No lights in the rain

pclancy

Pouring rain all afternoon here (laois) and I was out in the car several times. Id say less then a quarter of people that I met either in towns, on busy national roads or country backroads had their dip lights on. Why????? It is much safer to drive in the rain with lights on, makes you FAR more visable and all it takes is a seconds thought to put on your dips when you put on your wipers. Why doesnt the government push the idea to people more? Driving on parking lights is equally as stupid IMO, fair enough your taillights are on but tiny 5W parking bulbs (for parking not driving) dont make you any more visable.

Sorry rant over. Just seems to me to be a simple way to make poor visability driving safer. Bulbs arent that expensive.

mike65

Its worth considering that the easiest/cheapest/quickest way to reduce your chances of getting hit is to turn your lights on.

Mike.

Seanie M

Fogs and all?

Sorry Mike, couldn't resist!

gyppo

Would'nt it be an excellent idea for car manufacturers to implement this, ie dipped beams come on automatically when the wipers are used.

Gandhi

pclancy wrote:

Driving on parking lights is equally as stupid IMO, fair enough your taillights are on but tiny 5W parking bulbs (for parking not driving) dont make you any more visible

Those things should be banned. You might as well light a candle ffs. I was delighted when I bought my current car (VW) and saw that it had no parking lights. Dips and high beams, and that's it. I was hoping that these stupid things would disappear altogether, but no such luck.

netman

Been driving all over north county Dublin last weekend, I lost count of how many cars I passed by that couldn't figure out how to use their lights.

The sad thing is that majority of them are 05 and 06 cars, people obviously have the money to splash on a new car but don't have 5 minutes to familiarise themselves with the controls.

Most of them only had their fog lights on, even though there was no fog (rarely is). Some prefer the parking lights, guess they believe it saves electricity. And a few drive around with rear fog lights on but no headlights.

It seems to me like some sort of a russian roulette.. push a few buttons, turn the controls a few times and hope for the best.

mike65

I was going to e-mail the Dept of Transport about this matter sometime last year but never got round to it. I will do it this week.

Mike.

ninty9er

mike65 wrote:

I was going to e-mail the Dept of Transport about this matter sometime last year but never got round to it. I will do it this week.

Mike.

I'm goin 2 try and push it from within too. FF are always telling us they want Ógra to be more proactive. Martin Cullen isn't the best guy for the job though. I'll mention it when we get stuck in at college again.

They made seat belts compulsory in '91, why not make DRL compulsory from '08. Realistically all '07 cars have been manufactured by now

WizZard

Drove around the M50 today at 3.30pm in torrential rain. At least a third of the cars I passed/saw had their lights off

It's gone beyond annoying now, it's just sad that people can be this clueless.

colm_mcm

I can't understand why people have their parking lights on during the day/evening, they are hardly visible at night, so how could anyone se them during the day. I usually put headlights on, with the beam adjusted down.

ianobrien

With regard to driving on parking lights. On the 1996 Micra at home, if the parking lights are on when the car is started, the parking lights go off and the dip lights come on at slightly reduced power. It was great and really made the car easy to see.

On the new (to me) Mirca, (a 2000 model), Nissan removed this low power dip light for when the car is running & parking lights are on.

They got rid of a useful safety feature! Yes, I think that driving with parks for visibility reasons (rain) is stupid

cormie

I heard that there are some cars that when you start the engine, the headlights come on automatically?

I always drive with my headlights on, even on a Sunny day. It makes me that much more visable, anyway, when you see a car in the far distance without lights on, it's hard to tell on some roads whether it's parked or not, with headlights on you know it's moving.

ninty9er

cormie wrote:

I heard that there are some cars that when you start the engine, the headlights come on automatically?

