Lead SA - driving with your lights on - why?

[DJ...]

I've been trying to navigate their website to find an article describing why driving with your lights on during the day is supposedly safer, but to no avail. Since its inception (even when it was started a few years ago in Bloem), I haven't noticed any increase in visibility - I had no issue seeing a car in broad daylight before - I'm not sure why we now require headlights. Anyone requiring headlights to see other vehicles during the day certainly shouldn't be on the road in the first place.

What I have noticed though is a vast increase in morons driving with their brights on during the day, which is just as dangerous as driving with them on with oncoming traffic at night.

I was told that it makes overtaking safer because you can now see headlights in your rearview mirror. Well fark me sideways and call me Miss Piggy - before the headlights I would have seen the entire vehicle - it's not like the beams extend anywhere during the day like they do in the evening.

I really do not understand this campaign. Hopefully someone can shed some logical light here for me, so to speak...

 

[Mars]

I agree. If you can't see a car without its lights on during the day you should not be on the road. Unless of course you have been blinded by some moron with his brights on...

 

[Fuma]

I've been trying to navigate their website to find an article describing why driving with your lights on during the day is supposedly safer, but to no avail. Since its inception (even when it was started a few years ago in Bloem), I haven't noticed any increase in visibility - I had no issue seeing a car in broad daylight before - I'm not sure why we now require headlights. Anyone requiring headlights to see other vehicles during the day certainly shouldn't be on the road in the first place.

What I have noticed though is a vast increase in morons driving with their brights on during the day, which is just as dangerous as driving with them on with oncoming traffic at night.

I was told that it makes overtaking safer because you can now see headlights in your rearview mirror. Well fark me sideways and call me Miss Piggy - before the headlights I would have seen the entire vehicle - it's not like the beams extend anywhere during the day like they do in the evening.

I really do not understand this campaign. Hopefully someone can shed some logical light here for me, so to speak...

Lead SA is a a marketing tool for Primedia (Radio 702). John Robbie is so defensive about it and can't take criticisms.
Every noble thing they do is all about advertising. Try hijack their ideas and see what happens.

 

[HapticSimian]

I could perhaps be convinced that there would be some benefit on the road between Upington and Olifantshoek on a Wednesday afternoon at 2pm, but in normal circumstances? Just makes it look like there's a constant helluva funeral procession streaming past.

 

[DJ...]

Previously I was able to spot bikes very easily in my rearview mirror because they were the only vehicles to drive with their headlights on during the day. Nowadays I can't tell the boneys from the boneheads. Not so safe for bikers, is it Lead SA?

 

[Necuno]

one of the problems i have with this is that as you say it's mostly the idiots that have lights on now, but also the fact that if you are a biker you would be noticed less as more and more cars uses their lights during the day as the lights on for a bike was one of the key advantages for it being spotted faster.

another thing is now you get ****ers with their brights on during the day. unfortunately lights on doesn't mean better skilled drivers and therein lies the main issue, not even mentioning the fact of the taxis, trucks and bakkies who on a daily basis murder people.

leadsa is imho another political tool, correct idea, but being used and promoted wrongly. we at most already bring our part, unfortunately what needs to be changed at government level is going to take more than leadsa.... well i think so.

I've been trying to navigate their website to find an article describing why driving with your lights on during the day is supposedly safer, but to no avail. Since its inception (even when it was started a few years ago in Bloem), I haven't noticed any increase in visibility - I had no issue seeing a car in broad daylight before - I'm not sure why we now require headlights. Anyone requiring headlights to see other vehicles during the day certainly shouldn't be on the road in the first place.

What I have noticed though is a vast increase in morons driving with their brights on during the day, which is just as dangerous as driving with them on with oncoming traffic at night.

I was told that it makes overtaking safer because you can now see headlights in your rearview mirror. Well fark me sideways and call me Miss Piggy - before the headlights I would have seen the entire vehicle - it's not like the beams extend anywhere during the day like they do in the evening.

I really do not understand this campaign. Hopefully someone can shed some logical light here for me, so to speak...

 

[Voicy]

I often drive with my lights on if I'm on the open road. Especially if it becomes overcast.

In Denmark it's law to drive with your lights on permanently. When I lived in Northern Germany, it was always funny because you could spot the Danes a mile away. Dead slow (their speeds were 50/70/110 vs our 60/80/120) and with lights on, creeping across the border to buy beer in cans (only bottles allowed there).

