For Pity's Sake Put Your Headlights On

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I don't care that it was 1pm on a Sunday afternoon - but it was very dull and cloudy and it was raining - so numpty drivers PUT YOUR DIPPED HEADLIGHTS ON. You may think you can see OK to drive and 'it's not that bad' - but I want to be able to see YOU. So put your dipped headlights on - it's not difficult - it doesn't cost you anything (please let's not nit-pick over that!) and it makes everyone on the road quite a bit safer.

The sooner compulsory or automatic driving lights become law the better - save us from the idiots on the road.

Rant over

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I totally agree. We drove from Bracknell to Reading (only 9 miles) on the A239M and every other driver had no lights on. With the amount of spray coming up it was pretty tricky and I agree it needs to be compulsory and automatic

 

[AmandaJR]

Agreed - and most are silver or grey cars :angry:

I just don't get it - when the thought "do I need my lights on" crosses my mind then every time it has to be a yes.

 

[SaintHacker]

The problem is that automatic lights aren't that good, but like anything automatic people rely on it and forget its there. For instance I was driving back from Cornwall last week through some pretty thick fog up over Bodmin moor, went to turn my fog lights on only to realise my automatic headlights hadn't switched on.

 

[Imurg]

Daytime running lights are now legally required for new cars designed or facelifted since 2010.
Within 10 years the majority of cars on the road will have these.
I suspect that within a few years all cars will have to have lights on at all times too..

And what's the point of sidelights - complete waste of space on most cars

 

[Blue in Munich]

I don't care that it was 1pm on a Sunday afternoon - but it was very dull and cloudy and it was raining - so numpty drivers PUT YOUR DIPPED HEADLIGHTS ON. You may think you can see OK to drive and 'it's not that bad' - but I want to be able to see YOU. So put your dipped headlights on - it's not difficult - it doesn't cost you anything (please let's not nit-pick over that!) and it makes everyone on the road quite a bit safer.

The sooner compulsory or automatic driving lights become law the better - save us from the idiots on the road.

Rant over

Nope, the sooner someone invents a system that cuts out the ignition on vehicles whose idiot in charge doesn't realise the lights should be on the better. I'd personally rather not share the roads with people who need the car to tell them when to turn their lights or windscreen wipers on.

 

[AmandaJR]

Daytime running lights are now legally required for new cars designed or facelifted since 2010.
Within 10 years the majority of cars on the road will have these.
I suspect that within a few years all cars will have to have lights on at all times too..

And what's the point of sidelights - complete waste of space on most cars

Always wondered how come my Alfa seems to have lights on all the time

 

[SaintHacker]

Nope, the sooner someone invents a system that cuts out the ignition on vehicles whose idiot in charge doesn't realise the lights should be on the better. I'd personally rather not share the roads with people who need the car to tell them when to turn their lights or windscreen wipers on.

Exactly. All this automatic technology is fantatic, but people get reliant on it. Take the new Focus for example, that brakes if you get too close to the car in front. What happens when the driver gets in a different car that doesn't have that system? Crunch.

 

[Imurg]

Exactly. All this automatic technology is fantatic, but people get reliant on it. Take the new Focus for example, that brakes if you get too close to the car in front. What happens when the driver gets in a different car that doesn't have that system? Crunch.

It makes me wonder what the driver is doing in order to get too close in the first place.....

 

[Foxholer]

It makes me wonder what the driver is doing in order to get too close in the first place.....

As an ex-Beemer driver, I have a slightly warped sense of 'too close'!

What really gets up my nose is the number of 'B's with their (particularly rear) fog lights on when the conditions don't warrant it. And the manufacturers don't help there either. The Beemer had independent fog light controls; the Audi requires the front to be on if the back is.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Well I am pleased if not rather surprised that I am not alone and that agreement seems general - when a few years ago I know that it was not - and my comment would have been met by spurious arguments citing fuel usage; and others stating it was a daft and pointless exercise - besides car headlights are for seeing in the dark aren't they!

Anyway - maybe I'm the only one who puts dipped beam on every time I drive and I have got my daughter newly passed her test doing the same thing. And yes - that is even in bright sunshine in the middle of summer. Why? Deep shadow from trees and hedges - that's why.

 

[Imurg]

As an ex-Beemer driver, I have a slightly warped sense of 'too close'!

What really gets up my nose is the number of 'B's with their (particularly rear) fog lights on when the conditions don't warrant it. And the manufacturers don't help there either. The Beemer had independent fog light controls; the Audi requires the front to be on if the back is.

If you think about it, rear fog lights are almost a waste too.
They should only be used when visability gets to less than 100 metres.
If fog is that bad there's a good case for not being on the road at all...

 

[Smiffy]

The problem is that automatic lights aren't that good, but like anything automatic people rely on it and forget its there. For instance I was driving back from Cornwall last week through some pretty thick fog up over Bodmin moor, went to turn my fog lights on only to realise my automatic headlights hadn't switched on.

Automatic headlights have a sensor built in which detects the level of ambient light. The sensor detects the level of light, not fog or mist, so on a bright but foggy/misty day it can "fool" them. That's why they have an over ride switch. We always point this out to customers when they pick their new car up.
If they choose to ignore it, that's up to them

 

[Foxholer]

If you think about it, rear fog lights are almost a waste too.
They should only be used when visability gets to less than 100 metres.
If fog is that bad there's a good case for not being on the road at all...

Fog is very often localised - (and) only in pockets. So in a trip of 30 miles, there might be 4 or 5 miles where there's fog patches.

It's the pillocks that think they are part of the normal lighting system, or use then whenever there is spray about, that annoy me!

 

[guest100718]

I'll be the judge of when my lights need to go on. Although they are set to auto at the moment.......

 

[Imurg]

I'll be the judge of when my lights need to go on. Although they are set to auto at the moment.......

Your judgement may be sound - unlike a significant number of Numpties who use our roads....

 

[la_lucha]

If you are on your own side of the road what difference does it make? However I agree my car has automatic headlights and even they came on so it was definitely dark enough.

 

[Imurg]

If you are on your own side of the road what difference does it make? However I agree my car has automatic headlights and even they came on so it was definitely dark enough.

It's people at junctions trying to pull out into or across the traffic or pedestrians/cyclists etc etc etc
Not having lights on makes it harder to see you in half-light/rain - they bought in a law in some Scandinavian countries in the 70's to require lights on at all times and the accident rate fell dramatically.
It just makes you more visible....

 

[Snelly]

Ever since I had a Volvo in the early 90's, I have driven every car I have been in with the lights on all the time. Just makes sense to me.

That said, I don't agree with the OP as I don't like anyone, however moronic, being told by the state what they must or must not do, within reason of course.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Ever since I had a Volvo in the early 90's, I have driven every car I have been in with the lights on all the time. Just makes sense to me.

That said, I don't agree with the OP as I don't like anyone, however moronic, being told by the state what they must or must not do, within reason of course.

You put seatbelt on don't you? You keep to 30mph in built up areas - yes? You do as you are told all the time when driving. So we should just have our headlights on all the time. No-one is telling you when to put them on - you just accept that it is sensible to just put them on all the time. Easy. Costs nothing and if it helps other drivers see you - for instance as they pull out in front of you at a junction - then job done.