[Closed] People driving cars with sidelights on - why?

My sidelights are actually pretty bright so I'm not too worried, and I don't put myself situations [u][b]I[/b][/u] can't get out of if someone doesn't see me.

Again, you're somewhat naively assuming the other party(ies) are as competent as you think you are. I've never understood this stance....so probably not worth me being on this thread 😆

the replacement was done for aesthetic reasons not for vision

Again, you're somewhat naively assuming the other party(ies) are as competent as you think you are.

No I'm not, I'm saying I don't put myself in a position where someone doing something without seeing me would cause me to crash - i.e. I don't rely on people seeing me.

The aesthetics of sidelight bulbs? (Shakes head in bewilderment)

Yep, yellowed old bulbs don't look very nice so for my own amusement I replaced them. Is that a problem? Or are you suggesting I'm somehow shallow and stupid for having an opinion about the appearance of an object?

i wonder about the trend for grey cars being driven unlit in less than perfect conditions. It is actually surprisingly hard to see some cars in fog/rain/low cloud. Not saying i can't see them, just surprising how easily they merge into the background.

Sidelights are for being seen by

Yes, when parked at night.

Parking lights are for parking at night, they are the things that light up when you turn your engine off and flick the indicator stalk one way or the other. Only a light on one side of the car is lit. when you turn side lights on both of them come on!

are you suggesting I'm somehow shallow and stupid for having an opinion about the appearance of an object?

No, just genuinely bemused about the idea. Each to their own.

Ah well, life must be a constant stream of amusement to you - I'm quite jealous!

I'm saying I don't put myself in a position where someone doing something without seeing me would cause me to crash - i.e. I don't rely on people seeing me.

Sorry CK, I'm missing something, because my interpretation of this logic is that you would happily drive around with no lights on ever, even in pitch dark or fog. Sure, you might be a superb driver and avoid every potential incident that comes your way, but aren't you stacking the odds against you rather heavily?

[PS I see eBay have some invisibility cloaks straight from Hogwarts ;-)]

[i]Now I know how much it irks some people I think I will use them more often. [/i]

That's the first valid reason for their use that I've seen on this thread 🙂

mrmo - Member

i wonder about the trend for grey cars being driven unlit in less than perfect conditions. It is actually surprisingly hard to see some cars in fog/rain/low cloud. Not saying i can't see them, just surprising how easily they merge into the background.

Exactly. I noticed it whilst watching cars approaching along a straight road whilst I was stuck in a traffic jam in clear, dawn conditions with the not particularly dazzling sun on the horizon.

Dull-coloured cars without dipped beams (no lights or side lights -hardly any difference at all) were far less visible than white or bold coloured cars, which were all less visible than those using....

....Dipped beams (easily switched on by even the most stupid driver), which made all cars roughly equally visible.

Obviously, if I were to invest in some aesthetically-pleasing uber-side light bulbs, I'd want to be using them to impress 14 year old girls, so having to drown-out the LEDs with the much more effective, fit-for-purpose, dipped beams would be a bit of a shame.

Obviously, if I were to invest in some aesthetically-pleasing uber-side light bulbs, I'd want to be using them to impress 14 year old girls, so having to drown-out the LEDs with the much more effective, fit-for-purpose, dipped beams would be a bit of a shame.

The highway code isn't law

Not quite. Anything that says [b]MUST[/b] or [b]MUST NOT[/b] is law.

Mmmm, side lights you say........

That's the Duke of New York. He's hey number one.

Have we done fog lights when its raining yet?

Low visibility lights in low visibility, you mean?

My 2p: Historically, I've always driven with sidelight on as a matter of course during good conditions. I figure, it doesn't cause any harm and if it helps someone see me then it's worth it. As soon as visibility starts to be reduced (eg, it starts getting a little darker), I'll switched dipped headlights on.

These days, I can just set the lamps on "auto" and let the car work it out. It's a pretty useful feature, in that it'll toggle headlights on and off for things like tunnels.

Low visibility lights in low visibility, you mean?

They're not designed for rainy conditions and they cause massive glare. Damnit. I bit.