 

[DJ...]

I often drive with my lights on if I'm on the open road. Especially if it becomes overcast.

In Denmark it's law to drive with your lights on permanently. When I lived in Northern Germany, it was always funny because you could spot the Danes a mile away. Dead slow (their speeds were 50/70/110 vs our 60/80/120) and with lights on, creeping across the border to buy beer in cans (only bottles allowed there).

In very overcast conditions I can see the benefit. But in broad daylight? All I see is annoyance and absolutely no benefit...

 

[Necuno]

In very overcast conditions I can see the benefit. But in broad daylight? All I see is annoyance and absolutely no benefit...

exactly, but apparently this is more for pedestrians *shrugs*.

 

[w1z4rd]

Having being cut out of a car because of an accident caused someone who thought they could drive I dont trust any drivers on the road. Not you, not anyone. End of story. If driving with my lights on lowers the risk of me being hit by some mullet who thinks he is Michael Schumacher (which is basically 99.999999999% of the heterosexual male population). Ill drive with my lights on. If you have issues with that.. I dont care. I dont trust you on the road.

<satire>Heaven forbid if someone drives with their lights on... when its light... during the day. I mean seriously.. what are they thinking adding more lights to the light? Pfff. Say no to light during the day!</satire>

 

[HavocXphere]

Arrive alive pushed a similar campaign for a while & still do for long distance driving.

I had no issue seeing a car in broad daylight before - I'm not sure why we now require headlights.

The idea is that even though a car is visible fairly well in broad daylight, it will be even *more* visible with lights on.

The campaigns are aimed at a nation-wide level, so even though you don't really see any measurable benefit, it does add up if you gain a tiny amount of extra visibility over 1mil cars each being seen 100x per day by another motorist. Its sorta like car colour. It makes little difference to you & me what colour the car approach is...but if you increase the sample dramatically you'll see that car colour makes a measurable difference in accidents. (Darkish wine red sucks in particular, due to visibility at dusk)

 

[Necuno]

Having being cut out of a car because of an accident caused someone who thought they could drive I dont trust any drivers on the road. Not you, not anyone. End of story. If driving with my lights on lowers the risk of me being hit by some mullet who thinks he is Michael Schumacher (which is basically 99.999999999% of the heterosexual male population). Ill drive with my lights on. If you have issues with that.. I dont care. I dont trust you on the road.

if only lights on increased actual driving skill. i guess if i take my bike now for a spin i'll have to dress up like a Xmas tree, make sure of loud sound and brights on.

The idea is that even though a car is visible fairly well in broad daylight, it will be even *more* visible with lights on.

and the cars that feature 50% or less lights ? seen quite a few metro cars that have only 1 head light working and other vehicles....

 

[DJ...]

If driving with my lights on lowers the risk of me being hit by some mullet who thinks he is Michael Schumacher

The emphasis on "if." How exactly is it in any way safer? That is what I'm getting at. If somebody can point out how driving with your lights on in broad daylight is safer than not doing so, then I'll gladly flick my beams on during the day - sure thing. To date, nobody has been able to answer how it is in any way safer. The sheeple heard it on radio, assumed it must be safer and went ahead with it without ever questioning why (which we know you like to do w1z4rd )

So...how is it in any way safer?

 

[w1z4rd]

The emphasis on "if." How exactly is it in any way safer? That is what I'm getting at. If somebody can point out how driving with your lights on in broad daylight is safer than not doing so, then I'll gladly flick my beams on during the day - sure thing. To date, nobody has been able to answer how it is in any way safer. The sheeple heard it on radio, assumed it must be safer and went ahead with it without ever questioning why (which we know you like to do w1z4rd )

So...how is it in any way safer?

Higher visibility (meaning its easier for people to see you - not that shining a light during the day will help you see better, but other people will see you better). Thats pretty obvious. Especially with dull cars that camo against tar roads.

 

[Voicy]

In very overcast conditions I can see the benefit. But in broad daylight? All I see is annoyance and absolutely no benefit...

My work 4x4 is white and my car is silver...it's not so much about proximity driving as it is to let someone see you from a long distance before overtaking into your lane. I always spot cars with lights on better when they cross a hill on a hot day where a simmering/mirage effect is visible. It also lets you see if there are any cars behind it much better.

