Yeah, when the 5pm sun blinds oncoming drivers I always have my lights on so they can see me better.
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Lead SA - driving with your lights on - why?
- Thread starter DJ...
- Start date
Yeah, when the 5pm sun blinds oncoming drivers I always have my lights on so they can see me better.
wizdumb
Expert Member
i have no issues with ppl that drive with their lights, i also do it on long trips to nelspruit or the coast...but for pete's sake, if you drive with them on, or actually ever switch 'em on, please ensure that they are adjusted accordingly. i've see on numerous occasions each night where car lights show in different directions, much like boobs on a bad boobjob
VW's are notorious for having dims set higher to almost brights level.
atomcrusher
Expert Member
Of course all of you who are "pro-lights-on-when-its-not-dark" do realise that now your alternator now has to work harder to replenish the power drained by having the lights on?
And so you will not only contribute to global warming (as lights generate heat) but you will also use more fuel, thus increasing carbon emissions. ...:twisted:
And so you will not only contribute to global warming (as lights generate heat) but you will also use more fuel, thus increasing carbon emissions. ...:twisted:
HavocXphere
Honorary Master
But....if I indicate I lose the tactical advantage of surprise.
/jkThe dusk thing was meant purely in the car colour context. Whereas the headlights argument I think is meant to apply the entire day.
Just thought of another angle:
Human eyes have an uneven cone & rod distribution. Peripheral vision (Rods) see black & white and of course also register movement. So w/ peripheral vision sharp brightness contrasts between surroundings & road are a huge advantage whereas being able to "see the entire car" has near zero benefit there. In the peripheral vision the tiny improvements I talked about also have more of an effect.
I suspect that the people behind the campaign are running purely on study results though & the fact that the potential for disaster is fairly low if they are wrong.
HapticSimian
Honorary Master
Not just VWs, although having spent a number of years working for (and thus driving) VW, the just-replaced Polo often had people flashing me until I adjusted the lights properly. Related to another discussion ongoing on these here boards, it never did happen afterwards, even if I did have the fog lights on.
I nearly flew off the road a couple of times in the period after those bug-eyed Honda Civics were just launched.
So it does work then? The only difference is it's now harder to distinguish the bikes from the cars.
They were distinguishable, is what I mean.
Not any more. Maybe it's just me, but I've always been fairly adept at spotting 1.5 ton 5 metre long machines headed in my direction at 80km/hr during the day. Lights or not. This might be beneficial for the twits incapable of checking blind-spots though...
supersunbird
Honorary Master
At the least it should be helpfull with the iditos that don't realise their lights are off after dusk since they would have started their yourney with it on and cant forget.
And if the metropigs are so inclined, they can easily see which cars only have only one working headlight easily in daytime (when they do their roadblocks, and they do it less at nighttime) and fine the accordingly.
R13...
Honorary Master
There are lots of drivers who don't put on their lights until they themselves can't see where they'r going. These are the morons they need to target, the idiots think lights on means they they only need to see others and not worry about being seen. And those who think parking lights are sufficient in low visibility conditions...
They were distinguishable, is what I mean.
Maybe it's just me, but I've always been fairly adept at spotting 1.5 ton 5 metre long machines headed in my direction at 80km/hr during the day. Lights or not. This might be beneficial for the twits incapable of checking blind-spots though...
I'm going to agree with you here.
Driving with your lights on does make you more noticeably in my book but if you are an alert driver there is no need for it.
Driving long distances though I will have my lights on dim. Because of the monotony involved many people seem to relax and lose concentration, had many instances where some **** just decides to change lanes without looking properly because he is fast asleep. I will also use my lights approaching/leaving the dusk&dawn periods of day.
Jabberwocky
Expert Member
I like the idea of telling people to always drive with their lights on... hell,they should make it so cars automatically turn on their lights when people start their cars.
Too many people forgetting to turn on their lights when it rains, or when the road is wet.
I drive long distance to work, and I just love it when someone drives through the spray of a truck.. in a white car... with their lights off.
Too many people forgetting to turn on their lights when it rains, or when the road is wet.
I drive long distance to work, and I just love it when someone drives through the spray of a truck.. in a white car... with their lights off.
springbokkie
Well-Known Member
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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?