My 2p: Historically, I've always driven with sidelight on as a matter of course during good conditions. I figure, it doesn't cause any harm and if it helps someone see me then it's worth it. As soon as visibility starts to be reduced (eg, it starts getting a little darker), I'll switched dipped headlights on.

TBH all this arguing is a bit pointless. What I call dark enough for dipped headlights might be what half the people calling me a nonce call good enough for no lights at all - it's entirely subjective. And auto-light systems on cars are equally variable. All I would say is that if you think people with sidelights only on are too dim it's possibly your vision, not their visibility, that's in question.

My car's appearance has nothing to do with how good I think other people think it is

He he. That's great.

Do you drive towards a lot of mirrors, or can you somehow appreciate the look of your sidelights while actually driving the car ?

Or are they, perhaps, for other peoples benefit ?

They're not designed for rainy conditions and they cause massive glare.

From The Highway Code, [url= http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069859 ]Driving in adverse weather conditions[/url]

226

You MUST use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced, generally when you cannot see for more than 100 metres (328 feet). You may also use front or rear fog lights but you MUST switch them off when visibility improves

236

You MUST NOT use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226) as they dazzle other road users and can obscure your brake lights. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves.

"Fog" lights are for use when visibility is seriously reduced. No distinction is made between rain and fog in THC, it's treated equally and generally as "reduced visibility."

They're misleadingly named, IMHO. People put them on when there's a light mist reducing visibility to just less than the curvature of the Earth, blinding every bugger, and then drive round with no lights at all in torrential rain because it's not dark or foggy.

Interestingly, this has changed I think.

Didn't it used to give different definitions for from and rear fog light use? You could use rears in 'reduced' visibility and fronts in 'seriously reduced' visibility, or something. Or am I misremembering?

Sidelights here to unless visibility is very reduced - as someone else posted it's about turning the rear lights on for me so anyone half asleep behind has a better chance of noticing me.

Vaguely on-topic - I hate people sitting at lights with their foot on the brake so the eye-level LED bar is lit, on some cars they're crazy bright and annoying. What's wrong with putting it in neutral and sticking the handbrake on? pfft

Sidelights here to unless visibility is very reduced

Is non-use of the dipped beams some sort of religious observance?

I hate people sitting at lights with their foot on the brake so the eye-level LED bar is lit,

You get this a lot with drivers of automatics. They don't really use the handbrake the same way as in a manual (or indeed, at all).

I'd advise just pulling up further away. I believe the conventional wisdom being taught these days is "tyres and tarmac" - if you can't see the rear wheels of the car in front and some of the road behind, you've pulled up too close.

TBH all this arguing is a bit pointless

How very dare you. There's always a point 😆

I've not owned a car for 15 years and didn't know about DRL's till this conversation. But I will say that back when I did drive, I ran main headlights all the time. It announced my car was 'in use' and prevented pedestrian accidents, particularly amongst pre-teens who have little spatial awareness and can't judge the speed a car is coming towards them.

I'm to understand with modern cars and fuel saving that lights on all the time affects mpg values? My last car was a 1.3l petrol model, did 25mpg, was serviceable by myself and the argument against main lights on back then ran around merely shortening your bulbs life.

particularly amongst pre-teens who have little spatial awareness and can't judge the speed a car is coming towards them.

Teens have a similar issue these days, largely due to walking across the road whilst playing Angry Birds.

I use sidelights every now & again. Now I know how much it irks some people I think I will use them more often.

He he. That's great.

Do you drive towards a lot of mirrors, or can you somehow appreciate the look of your sidelights while actually driving the car ?

Or are they, perhaps, for other peoples benefit ?

I can see my sidelights from the car, reflected in other peoples cars and when I approach my car having left my sidelights on. Can't you? The only way your argument works is if you buy a car based in no way whatsoever on what it looks like, which is not exactly common.

Coffeeking earlier, fitting his subtly-illuminating sidelights...

[img] [/img]

Coffeeking earlier, fitting his subtly-illuminating sidelights...

No no, I said I had fitted brighter ones. You really don't listen. I do like the eyelash look though.... 😀 Never been a fan of chrome, but that suit looks good.