I always drive with my headlights on, even on a Sunny day

Volvo and Saab

Me too

cormie

Seeing people drive correctly on our roads is such a rarity that I often wonder, are the ones I do see drive properly, the same guys who post in this forum. It seems nearly everyone here does the correct thing, why can't the same ratios apply on the roads

Capt'n Midnight

ninty9er wrote:

Volvo and Saab

Me too

with FIAT's you can leave the head lights on all the time because they go off when you turn off the ignition , no flat battery and no beeps

Gandhi

cormie wrote:

Seeing people drive correctly on our roads is such a rarity that I often wonder, are the ones I do see drive properly, the same guys who post in this forum. It seems nearly everyone here does the correct thing, why can't the same ratios apply on the roads

Because this is a motoring forum. Now and again there will be a driver behaviour-related thread posted in After Hours, and I just don't know whether to laugh or cry at half the responses.

Edit: And on the Daytime running lights, beware the Volkswagen interpretation where the back lights do *not* come on automatically. I think Volvos might do the same.

Alun

Capt'n Midnight wrote:

with FIAT's you can leave the head lights on all the time because they go off when you turn off the ignition , no flat battery and no beeps

Yeah I noticed that the other day when I had a new Fiat Croma as a hire car. It came as a surprise, but then I started to wonder why every manufacturer didn't do it this way.

cormie

That's true actually. Seen a fair few dodgy threads and replies there.

This forum is really good. It's definitely made me a better driver. Going off topic here:o

WhatsGoingOn

Capt'n Midnight wrote:

with FIAT's you can leave the head lights on all the time because they go off when you turn off the ignition , no flat battery and no beeps

Alfa is the same (obviously I suppose...). Don't think I ever touched the light switch when I had an Alfa. Lights were just left on at all times as they automatically switched off when the car was switched off.

Seth Brundle

When Dublin city council/corporation had a campaign to encourage this, didn't they use a rear fog light icon on their signs instead of a dip beam icon?

Wishbone Ash

The old wives tale about "wasting the battery" appears to be alive and well. I drive with the dipped lights on at all times and I am regularly informed by other motorists, especially taxi drivers, that my lights are on. Does it not occur to these morons that I want them on?

My father in-law is very keen not to "burn out the bulbs". When driving at twilight, he only switches on the lights approaching a bend and then promptly turns them back off again. He also will never use the indicators if there is no one following him. :rolleyes:

ninty9er

Wishbone Ash wrote:

The old wives tale about "wasting the battery" appears to be alive and well. I drive with the dipped lights on at all times and I am regularly informed by other motorists, especially taxi drivers, that my lights are on. Does it not occur to these morons that I want them on?

My father in-law is very keen not to "burn out the bulbs". When driving at twilight, he only switches on the lights approaching a bend and then promptly turns them back off again. He also will never use the indicators if there is no one following him. :rolleyes:

Is he about 70. My grandad's the same. He thinks by now everybody knows where he's going!!:rolleyes:

Andy_R

On my last car (Peugeot 307) the dipped beams came on automatically when the wipers were on. Good idea!

Wishbone Ash

ninty9er wrote:

Is he about 70. My grandad's the same. He thinks by now everybody knows where he's going!!:rolleyes:

Very close ninty9er - he is 69!

Idleater

Wishbone Ash wrote:

He also will never use the indicators if there is no one following him. :rolleyes:

Being brutally honest about this point:

Indicators are a signal of intent not a conferral of right of way. Your Father/Grandfather/whoever is technically and legally correct in choosing not to indicate where it does not benifit other people.

Sometimes (not in this instance) indicating wrongly is worse than not indicating.

Just something to be aware of. Indicating is necessary when it's signal will benifit other road users, if it does not benifit them then you should not do it.

L.

Seth Brundle

All indicators show is that your bulbs work!

cormie

I think it's good to be in the habit of indicating "correctly" regardless of who's around.

dudara

Capt'n Midnight wrote:

with FIAT's you can leave the head lights on all the time because they go off when you turn off the ignition , no flat battery and no beeps

I love that feature about my Punto. It's genius. I personally wouldn't have dipped lights on all the time, I think it's a bit excessive on sunny days when there is light reflecting off tonnes of surfaces. However, any overcast, gloomy or rainy day, then I consider it a neccessity.

