist/horse going in same direction - they don't usually have mirrors to dazzle, and I want to be able to see what they are doing, and give them maximum warning of approach. I'd be interested if anyone, particularly horse riders (as I know nothing about horses), disagrees.

+1 I'd have thought this was obvious as it's just courtesy.

[ScoobyChris]

280E said:

In the morning, my daily commute is now in full darkness. The following 'road users' are usually encountered at least once on Lincolnshire's unlit twisty 'A' and 'B' roads, so a decision needs to be made whether to 'dip' headlamps or not:

Cyclists - in same direct of travel
Cyclists - oncoming direction of travel
Runners / dog walkers - in same direct of travel (with/without pavement)
Runners / dog walkers - oncoming direction of travel (with/without pavement)
Parked cars/lorries in layby - in same direction of travel
Parked cars/lorries in layby - oncoming direction of travel

What would be your normal 'etiiquette' in these circumstances?

I wouldn’t bother for parked cars in a lay-by. Also worth considering if you’re actually impacting oncomers. As a pedestrian I can easily look away from headlights and find it quite useful if the road before me is lit up so I don’t walk through that puddle I’d otherwise not have seen!

Chris

[Mr Tidy]

I always dip them for anything oncoming and for any cars or bikes travelling in the same direction, apart from pedestrians!

No point dipping them for anything stationary.

[andym1603]

Anybody oncoming whether it's a pedestrian or motorist.

[normalbloke]

Ice_blue_tvr said:

Let the full beam assist figure it out

A diabolical system, that is usually incorrect most of the time. Aimed at people who don’t have a clue.

[MrGman]

surveyor said:

Anyone I may dazzle.

This, it really doesn’t need anymore discussion than that.

And this is where headlight assist is utter ste.

[Ice_blue_tvr]

normalbloke said:

Ice_blue_tvr said:

Let the full beam assist figure it out

A diabolical system, that is usually incorrect most of the time. Aimed at people who don’t have a clue.

The mercedes adaptive beam forming is mind bogglingly good. Certainly reacts quicker than most oncoming vehicles from my experience.

Very few edge cases where I've had to intervene.

[Tony1963]

The one group that I never dip for: those that leave their headlights on, main or dipped, when parked on the ‘wrong’ side of the road, dazzling oncoming drivers.

[wazztie16]

Tony1963 said:

The one group that I never dip for: those that leave their headlights on, main or dipped, when parked on the ‘wrong’ side of the road, dazzling oncoming drivers.

I will admit to once putting my full beam on as a vehicle had their headlights on on the wrong side of the road, parked, I definitely wanted a better view and was partially blinded by the lights opposite and no oncoming traffic, anyway, as I drove past giving the death stare, it turned into full beam off and look away as it turned out to be a smaller size police van... Nothing came of it.

[dreamcracker]

I see a lot of car drivers now, not using any lights at all when they should.

Maybe the question should be, why don't you use headlights when 95% of other vehicles have them on?

[Ledaig]

mac96 said:

Agreed. Would never dip for pedestrian/cyclist/horse going in same direction - they don't usually have mirrors to dazzle......

You may possibly be surprised by the number of cyclists with discreet rear view mirrors these days. I for one have one on my bars and a car behind on full beam really isn't helpful on a dark country road.

[anonymous-user]

(Sorry if I posted in the wrong section!)

Thanks for the replies - it's nearly time to set off

Whilst I agree that 'where it might dazzle' seems the logical answer, it could perhaps be qualified by 'and it would cause a hazard'(??)

As for 'objects' travelling in the same direction, it might well feel quite threatening to have undipped lights bearing down from behind - perhaps giving the impression they haven't been seen (some dog walkers in particular!). And as previously mentioned, some cyclists do have rear-view mirrors!

[Riley Blue]

280E said:

(Sorry if I posted in the wrong section!)

Thanks for the replies - it's nearly time to set off

Whilst I agree that 'where it might dazzle' seems the logical answer, it could perhaps be qualified by 'and it would cause a hazard'(??)

As for 'objects' travelling in the same direction, it might well feel quite threatening to have undipped lights bearing down from behind - perhaps giving the impression they haven't been seen (some dog walkers in particular!). And as previously mentioned, some cyclists do have rear-view mirrors!

I think you're over-thinking this, just use common sense and everyone will live happily ever after.

[Brassblaster]

Ledaig said:

You may possibly be surprised by the number of cyclists with discreet rear view mirrors these days. I for one have one on my bars and a car behind on full beam really isn't helpful on a dark country road.

Arguably even worse outcomes for cyclists without the mirror... Having checked over the shoulder for where the car is (and whether it appears to have seen you, given the headlights haven't been dipped), a faceful of HID/LED/Laser headlight isn't the best recipe for stability.


Unless they're very hard to see (dark clothing, without lights on unlit roads), I would always always dip for cyclists in same direction of travel.