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I'm happy to see all cars with lights working when the engine is running, but detest these horrid dayglo LED lines of lights, the solution should be to use dimdip headlamps with all the usual exterior lights working whenever the engine is running, with a bulb failure warning lamp on the dashboard to ensure the driver knows if a lamp needs to be replaced.
Problem is the EU made UK ditch the dimdip setup with a fudge about 'headlamp levelling' system, another example of EU forcing UK to toe the German line.
I'd also ban single reversing lights and rear fog lights unless they are centrally mounted.
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I'd also ban single reversing lights and rear fog lights unless they are centrally mounted.....
And reversing lights made large enough to give a decent amount of light to see whats behind
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Yes quite. My last car, a well known Supermini had two reversing lights and nice clear back windows. I now have its larger cousin and get one reversing light and "privacy" glass in the back. Reversing out of my drive in the morning has become a whole lot more difficult and hazardous.
As for DRL's, I for one would like to see the rears light up as well. People drive in some pretty atrocious conditions without lights. What is wrong with these people!
Edited by davecooper on 24/11/2014 at 12:54
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Then reverse in to your driveway. Reverser-outerers ought to be whipped through the streets.
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Fine when it's light but in the dark, my narrow drive makes reversing in even more difficult than reversing out. I live in a failrly quiet road so I'm not reversing out into traffic, just the odd pedestrian that I have to keep an eye out for. just to help matters, they have knocked off 50% of the street lighting to save money - and we only had two street lights to begin with!
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It may be more difficult for you, but would it not be safer for others for you to drive out forwards? It is in most situations. Perhaps fit some parking sensors to assist?
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It may be more difficult for you, but would it not be safer for others for you to drive out forwards? It is in most situations. Perhaps fit some parking sensors to assist?
In a nearby busy street a while ago, I noticed a shallow circular feature had been dug in the front garden. Shortly afterwards a turntable had been installed, just large enough to carry a small car. I assume they can drive in from the road, then spin the car round ready to drive straight out, no reversing required!
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The other day I saw a driving school car with dipped headlights and foglights on. The day was bright and clear so no need for foglights (which, per Highway Code rule 236 are only legal in fog or falling snow).
To add to this failure to correctly instruct the pupil, only one foglight was working, so poor maintenance as well. With this standard of instruction it is no wonder so many drivers misuse lights.
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Are you sure they were foglights and not DRLs?
Many modern cars switch on one foglight when turning, if the lights are on. It's supposed to illuminate the direction the car's turning.
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Unfortunately all the points raised here is the sad state of affairs we now have imposed on us due to the a large section of the uneducated motoring public. If you are unable to see other cars in daylight without them displaying gaudy distracting (to others) DRL's then you shouldn't be driving. Auto headlamps are also a danger, I have seen them activate when cars go under bridges or overhanging trees, it can be misinterpeted by others as a flash of the headlamps which some think is giving them the right of way. Then you have the idiots who drive using fog lamps to front and rear when all they do is dazzle other road users. In the main I enjoy driving but we are seemingly getting closer to the driverless car and in some cases that may be a safer option as the mindless m****s then won't have to think for themselves.
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I did read somewhere that LED DRLs save the environment because they use less electricity than incandescent bulbs of the same brightness. I am pretty sure that most DRLs on new cars *exceed* the wattage of incandescent sidelights. Of course they are far brighter, and perhaps this increases visibility at 12 noon in midsummer. At other times they are (therefore) overkill for the stated purpose!
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LED lights on cars to save electricity? What a joke. They'll be fitting them on patio heaters next!
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LED lights on cars to save electricity? What a joke. They'll be fitting them on patio heaters next!
I think what he meant was they use less energy and hence fuel, thus reducing emissions.
Never mind they 'blind' other drivers to unlit vehicles, such as bikes and motorbikes, by losing them in the clutter of lights.
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LED lights on cars to save electricity? What a joke. They'll be fitting them on patio heaters next!
I think what he meant was they use less energy and hence fuel, thus reducing emissions.
Never mind they 'blind' other drivers to unlit vehicles, such as bikes and motorbikes, by losing them in the clutter of lights.
They do save electric and I do not think it will be long before all motors will have LED`s as standard fit besides DRL`s
I do not find DRL`s to be any worse than out of line headlights, and they should be fitted to the rear as well as front, they are in most cases easier to see in bright sunlight,which for pedestrians is a good thing, assuming, they look when they cross the road!
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<< I do not find DRL`s to be any worse than out of line headlights ... >>
If they are no better than that, I can only hope manufacturers find something better soon.
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Never mind they 'blind' other drivers to unlit vehicles, such as bikes and motorbikes, by losing them in the clutter of lights.
Couldn't have put it better, far too many lights of all sorts now and those who really should be seen are fast disappearing into the unceasing glare.
In normal daylight if someone can't see an approaching car/van/lorry unless its got fairy lights glittering away they'd be better off walking down the nick and handing their licence in.