Plus, that thing about the indicators reminds me of my dad. When he was teaching me to drive, he told me not to use the indicators so much as it would wear out the bulb!!

pclancy

I was taught the very same by my auld lad, needless to say I indicate as much as possible as Im always giving out about people that dont, especially on roundabouts. It takes a second and saves lots of time/quick braking when you know where people are going!

Shaybo

Driving down the M1 past Drogheda towards Balbriggan a few weeks ago in the heavist rain I've ever encountered in this country and the amount of people without lights on beggared belief.

You couldn't see more than a few yards in front and I was trying to get in out of the overtaking lane but I was terrified that I would rearend some slower moving traffic without lights on.

I have a Saab so they're on all the time but even when I had other makes previously I'd have them on.

There seems to be a prevalent feeling that only when it's dark should you put your lights on.

muletide

Always have them on, I find that if you put them on everytime you get into the car you find yourself doing it automatically after a while.

Capt'n Midnight

dudara wrote:

Plus, that thing about the indicators reminds me of my dad. When he was teaching me to drive, he told me not to use the indicators so much as it would wear out the bulb!!

Actually he is quite correct. Orange bulbs are not fit for purpose. many cars fail NCT's because the coating wears/flakes off. The bulbs cost about 3 times as much as brake lights so the provision "bearing in mind the price paid" of consumer legleslation should apply.

I've replaced many orange bulbs , none because the bulb blew. By rights the colour should outlast the filament.

_Kaiser_

I always have my dipped lights on, regardless of the time of day but just this morning when coming to work it got very dark and overcast for a few minutes (stretch of the N3 with overhanging trees on both sides) and the amount of cars that I passed with no lights on at all was unbelievable. Because the road is normally overshadowed anyway it can be hard enough to see a dark-colored car, but in weather like that and at speeds of 100kph it's just madness! :eek:

prospect

WhatsGoingOn wrote:

Alfa is the same (obviously I suppose...). Don't think I ever touched the light switch when I had an Alfa. Lights were just left on at all times as they automatically switched off when the car was switched off.

I think alot of cars have this feature, I know Renault do it aswell.

The other thing with modern Alfas is the fog lights. They go off with the ignition, but you need to turn those back on every time you start the car. So if you see an Alfa driver with the fogs on, they have had to make a concious decision to turn them on EVERY time they get into the car.....

dicks.....

peasant

Three very simple rules of thumb when to switch your lights on:

1) pick the display on your dashboard that is hardest to read (in my car thats the mileage counter). If you find that easier to read with the lights on ...leave them on

2) watch cars in your rearview mirror ...if you wish they'd rather had their lights on ...stick yours on

3) when you find it significantly easier to make out oncoming traffic with the lights on ...then would be a good time to turn yours on as well.


And remember a low sun can be even worse than darkness/rain ...when you see the sun in your mirrors ...stick on those lights, for your own safety

Bogger77

peasant wrote:

Three very simple rules of thumb when to switch your lights on:

1) pick the display on your dashboard that is hardest to read (in my car thats the mileage counter). If you find that easier to read with the lights on ...leave them on

unless you've got a Toyota Corolla, new model which have dial lights that are on FULL when lights are off, enabling you to view the dials, and then go dipped when you turn on the lights, so in fact it's harder to read when car lights are on.

Big Balls

Some modern cars are now ditching sidelights..

My car does not have them. I have a xenon bulb and if I have the switch turned to where your sidelights would normally come on, the indicators light up a faint orange a la 5 series style.

IrishRover

Good advice there Peasant.

cormie wrote:

Seeing people drive correctly on our roads is such a rarity that I often wonder, are the ones I do see drive properly, the same guys who post in this forum. It seems nearly everyone here does the correct thing, why can't the same ratios apply on the roads

Me too. I often wonder why I don't see more of the good drivers on this forum out on the open road!

