Do you use full beams when driving on Motorways?

Mc Love

Simple question...the amount of cars I came across driving towards me with their full beams on, on the M7 the other night was crazy.
I got so fed up instead of flashing them, everytime one of them had theirs on, I put on mine, they werent long switching them off!!
I know its not the way to do it...but if I can see you, then you can see me! Is there any need to use them on motorways anyway?

Homer

Don't think i've ever used full beams on a motorway unlesss it's an unlit section which is fairly uncommon these days? Certainly in Dublin anyway.

bennjerrys

Ah yes the usual me myself and I attitude on our nations roads, even when not needed will put them on anyway and sure who cares about traffic on other side, feckin drives me mad as well :mad:

irisheddie85

I use full lights on the motorway if it is unlit and nothing coming towards or in front of me.
that is what your full lights are for

Most of the motorway network once you are out of dublin is unlit

homer90

Yep I use them, but do use dims for on coming traffic.

My headlights are like candles....

Mc Love

irisheddie85 wrote: »

I use full lights on the motorway if it is unlit and nothing coming towards or in front of me.
that is what your full lights are for

Surely you dont need them even on the unlit sections as the reflectors on the central median and cats eyes show up the road. There must be something wrong with your lights if you cant see the road with just your headlights on?!

Big Nasty

My God!

Look at the results already - this is gonna be worse than the roundabout thread!

pippip

Mc Love wrote: »

Surely you dont need them even on the unlit sections as the reflectors on the central median and cats eyes show up the road. There must be something wrong with your lights if you cant see the road with just your headlights on?!

And what about any hazards that aren't reflective I.e. Debris, wildlife

irisheddie85

Mc Love wrote: »

Surely you dont need them even on the unlit sections as the reflectors on the central median and cats eyes show up the road. There must be something wrong with your lights if you cant see the road with just your headlights on?!

Surely the further ahead you can see the safer you are. Yes Cats eyes show up the middle of the road but if i am traveling along at 120km/h I like to be able to see as much as possible

JayEnnis

Obviously most people here have never driven outside of Dublin.

kikel

Cats eyes in this country are never cleaned. Can't be relied on to guide you along the road.


OP putting on full lights to counteract drivers with full beams on is dangerous. I was behind a car lately who drove for at least 10 miles with full beams on. Oncoming traffic kept flashing him, fair enough they were been blinded by the ignorant driver in front of me. But then some prick decided to counteract this with full beams, this then led to me be blinded, so please OP don't use full beams on other drivers if they have full beams on.

complicit

Mc Love wrote: »

Simple question...the amount of cars I came across driving towards me with their full beams on, on the M7 the other night was crazy.
I got so fed up instead of flashing them, everytime one of them had theirs on, I put on mine, they werent long switching them off!!
I know its not the way to do it...but if I can see you, then you can see me! Is there any need to use them on motorways anyway?

Do their lights actually blind you ? Given that there are two lanes and a median strip seperating you .

Mc Love

Mc Love wrote: »

Surely you dont need them even on the unlit sections as the reflectors on the central median and cats eyes show up the road. There must be something wrong with your lights if you cant see the road with just your headlights on?!

Eh trust me some of them are pitch black and it would be irresponsible NOT to use them!
I avoid using them as much as I can but if there is nothing else at all and it's pitch black I will

Henry Ford III

kikel wrote: »

Cats eyes in this country are never cleaned. Can't be relied on to guide you along the road.

Aren't they self cleaning?

Autosport

I use them when there is no oncoming traffic so i wont blind anyone, common sense really :cool:

gpjordanf1

I use main beams everywhere I'm required to use them under Irish law and use them responsibily in accordance with the rules of the road..... including motorways.....

To not do so is simply irresponsible..........

DonalN

Same here. Use them when no oncoming traffic but not if someone is driving in front of me.
Anyone coming towards me will get a flash though! Ha ha!

slimjimmc

complicit wrote: »

Do their lights actually blind you ? Given that there are two lanes and a median strip seperating you .

Hell yeah, most sections of road are not dead flat. Even a small change in elevation can easily mean that headlights in the distance appear well over a concrete or steel barrier. And in the blackness of night they don't have to be beaming straight into your eyes either, there's plenty of scattered glare to dazzle.

