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I did (after suffering for hours with weld flash), apparently it's normal but does suggest I have quite sensitive vision.
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
never that bothered by the dazzle of brake lights when stopped myself - what i meant is what is the point of turning on fog lights when the only car that is going to hit you is stationary 1m behind you
Sidelights are for being seen by, headlights are for seeing with. If you don't need lights to see where you're going just put your sides on. But then if all the morons put on their headlights your sidelights get drowned out in a sea of light.+1
There's a few disadvantages. It makes cyclists harder to see
+100
it's alright CK you are not alone, in fact it truely worries me that on a cyclist forum you seem to be the only one to point this out
Thats because it bullshine. 🙄 If you need lights on and yo are driving you should have dipped headlights on. Thats what the Highway code says and is the obvious and sensible thing.
It makes cyclists ( at least sensible ones with reflective stuff) easier to see if yo have your headlights on. there is no downside to driving with headlights on - it just makes it safer for everyone.
Sidelight users mentality: "I only [i]just[/i] want to be seen"
Weird.
Explain how having headlights on makes cyclists difficult to see.
Explain how having headlights on makes cyclists difficult to see.
If a cyclist is coming towards you & the car behind them has headlights on at dusk it is a lot harder to see the cyclist than if the car just has sidelights on, as the headlights swamp out the view.
TJ - read the highway code again - you need your eyes testing
I always drive around with my dipped beam on regardless of the weather conditions - perhaps I'm about to be ridiculed for doing so?
If a cyclist is coming towards you & the car behind them has headlights on at dusk it is a lot harder to see the cyclist than if the car just has sidelights on, as the headlights swamp out the view.
I have never noticed that effect, ever. I presume the cyclist has lights on?
Maybe I have decent eyesight?
Or just never see the cyclist 😀
dickyboy - wrong. [b]Your[/b] headlamps illuminate the reflective bits so its easier to see them if you have your headlights on
I have read the highway code - its very clear - you should have your dipped headlights on when its dull or visibility is reduced.
Quoting the highway code:-
ensure all sidelights and rear registration plate lights are lit between sunset and sunrise
ie sidelights in dull light
use headlights at night, except on a road which has lit street lighting.
ie headlights at night
use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced
ie headlights when visibility is SERIOUSLY reduced
TJ you must be reading a different highway code 🙂
i'll be prepared to be told my observation is poor but i can think of two recent occasions when I've failed to spot a cyclist in a line of traffic until much later than i would have expected - both times the bikes had so-so lights - (not numpty nogs - just standard rather than STW) and quite a few of the cars high intensity headlights - think these makes seeing cyclists in a line of traffic much harder - they are great for what they are designed for - high speed on non urban roads but from these two recent experiences if the default in urban lit areas was side lights then cyclists would be easier to spot
If I don't have any lights on then my speedo doesn't work, so not only can I not see/be seen I'm also guessing at how fast I'm actually going.
So for that reason I generally have them on. Unless I fancy living it up a bit and then anything goes...
Back, [i]when I were a lad[/i], sidelights were small and seperate from the headlight. These 5 watt lamps actually made cars easy to see. The newer version, where the 5 watt sidelight is embedded in the headlight doesn't give good visibility.
So, I drive with dipped beam to be seen by, M'lud.
Dickyboy - I have read the highway code and its as I said. For the hard of thinking - when its dull / dusk / dark headlights are mandatory out of town, sidelights in town however headlights are advised everywhere
You MUSTensure 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 specifiedYou should also
[b]use dipped headlights[/b], or dim-dip if fitted, at [b]night[/b] in built-up areas and in [b]dull daytime[/b] weather, [b]to ensure that you can be seen[/b]
Christ, are you lot still going?
Some people need to get out more 🙂
But not if it's too dark...
Doesn't this:
You MUSTensure 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
...refer to parking rather than driving? You're parked up on an unlit road in a built-up area, you should leave your sidelights on? Ie, it's not suggesting driving with them at all.
Also, isn't it suggesting that you don't need headlights if there's street lights?! 😯
Ah, no.
The rule on THC website is explained:
"Night (the hours of darkness) is defined as the period between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise)."
So according to THC, you have to have sidelights and number plate lights on at sunset, and headlights half an hour later unless you're on a 30mph road with street lighting.
Which, frankly, is madness, but that's what it says.
Lights when parking is a different rule:
249All vehicles MUST display parking lights when parked on a road or a lay-by on a road with a speed limit greater than 30 mph (48 km/h).
An discussion about whether to have your lights on or not...
How quaint ??
Do your cars not have automatic light function?
You normally find it, on the other side of the steering colume from the auto windscreen wiper.
These both make life much easier when you're chatting on the phone while driving along