Then again, there are some people on here who have posted saying that they don't like to pull into the left on a dual carriageway or motorway or hard shoulder or put their lights on or indicate etc, so not everyone here is "exemplary" or at least saying they are.

cormie wrote:

I think it's good to be in the habit of indicating "correctly" regardless of who's around.

I agree. Sometimes there are people you can't see who can see your indicator. I'm not only taking about cars you may not have spotted either. Often times a pedestrian around a corner can see the amber flashing in a road sign or on the pavement or in a puddle on the road surface. A smart pedestrian will look for signs like this that a car is approaching from around a blind bend before crossing the road he is on.

Silvera

Guys.....

This has been my BIGGEST pet hate (motoring wise) for years!!

Shortly after I started driving in 1988, I began reading up on driving habits/rules/etc. in other countries and one of the things that really caught my attention was that UK drivers had a motto/saying 'If you need to use your wipers, turn on your dips'.

I began to do likewise and I would safely say that I was one of the few drivers to do so back then!
I was constantly been flashed by other drivers to tell me that my dips were on?!

I also recall reading that in many EU countries, it is actually illegal to drive a car on parking lights (i.e dips only when moving!).


Nowadays I generally use dipped headlights every time I drive....and I have noticed that many other drivers are doing the same.

However, I am still amazed at the amount of people who steadfastly refuse to turn on their lights until it is pitch dark??!!
........and it generally seems to be older drivers who refuse to do so.

And as for those individuals who drive in lashing rain with no lights on ...crazy!!


Hence my signature below!
v

netman

Silvera wrote:

I also recall reading that in many EU countries, it is actually illegal to drive a car on parking lights (i.e dips only when moving!).

Not only is it illegal, but the law is actually being enforced.

I remember stopping to refuel at a petrol station in Slovenia and this woman pulling up behind me, totally disgusted at being fined 50 euro (I think) for not having her dipped lights on during the day, in perfect visibility. She did have parking lights, and she still got fined.

Unless you hit people's pockets, they'll never change. Sensible ones will know the benefits, but they're the ones who are already doing it. The majority of the drivers here I wouldn't call sensible

luckat

I didn't know you were meant to put your lights on in the rain!

Being a conformist weakling, I mostly put my lights on if I see others with their lights on, though.

KeRbDoG

Ever since I saw that campaign for people to use their dipped lights during the day it got me thinking and ever since I always have them on. I do notice that people are less likely to pull out in front of me at the last second because of the dipped lights. Can't explain it but there yea go :rolleyes:

Silvera

kerbdog wrote:

I do notice that people are less likely to pull out in front of me at the last second because of the dipped lights. Can't explain it but there yea go :rolleyes:

I agree!

_Kaiser_

kerbdog wrote:

I do notice that people are less likely to pull out in front of me at the last second because of the dipped lights. Can't explain it but there yea go :rolleyes:

Yep.. noticed that too. Plus since I got the Passat, I find there's less people tailgating me too than there was in the Mirage. Must be cause she looks very big and new and they're afraid of the costs if they ran into me?

Stephen

Daytime running lights ftw!

I recently drove a rental car in Switzerland where daytime running lights are compulsory. The car doesn't allow you to turn off the lights at all, unless you go pulling fuses. It really does make a difference. Not being able to turn off the lights also has the bonus benefit of preventing the parking lights morons from existing

cormie

Aren't you actually supposed to put the parking lights on if you're parking it at the side of a road though? Definitely safer.. right?

fletch

cormie wrote:

Aren't you actually supposed to put the parking lights on if you're parking it at the side of a road though? Definitely safer.. right?

Once again FIAT have a good system....ya turn the key anti-clockwise to activate the parking lights.

dudara

Drove from Cork to Waterford Friday evening in the middle of the vicious thunderstorms. Going over the Youghal bypass, the heavens opened and started lashing. You really couldn't see more than a couple of feet in front.

What did I see in my rear view mirror but a dark purple astra on my backside with no lights on. I could barely make him out and the idiot was driving too close to me for comfort given that it was raining.

He wasn't the only one though