Wasn't your initial post about how is it safer driving with your head lights on? bin3 stating that he drives with his safety belt on and doesn't answer his phone while driving, hardly means he is accusing anyone else of not doing the same. He is pointing out that he is doing his part to road safety, even if it is to put on your head light to make yourself more visible. So I see his comment it on the point of what this thread is all about -> road safety!
So before the whole put your lights on during the day campaign , the roads were actually safer? Surely not seeing the entire vehicle doesn't distinguish you from the rest? It would actually make me more concern driving with my headlights on.
There is so many factors playing a part in road accidents, that I won't even consider "the lights was of during day" as an excuse when I hear about accidents on the road. Other factors like speeding, worn out tires, cellphones, not being alert on the road, alcohol would jump to mind.
But like others in this thread has mentioned, if it can save only one life, why wouldn't you drive with your head lights on? Personally I've been driving with my head lights on since I got my car back in 2006, to make it more visible to others.
My car is a dark gray color, so I believe it makes me more visible on the road. Even if it is just for preventing someone to change into my lane where they shouldn't have.
<and off topic> When the law states I can have one/two beers before I'm over the legal limit, why do I really want to even go there? I believe even 1 beer reduces your reaction time, even if it is by 0.00001sec. If by me not consuming alcohol can save a life I'm for not drinking before I need to drive. Same goes for your the head light question.
I think the reason for the headlights behind you is when you are driving and the afternoon sun is behind you shining in the mirrors ( and making the car behind you look like a silhouette ) The first thing you will see are the headlights as you tend to look from the bottom up, and not like normally straight behind you otherwise you will stare directly in the sun. Applies when you are on the freeway driving at speed. Headlights in the city is useless
Pitbull
Verboten
I put on my headlights if I drive long distance in support of "Arrive Alive"
Bikes don't even have a function where you can switch the lights off, so what is the problem? You guys got borred now needs something else to complain about?
Bikes don't even have a function where you can switch the lights off, so what is the problem? You guys got borred now needs something else to complain about?
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bin3
Senior Member
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Hehe; didn't even see the response to my post -- this work thing is really an attention stealer, but as a response to you DJ -- I really didn't try to suggest anything by it with regards to your driving ability or anything else, and if you took it that way, I do apologise.
To me, the simple fact is this: I trust myself. If I were the only one on the road I wouldn't need any lights, and I should probably manage not to make any accidents. I'm not the only one -- there are a huge amount of idiots on the road ... I actually saw a lady the other day with a newspaper on her lap, coffee in one hand, putting on make-up. While driving of course, and on the highway. Sure it was peak traffic, but still ... I don't trust anybody else on the road, and I always try to anticipate the stupidest thing the driver in front of me or behind me or next to me could possibly do.
To me this is a sign of a mature driver. Somebody that knows that no matter your ability on the road -- you are not alone, and some idiot some where some time is going to do something very stupid ...
I have 20/20 vision. Fine, this is only after the laser op, but I still see better than most. I don't need people to have their headlights on to see them: well, in good sunny conditions anyway.
BUT If my headlights being on can prevent even a single 'mistake' from somebody else, it's worth it.
To me, the simple fact is this: I trust myself. If I were the only one on the road I wouldn't need any lights, and I should probably manage not to make any accidents. I'm not the only one -- there are a huge amount of idiots on the road ... I actually saw a lady the other day with a newspaper on her lap, coffee in one hand, putting on make-up. While driving of course, and on the highway. Sure it was peak traffic, but still ... I don't trust anybody else on the road, and I always try to anticipate the stupidest thing the driver in front of me or behind me or next to me could possibly do.
To me this is a sign of a mature driver. Somebody that knows that no matter your ability on the road -- you are not alone, and some idiot some where some time is going to do something very stupid ...
I have 20/20 vision. Fine, this is only after the laser op, but I still see better than most. I don't need people to have their headlights on to see them: well, in good sunny conditions anyway.
BUT If my headlights being on can prevent even a single 'mistake' from somebody else, it's worth it.
I reckon a third to half the bikes I see don't have their lights on...
How exactly does the alternator "work harder"? Does it spin harder? Does it put more voltage out? Does it generate more friction?
UnUnOctium
Expert Member
It only increases visibility in countries where the days are really dark during the winter (i.e. nordic countries). I never drive with DRLs as it makes you look like a w4nk3r and wastes fuel (even if it is a little).