Buffman

Mc Love wrote: »

Surely you dont need them even on the unlit sections as the reflectors on the central median and cats eyes show up the road. There must be something wrong with your lights if you cant see the road with just your headlights on?!

Some parts of the 'older' motorway network don't have any working cat's eyes left, M4 Lucan to Kilcock and old parts of the M7/M9 spring to mind.
I use my full's as much as possible, same rules apply as normal roads, if you can see another vehicle, they can see you.

Also depends on what type of central median there is, with the large hedge types you can keep them on and not bother anyone. Also, try and be aware of trucks/busses, as you might not see their lights (low down), but they can see yours due to the high driving position.

dr.fuzzenstein

Missing option in poll of "rarely and never when there's oncoming traffic"

complicit

slimjimmc wrote: »

Hell yeah, most sections of road are not dead flat. Even a small change in elevation can easily mean that headlights in the distance appear well over a concrete or steel barrier. And in the blackness of night they don't have to be beaming straight into your eyes either, there's plenty of scattered glare to dazzle.

Sorry I don't buy it . There is a huge difference between getting hit with full beams on a tiny rural road and on a motorway . The two sides of the motorway are well seperated as may as well be seperate roads . If far away lights like that can dazzle , I would suspect cataracts or bad eyesight . Some drivers also flash and get annoyed at other drivers using dipped lights in daylight . Some people just easily annoyed imo

bazzachazza

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Aren't they self cleaning?

They are designed to drop down into the casing and get cleaned in the pool of rainwater in the casing when a car drives over them. The casing is steel and the cats eye is mounted in a rubber housing.

I drive with them on but the usual rules apply, I see white or red lights and they switch off immediately. I drive on the M4 where there are NO lights bar at the junctions.

I got a lift one night from someone who drove with them on ALL the time even when only a few hundred meters behind someone else. Neither myself or my wife felt in a position to say anything as we both thought we would be left at the side of the motorway (a very in one ear out the other sort of driver) and I'm no shrinking violet.

kikel

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Aren't they self cleaning?

You learn something new everyday.

As an aside, there not really good at self cleaning then. Ever notice how good cats eyes are on newer roads. They are like an airport runway.

slimjimmc

complicit wrote: »

Sorry I don't buy it . There is a huge difference between getting hit with full beams on a tiny rural road and on a motorway . The two sides of the motorway are well seperated as may as well be seperate roads . If far away lights like that can dazzle , I would suspect cataracts or bad eyesight . Some drivers also flash and get annoyed at other drivers using dipped lights in daylight . Some people just easily annoyed imo

I would suggest you get out and do a bit of night time driving on an unlit rural section of motorway. You'll soon find plenty of sections where there's a right hand bend slightly elevated above your position where a car's headlights will be beaming straight at you from 300m away. On a dark night that's enough glare to reduce your view ahead, especially if it's raining. Not matter how good you think your night vision is you can't prevent your pupils contracting so it can certainly shorten the distance ahead which you can see to be clear until the light's are hidden behind the barrier, even if it doesn't leave you with a blind-spot in your eye.

The distance between lanes helps on perfectly straight sections and as two cars get closer, it doesn't matter a fiddlers on a curve or an incline (of which there are plenty).

RobAMerc

I agree its a issue - I flick mine on and off intermittently to check the road ahead is clear but I find loads of tools driving along oblivious to the fact they are blinding folks coming the opposite direction. left hand bends mean your lights are shining directly into the path of oncoming drivers.

usual thing in Ireland - 0 training, little understanding and f8cked if I care, I'm fine!

burger1979

I have a query with regards the use of high beams on motorways, in particular the M3. I use mine only when there are no cars coming towards me and when there are no cars in front of me. But on certain sections of the M3 when the road is level on both sides, the concrete median is quite high and I have seen cars drive by me with their high beams on, however since the median is quite high the light doesnt seem to 'spill' over the median and effect my vision, nor am I blinded. I have been guilty myself of having my high beams on and not seeing cars coming towards me, and by the time our cars cross in the different directions its too late to turn them off.

So my query is this, would you drive with the high beams on with the high median? Again just to state that there are only a few small sections of the M3 in which this scenario happens.

