Tonight, Boiling my **** - London drivers without headlights

[Switch`]

Tonight, on my trip from the M25 down to Stokey, I noticed at least 10 cars running on side lights alone, or no lights at all, or side lights and driving lamps.
The number of mouth breathing stink nuggets who drive around central London without proper illumination is frankly scary. Sure you can "see" everything because there's street lighting everywhere, but a dark car under orange lights is barely noticable in the dark.

Why isn't this clamped down on, its almost as pervasive as running with one headlight/brake light working.

and there's no way to let them know that they're Rucking Tetards! Flash your lights? all you get is brake lights flashing back, turn your lights off and on again? no, that's a stupid idea...

General RAGE...

and I'm done
</rant>

[TheEnd]

[quote=Switch`]

Why isn't this clamped down on, its almost as pervasive as running with one headlight/brake light working.
[/quote]

I don't think it's actually illegal

[E36Rob]

[quote]Highway code 113:

You MUST

* ensure all sidelights and rear registration plate lights are lit between sunset and sunrise
* use headlights at night, except on a road which has lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) unless otherwise specified
* use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226)
[/quote]

Unfortunatly it does not seem to be illegal on street lit roads.

[Switch`]

Well that's fking ridiculous

[Negative Creep]

TheEnd said:

Switch said:

Why isn't this clamped down on, its almost as pervasive as running with one headlight/brake light working.

I don't think it's actually illegal

I don't think the Police care about lights being out either

[Switch`]

Light out is a MOT fail right?

So surely a light out on the road means the car is unfit for road use, technically invalidating insurance and MOT?

Or maybe I'm wrong.

Bloody well should be...

[Doniger]

• yawn*

TBH if you spend a bit of time driving around London you'll quickly find that idiots with no/some/the wrong lights on are the least of your worries and you'd do better to just make sure that the bh on the phone in the range rover behind you is paying enough attention not to rear end you and that the uninsured tt in that battered carina who's on the phone and about to pull into your lane has seen you.
If it boils that easily, your piss needs some sort of additive.

[GKP]

Switch said:

Or maybe I'm wrong.

This.

[Switch`]

I drive a diminutive car so I'm used to having to constantly be on the lookout for people who've not noticed my presence at all.

Good to know that lights out doesn't invalidate insurance.

Roughly speaking standard of driving in London leaves much to be desired. Though I do quite like the Petrol station on Seven Sisters road with the spike traps on the entrance/exits (I assume to stop pump and go thieves)

edit: see here http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&a...

Edited by Switch` on Monday 13th September 01:13

[Doniger]

[quote=Switch`]I drive a diminutive car
[/quote]

I was going to say "me too", then I clicked on your profile.

You win.

Nica cappa though - I'm sure I've seen it around before.

[Colin 1985]

E36Rob said:

Highway code 113:

You MUST

* ensure all sidelights and rear registration plate lights are lit between sunset and sunrise
* use headlights at night, except on a road which has lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) unless otherwise specified
* use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226)

Unfortunatly it does not seem to be illegal on street lit roads.

Interesting, I didn't know that...

Edit to fix quoting

[Switch`]

for the most part Cappo < All other cars

Edit: I should update my profile image to show the massive PH smilie that occupies the entire roof

Edited by Switch` on Monday 13th September 08:24

[Petrolhead_Rich]

E36Rob said:

Highway code 113:

You MUST

* ensure all sidelights and rear registration plate lights are lit between sunset and sunrise
* use headlights at night, except on a road which has lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) unless otherwise specified
* use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226)

Unfortunatly it does not seem to be illegal on street lit roads.

TheHighwayCode said:

115
You should also
use dipped headlights, or dim-dip if fitted, at night in built-up areas and in dull daytime weather, to ensure that you can be seen
keep your headlights dipped when overtaking until you are level with the other vehicle and then change to main beam if necessary, unless this would dazzle oncoming road users
slow down, and if necessary stop, if you are dazzled by oncoming headlights

Edited by Petrolhead_Rich on Monday 13th September 08:45

[sebhaque]

Petrolhead_Rich said:

E36Rob said:

Highway code 113:

You MUST

* ensure all sidelights and rear registration plate lights are lit between sunset and sunrise
* use headlights at night, except on a road which has lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) unless otherwise specified
* use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226)

Unfortunatly it does not seem to be illegal on street lit roads.

TheHighwayCode said:

115
You should also
use dipped headlights, or dim-dip if fitted, at night in built-up areas and in dull daytime weather, to ensure that you can be seen
keep your headlights dipped when overtaking until you are level with the other vehicle and then change to main beam if necessary, unless this would dazzle oncoming road users
slow down, and if necessary stop, if you are dazzled by oncoming headlights

Edited by Petrolhead_Rich on Monday 13th September 08:45

The first section states you MUST, the second states you should. AIUI anything from the highway code you *must* do is legally enforceable, anything you *should* do is recommended but not illegal to defy.

[Petrolhead_Rich]

sebhaque said:

Petrolhead_Rich said:

E36Rob said:

Highway code 113:

You MUST

* ensure all sidelights and rear registration plate lights are lit between sunset and sunrise
* use headlights at night, except on a road which has lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) unless otherwise specified
* use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226)

Unfortunatly it does not seem to be illegal on street lit roads.

TheHighwayCode said:

115
You should also
use dipped headlights, or dim-dip if fitted, at night in built-up areas and in dull daytime weather, to ensure that you can be seen
keep your headlights dipped when overtaking until you are level with the other vehicle and then change to main beam if necessary, unless this would dazzle oncoming road users
slow down, and if necessary stop, if you are dazzled by oncoming headlights

Edited by Petrolhead_Rich on Monday 13th September 08:45

The first section states you MUST, the second states you should. AIUI anything from the highway code you *must* do is legally enforceable, anything you *should* do is recommended but not illegal to defy.

So, it's advised, but not illegal?!

Why not just keep it simple, "you must have lights on suitable for the conditions, dipped headlights between sunrise and sunset"

(Highway code Creator)

Tossers!

[plg]

The Highway code is just a handy way to give guidance on the law into something approaching plain English.

What other variance are there?

Must = legal requirement
Should = Advised good practice (?)

Do not = don't do it, but does it imply that you break a law by contravening it?
eg, Motorways. On a motorway do not try to remove the obstruction yourself. Stop at the next emergency telephone and call the Highways Agency or the police.

Which then gets a bit silly: "When passing the scene of an incident or crash do not be distracted or slow down unnecessarily"
I can understand not slowing unnecessarily, but how can I avoid being distracted? It's an involuntary reaction to a surprising stimulus?