Lead SA - driving with your lights on - why?

[HapticSimian]

At present it improves your visibility to others because you differ from the norm by having your lights on. If AriveAlive/LeadSA were to miraculously manage to get the majority to adopt the practice, what's the next step now you've replaced the monotony of cars without lights on with the monotony of cars with lights on? 10ft-tall dayglo dildos on the cars' roofs?

Attentive observation is sparked by something standing out from everything else, which is why I do think there's a benefit to open-road driving.

 

[bin3]

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?

As far as I understand it, there is a few things to keep in mind. Your brain functions on differences, not constants. For example, we have a fridge fairly close to the TV room. I never hear the sound of the fridge unless something changes, if it switches off or something like that. Your brain filters out the constant, so in the case of vehicles, even though your brain filters out the colour, it should pick up the difference from the lights.

Secondly the closer the colour of your car is to the colour of the tarmac / road / whatever, the more difficult it is for your brain to pick up. Again the fact of switching on the lights might make a major difference.

And yes, of course everybody of us is a brilliant driver and never gets distracted and never makes a mistake. But for that one person that might be a bit distracted, that might not be focusing like they should, this could make a major difference, I might even go as far as to say it might be the difference between staying alive and, well not.

The fact of the matter, in my view, is that it is such a small thing, and even if it only makes a difference in 0.00000001% of the cases, it might still save the life of somebody, it might even be you.

So viewed in that matter, is it really such a bad thing?

And that excludes the studies done proving that driving with your lights on is safer. Sure, most of these might be done in European countries or the like, where visibility might be very different from here. But personally I think that especially your dark coloured cars, especially that grey / silver / metallic ones can really do with making themselves more visible.

So yes; do as you choose.

I personally drive with my lights on all the time.

I also drive with my seat belt on and I don't answer my cellphone while driving.

But this might just be me, or it might be that I won't be able to tell the loved one of somebody that I just crashed into that I couldn't be bothered to switch on my lights, or that I felt that my phone call was more important than the live just lost.

 

[Nerfherder]

Because of this i'm going to disassociate myself from this campaign. Driving with your lights on during the day is utter retardation.

 

[Necuno]

guess this is going to get a make over or return soon

gang initiation ritual has become prevalent in our city. The hoodlums pile in a car, at night, and drive the highways and byways with their lights off. The first person who 'flashes' them with their lights (in the time-honored gesture of 'hey, idiot, your lights are off!') becomes their prey. The gangbangers then pursue the samaritan and the initiate must gun him or her down without mercy.

 

[w1z4rd]

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...

International studies kinda prove that driving with lights on decreases accidents, so Im wondering which article or study you read which says its more dangerous? Or is that just your own opinion you think to be true? Can you give one example of where having lights on during the day caused an accident?

 

[xrapidx]

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.

+1

I've also found when driving into the sun its easier to see oncoming cars.

 

[Voicy]

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...

There's a lot of science involved as well, but to smarter you are, the less you require its assistance.

Example: Yellow light helps you to see detail better, whereas white light helps you sense movement easier. So essentially all street lighting on motorways etc are moving away from the old yellow lights you're used to seeing and going towards clean white light. However, yellow light is better in an office environment, where white light would be too much intense.

The fact that you drive with lights on aids with spotting various moving cars around you and differentiates them from other objects. You also differentiate between an unmanned car and a potentially car by their lights being on - showing that they're in operation, despite standing still.

The most important car on the road is the one you didn't see, just like the most important bolt on your car is the loose one.

 

[DJ...]

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

Your source is a women's car site. Your argument is invalid...

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.

LOL.

Driving with lights on does not resolve stupidity and a general disrespect for road safety though. If you feel safer with others driving with their lights on then so be it, I can't argue with that at all.

IMO Lead SA could have done far more than "driving with your lights on..." However it's a visible marketing tool for them. If they really were about promoting road safety, they'd be addressing the general population's inability to check blind-spots when changing lanes, lack of indicator usage and jumping traffic lights. If only people adopted what they were taught when they got their driver's license into general every day road use, we'd be far safer. It doesn't require driving at 30km/hr everywhere, but thing like blind spots, indicators and even checking mirrors when braking are important. General awareness and consideration for other road users is something this country lacks. Not daytime lights...

 

[Necuno]

Your source is a women's car site. Your argument is invalid...





LOL.

Driving with lights on does not resolve stupidity and a general disrespect for road safety though. If you feel safer with others driving with their lights on then so be it, I can't argue with that at all.

IMO Lead SA could have done far more than "driving with your lights on..." However it's a visible marketing tool for them. If they really were about promoting road safety, they'd be addressing the general population's inability to check blind-spots when changing lanes, lack of indicator usage and jumping traffic lights. If only people adopted what they were taught when they got their driver's license into general every day road use, we'd be far safer. It doesn't require driving at 30km/hr everywhere, but thing like blind spots, indicators and even checking mirrors when braking are important. General awareness and consideration for other road users is something this country lacks. Not daytime lights...

tell me about it, especially if it's around a bend and some fool just comes into your lane because he thinks it's clear where as you are already in that spot quite visible, but he just didn't check. same as with circles where you are on the outer lane of the circle and the ****er decides he wants to come from the inner one over yours into one of the roads connecting to the circle without looking.

that is not going to be fixed by lights on, that's going to be fixed by decent driving, period.