I've done about 100,000kms long distance driving for my work through the Transkei...i'd prefer if everyone had their lights on.

Again, if you're used to town traffic, I don't blame you for not seeing the benefit. Open road driving is a different ball game.

 

[DJ...]

Arrive alive pushed a similar campaign for a while & still do for long distance driving.


The idea is that even though a car is visible fairly well in broad daylight, it will be even *more* visible with lights on.

The campaigns are aimed at a nation-wide level, so even though you don't really see any measurable benefit, it does add up if you gain a tiny amount of extra visibility over 1mil cars each being seen 100x per day by another motorist. Its sorta like car colour. It makes little difference to you & me what colour the car approach is...but if you increase the sample dramatically you'll see that car colour makes a measurable difference in accidents. (Darkish wine red sucks in particular, due to visibility at dusk)

I understand your point, but I still do not understand how this could achieve any discernible difference - at dusk one should be driving with your lights on already. In very overcast conditions too. In broad daylight however, lights on have been more than just a nuisance, they've been dangerous when the tonsils with brights on decide that it makes them even more visible. Like I said in the OP, in broad daylight I can see an entire car, so should all drivers. If you can't, then there is something very wrong with your eyesight and driving with your lights on won't solve it.

What I see these days are headlights, whereas I used to see an entire vehicle...

 

[DJ...]

Higher visibility (meaning its easier for people to see you - not that shining a light during the day will help you see better, but other people will see you better). Thats pretty obvious. Especially with dull cars that camo against tar roads.

I can only talk from my own personal, subjective perspective, but I've never had an issue seeing other vehicles on the road unless conditions are awful - in which case your lights should already be on. I've never encountered a camouflaged tar-car in all my driving years...

 

[w1z4rd]

I understand your point, but I still do not understand how this could achieve any discernible difference - at dusk one should be driving with your lights on already. In very overcast conditions too. In broad daylight however, lights on have been more than just a nuisance, they've been dangerous when the tonsils with brights on decide that it makes them even more visible. Like I said in the OP, in broad daylight I can see an entire car, so should all drivers. If you can't, then there is something very wrong with your eyesight and driving with your lights on won't solve it.

What I see these days are headlights, whereas I used to see an entire vehicle...

Reduce the death rate on the roads
As part of the Department of Transport’s recent “Arrive Alive” campaign, motorists were encouraged to drive with their headlights on during the day. If more drivers were prepared to adhere to this safety measure, the death rate on our roads could be dramatically decreased. Here’s why:

International research has proven that even though environmental conditions may differ from country to country, driving with your lights on during the day reduces motor accidents by 37 per cent in some instances.

In the first year of this “lights on in daytime” law in Denmark, there was a reduction in daytime multiple car crashes, especially in cases where cars turned left in front of oncoming vehicles. Vehicle-cyclist collisions also decreased.

In 1994, when Avis analysed damage to their cars, those fitted with daytime running lights (which operate at 80 per cent of their power during the day and 100 per cent at night) showed far less damage and had been involved in fewer accidents than vehicles not fitted with these lights.

http://www.cars4women.co.za/article...-on-in-daytime---a-road-safey-must/Page1.html

 

[w1z4rd]

I can only talk from my own personal, subjective perspective, but I've never had an issue seeing other vehicles on the road unless conditions are awful - in which case your lights should already be on. I've never encountered a camouflaged tar-car in all my driving years...

Think of all the Sarah Palin`s & Julius Malema`s who drive. Not everyone is like you. You have your lights on to warn against people like ANCYL members hitting you.

I know if a car is moving fast around a bend, and its a dull gray or that dark green... you have to be alert to pick them up. Not everyone is a lert.

 

[DJ...]

My work 4x4 is white and my car is silver...it's not so much about proximity driving as it is to let someone see you from a long distance before overtaking into your lane. I always spot cars with lights on better when they cross a hill on a hot day where a simmering/mirage effect is visible. It also lets you see if there are any cars behind it much better.

I've done about 100,000kms long distance driving for my work through the Transkei...i'd prefer if everyone had their lights on.

Again, if you're used to town traffic, I don't blame you for not seeing the benefit. Open road driving is a different ball game.

I have no problem with long-distance driving and it does make sense under those circumstances. I'm glad you can see my point from an urban driving perspective though and how it's both annoying and also dangerous under those circumstances...