Why didn't you just leave the original sidelight bulbs in and just put your dipped beams on when it gets too dark?

Or have I gone back to page one here?

Or have I gone back to page one here?

Page 1.

Why do people drive with just their sidelights on? Shirley it's just LED envy these days... 8)

Why do people drive with just their sidelights on? Shirley it's just LED envy these days...

Not if your sidelights are LED powered, surely?

I have a pencil like that, if it's any help?

There are 3 types of people:

1. Those who pay attention to the conditions and use lights to aid their visibility to others as this has a mutually beneficial effect.

2. Those who drive around 'pseduo-illuminated' by only their position lights (side lights) low light conditions and rain, under the misapprehension that this is the 'right' thing to do and for no apparent reason.
(position lights that, whilst the vehicle stationary, should be used to highlight the rear edges of the car to approaching vehicles on their side of the road and the front edges of the vehicle to oncoming vehicles on the other side of the road. What use are they whilst driving?)

3. People who have fitted 'bright' LEDs to their position light holders for [i]aesthetic[/i] purposes, allowing them to gain satisfaction from seeing small points of white light when driving towards reflective surfaces and when the car is parked-up at 'meets'. This is definitely not to impress schoolgirls or boy racers.

Thankfully most drivers are in the first category.

I'd say most are in the second.

Largely, people are stupid.

Aristotle you can add this one to your list too

4. Chaved up cars that drive with their fog lights on, because they think it looks cool, but fail badly, because only one of their front fog lights works 😉

I think most people catch on fairly quickly. Only the self-righteously stupid drive around with side lights only in spite of being surrounded by others using dipped beam in low light/rain.

Only the self-righteously stupid drive around with side lights only in spite of being surrounded by others using dipped beam in low light/rain.

My point still stands. (-:

I can see my sidelights from the car, reflected in other peoples cars and when I approach my car having left my sidelights on. Can't you?

Mmmm, and that's the only reason you changed them .............. Really.

The only way your argument works is if you buy a car based in no way whatsoever on what it looks like, [b]which is not exactly common.[/b]

The only way your argument works is if Thousands and thousands of people hadnt Bought Fiat Multipla's and Nissan Juke's 😉

I just leave my car's light switch in the "Auto" position and it turns the lights on and off when it thinks it should.

i find it particularly pointless when people put rear fog lights on when you've been following them for the last few miles - happens a lot on trans pennine routes

"ooh its a little bit foggy and thats made me scared that the person driving the car behind and has been following me for the last few miles is actually a homicidal ram raider"

or maybe they've not looked in the mirror for several miles

it has to be very foggy and cars few and far between (eg motorway/trunk rd late at night/early morning) for rear fogs to actually make driving safer

don't get me started on rear fog lights in the rain on motorways

or people who turn them on when you are staitonary behind them at a junction....

"ooh its a little bit foggy and thats made me scared that the person driving the car behind and has been following me for the last few miles is actually a homicidal ram raider"

I think the thought process is probably "fog = fog lights" without any rational as to what or why they're actually doing it.

Mmmm, and that's the only reason you changed them .............. Really.

Yes. What's so odd about wanting something to look the way you want it to, even if it's a small touch like that? Ah well, you're probably never going to get it.

The only way your argument works is if Thousands and thousands of people hadnt Bought Fiat Multipla's and Nissan Juke's

Fair point!

Thankfully most drivers are in the first category.

I'm glad I fall into the third, it's what makes me reasonably rare, quirky or maybe just a little odd. 🙂

I like to think I'm quite considerate when using fog lights. That said, I don't have an issue with them dazzling me nor brake lights at traffic lights. Are they really that dazzling for everybody? I have far bigger issue with how bright some dipped headlights are these days.

Are they really that dazzling for everybody? I have far bigger issue with how bright some dipped headlights are these days.

Depends on the make and model to be honest, but in the rain most front fogs are glaring and unpleasant and most rear fog/brake lights are a nightmare at a junction - I get spots in my eyes for tens of minutes afterwards.

I get spots in my eyes for tens of minutes afterwards.

Maybe it's [u]you[/u] who needs to get your eyes checked 😉