 

[DJ...]

I personally drive with my lights on all the time.

I also drive with my seat belt on and I don't answer my cellphone while driving.

But this might just be me, or it might be that I won't be able to tell the loved one of somebody that I just crashed into that I couldn't be bothered to switch on my lights, or that I felt that my phone call was more important than the live just lost.

Oi, let's ease up on the inferences here please. I also drive with my seatbelt on and have a hands-free kit. But that's hardly the point of this thread, now is it?

I have conceded that open-road and long-distance driving certainly benefits from head-lights during the day. Urban driving on the other hand (where this campaign appears to be directed from a marketing perspective considering every second Sandton housewife now fetches the kids from school with her headlights on at 2pm), well I still don't see the benefit at all...

 

[w1z4rd]

Your source is a women's car site. Your argument is invalid...





LOL.

Driving with lights on does not resolve stupidity and a general disrespect for road safety though. If you feel safer with others driving with their lights on then so be it, I can't argue with that at all.

IMO Lead SA could have done far more than "driving with your lights on..." However it's a visible marketing tool for them. If they really were about promoting road safety, they'd be addressing the general population's inability to check blind-spots when changing lanes, lack of indicator usage and jumping traffic lights. If only people adopted what they were taught when they got their driver's license into general every day road use, we'd be far safer. It doesn't require driving at 30km/hr everywhere, but thing like blind spots, indicators and even checking mirrors when braking are important. General awareness and consideration for other road users is something this country lacks. Not daytime lights...

Understood.

From my perspective I ride with my lights on because personal experience has taught me that people are fking stupid. Its not just about feeling safer.. I know it reduces the chance for an accident significantly. Though I would drive with my lights on even if its reduced the chances of an accident minimally. I understand how natural selection works, and its not always survival of the fittest or the smartest, but it can also be something as small as putting your lights on during the day

 

[supersunbird]

http://www.leadsa.co.za/ArticleProg.aspx?ID=52

 

[Necuno]

Understood.

From my perspective I ride with my lights on because personal experience has taught me that people are fking stupid. Its not just about feeling safer.. I know it reduces the chance for an accident significantly. Though I would drive with my lights on even if its reduced the chances of an accident minimally. I understand how natural selection works, and its not always survival of the fittest or the smartest, but it can also be something as small as putting your lights on during the day

except my bike to have its brights on

 

[supersunbird]

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?

I've heard that Think Bike is encouraging bikers to use amber lens covers on their front lights, I have seen a few bikes with orange front light over the years and it makes them much more visible day and night...

 

[Necuno]

http://www.leadsa.co.za/ArticleProg.aspx?ID=52

same car ratio as previous year ? have they also compared last years lights on ratio VS this years ?

 

[DJ...]

International studies kinda prove that driving with lights on decreases accidents, so Im wondering which article or study you read which says its more dangerous? Or is that just your own opinion you think to be true? Can you give one example of where having lights on during the day caused an accident?

I made it quite clear that is was my personal, subjective opinion - from the outset. The morons with their brights on are a danger and WILL cause an accident - of that I am sure. The sheeple with their ordinary beams on during the day in 60km/hr Marlboro Dr traffic on the other hand are just mildly annoying.

Bear with me here - I'm not having a dig for the sake of it. I really am trying to ascertain whether there is a benefit, which I have conceded there to be in open-road traffic. I'm yet to be convinced about general urban-shopping trips benefiting from Frikkie having his beams switched on...

 

[w1z4rd]

I made it quite clear that is was my personal, subjective opinion - from the outset. The morons with their brights on are a danger and WILL cause an accident - of that I am sure. The sheeple with their ordinary beams on during the day in 60km/hr Marlboro Dr traffic on the other hand are just mildly annoying.

Bear with me here - I'm not having a dig for the sake of it. I really am trying to ascertain whether there is a benefit, which I have conceded there to be in open-road traffic. I'm yet to be convinced about general urban-shopping trips benefiting from Frikkie having his beams switched on...

Yeah I know I know your view is subjective, I took note of that, which is why I told you so was my view Im willing to change my view instantly with the right information. I would rather be alive than think Im right Right now the only argument against it that has validity is that it irritates people. Which I dont really care about Studies seem to suggest it helps significantly so Im ganna stick with that.

Only real problem I have with people and lights is when they dont switch them on in the evening (for some reason a very common problem in Cape Town), or if they have those stupid halogen brights that completely blind me at night

 

[supersunbird]

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?

Because people are less likely to turn in front of you from a driveway or side street.

 

[DJ...]

Only real problem I have with people and lights is when they dont switch them on in the evening (for some reason a very common problem in Cape Town)

That's a countdown for trouble. Tik tock, tik, tock, tik tik tik tock...

 

[Necuno]

Because people are less likely to turn in front of you from a driveway or side street.

i have more a problem with the inability to just indicate and look where they want to change lanes to before they do.