On the subject of 'turn' foglights, my lorry has those, at first i thought them a bit of a gimmick, but in practice where the speed is low enough (only work below a certain speed, which i haven't noted) the additional light, especially where with an artic you sometimes have to make exaggerated turns in total darkness, is very useful.
The turn lights are in addition to the standard so-so fog lights, and very fit for purpose.
Fortunately the non-too-camp-by-a-mile DRL's fitted to the lorry are easily turned off via the menu.
Incidenatlly, all these lights are behind real glass clear lenses, haven't found glass lenses on a modern car for years, my old MB still on its original glass headlights which haven't needed polishing..:-)
Edited by gordonbennet on 25/11/2014 at 09:32
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>>In normal daylight if someone can't see an approaching car/van/lorry unless its got fairy lights glittering away they'd be better off walking down the nick and handing their licence in.
DRL`s were meant to help poor sighted pedestrians see cars coming to prevent them walking into a motor, which apparently was common in Sweden IIRC, reason why they become law I think out there
I see no reason why they need to be so bright though, but not all are LED some are halogen not sure which are worse tbh.
I think they are better than sidelights though imo
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Sweden spends a lot of time with the sun low in the sky, so DRLs could indeed be of use there.
The most populous areas of Britain do not have such long periods of the sun being low in the sky, so DRLs are not a necessity here.
As Gordonbennet says, we do seem to be being assaulted by lights everywhere nowadays.
I happened to have seen really quite a number of cars this weekend with LED headlights, and was at least comforted to note (so far) that they don't seem to have any stray beams dazzling me.
The other problem with 'executive' HIDs is when they are just in a physically-high position on the car if it's an SUV: Ever had one of the brand-new Range Rovers behind you at some traffic lights? I could have staged a production of Gilbert & Sullivan in my car's cabin...
Then the other night I drew up behind some new Audi at some traffic lights. He had his foot on the brake pedal. Both my wife and I were just about to reach for our sunglasses (I'm not joking) when, fortunately, the traffic lights turned green.
Things just seem to be getting out of hand.
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Sweden spends a lot of time with the sun low in the sky, so DRLs could indeed be of use there.
The most populous areas of Britain do not have such long periods of the sun being low in the sky, so DRLs are not a necessity here.
As Gordonbennet says, we do seem to be being assaulted by lights everywhere nowadays.
I happened to have seen really quite a number of cars this weekend with LED headlights, and was at least comforted to note (so far) that they don't seem to have any stray beams dazzling me.
The other problem with 'executive' HIDs is when they are just in a physically-high position on the car if it's an SUV: Ever had one of the brand-new Range Rovers behind you at some traffic lights? I could have staged a production of Gilbert & Sullivan in my car's cabin...
Then the other night I drew up behind some new Audi at some traffic lights. He had his foot on the brake pedal. Both my wife and I were just about to reach for our sunglasses (I'm not joking) when, fortunately, the traffic lights turned green.
Things just seem to be getting out of hand.
Yes, I agree, your point about SUV`s, they are getting out of hand headlamps far too high and bright, Vans are the same,it`s about time all headlamps were the same height off the road
Lucky with the Civic having split rear screen, it diverts light away from rear view mirror to a certain degree
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<< Yes, I agree, your point about SUV`s, they are getting out of hand headlamps far too high and bright, Vans are the same,it`s about time all headlamps were the same height off the road >>
I agree. It won't happen though, the stylists call all the tunes.
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Unfortunately all the points raised here is the sad state of affairs we now have imposed on us due to the a large section of the uneducated motoring public. If you are unable to see other cars in daylight without them displaying gaudy distracting (to others) DRL's then you shouldn't be driving..
It's not just about drivers - what about pedestrians? We can't expect all pedestrians to have perfect vision or be totally on the ball.
And anyway we've all had the occasional scary situation behind the wheel when we didn't see something until the last minute. Even good drivers with good eyesight are susceptible to visual deceptions.
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Are you sure they were foglights and not DRLs?
Many modern cars switch on one foglight when turning, if the lights are on. It's supposed to illuminate the direction the car's turning.
Definitely foglights, straight road, no turnings, the car wasn't new enough to have DRLs.
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The other day I saw a driving school car with dipped headlights and foglights on. The day was bright and clear so no need for foglights (which, per Highway Code rule 236 are only legal in fog or falling snow).
To add to this failure to correctly instruct the pupil, only one foglight was working, so poor maintenance as well. With this standard of instruction it is no wonder so many drivers misuse lights.
Having been an instructor I can confirm that it is not always possible to see what a pupil is fumbling about with and don't forget on most cars you can't see the dash display clearly from the passenger's seat. Leaning across to have a look is a complete no-no due to personal space issues etc .At one time after having a run of difficult pupils I did consider making a small set of tell tale led's mounted in the passenger's side footwell to discreetly display to me what was switched on and what wasn't.
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