Atomic Pineapple

Mc Love wrote: »

Simple question...the amount of cars I came across driving towards me with their full beams on, on the M7 the other night was crazy.
I got so fed up instead of flashing them, everytime one of them had theirs on, I put on mine, they werent long switching them off!!
I know its not the way to do it...but if I can see you, then you can see me! Is there any need to use them on motorways anyway?

On the Ashbourne by pass its almost guaranteed you'll get blinded driving on it, I once drove to Dublin on it and came across four cars on my side that had their full lights on constantly even through the lit sections.

I cant believe people think that theres some magic barrier on motorways that stop light from blinding traffic on the other side :rolleyes:

Also I've drove on lots of unlit motorway and there was very few sections where I felt like I needed my full lights to see ahead, the lines on the road are there to guide you just like in fog.

squod

There's still the possibility of hitting animals (or humans) at night in unlit stretches. Use common sense here. Hi- beams when there's no-one oncoming.

ei.sdraob

squod wrote: »

There's still the possibility of hitting animals (or humans) at night in unlit stretches

wtf are they doing on a motorway at anytime :eek: breakdowns you mean?

Henry Ford III

Jebus it's not that difficult is it?

You can use full beam headlights on a motorway when the road ahead is clear, and there's no oncoming traffic (behind a barrier or otherwise).

Daegerty

My god this forum is so Dublin-centric it scares me. Can't believe someone would be doing 150 km in the pitch dark without a proper light on

Mitch Connor

Bits of the N11/M11 between Wexford and Wicklow are not lit well at all, so I have on occassion used full beams on these stretches, but always when I am well, well, WELL back from cars in front and when I know my lights won't be seen by oncoming cars either. Generally I will drive dipped, as the roads are straight enough to not need the extra visibility badly, but when the situation does allow full beams I will use them as it would be irresponsible not to imo.

Zubeneschamali

I voted no: I currently do an 80 Km commute on the motorway, last year it was 120 km. It is almost never possible to use full beams, as there is always other traffic ahead at commuting times.

I may be able to flick on full beams for 30 seconds now and again. Oh, and I also blast the odd idiot sailing along in the opposite direction with his fulls on permanently.

pippip

Think the poll should have had a few more options

sealgaire

irisheddie85 wrote: »

I use full lights on the motorway if it is unlit and nothing coming towards or in front of me.
that is what your full lights are for

Most of the motorway network once you are out of dublin is unlit

There is still oncoming traffic you know!! Oh I hate drivers like you. Central median or not, if you are in a van or lorry etc full beams coming at you will blind a driver

Daegerty

sealgaire wrote: »

There is still oncoming traffic you know!! Oh I hate drivers like you. Central median or not, if you are in a van or lorry etc full beams coming at you will blind a driver

Its possible to dim for just lorries and vans.

Zubeneschamali

Daegerty wrote: »

Its possible to dim for just lorries and vans.

Is there some special reason you want to blind MPV and SUV drivers?

Daegerty

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

Is there some special reason you want to blind MPV and SUV drivers?

For having poor enough taste to buy a MPV and anyone who drives a SUV on the motorway is a snobby Celtic Tiger waster who would have had no problem with paying 8 euros for a pint a few years ago if it meant the high price would 'keep out the plebs'. Now I get my revenge.

"Not in such an exclusive venue now are we?"

sealgaire

Daegerty wrote: »

Its possible to dim for just lorries and vans.

Thats just silly, how will know what kind of vechicle is coming towards you. You should be keeping your mind on your driving, not staring off into the distance wondering what is coming towards you in order to decide whether or not to dip your lights. :mad:

Daegerty

sealgaire wrote: »

Thats just silly, how will know what kind of vechicle is coming towards you. You should be keeping your mind on your driving, not staring off into the distance wondering what is coming towards you in order to decide whether or not to dip your lights. :mad:

with the fulls on you'd be able to tell. it also depends on the height of the hedge row in the middle of the road, if its high enough then only need to dim for lorries

sealgaire

Daegerty wrote: »

with the fulls on you'd be able to tell. it also depends on the height of the hedge row in the middle of the road, if its high enough then only need to dim for lorries

No sorry now but you wouldn't. Most small to mid size vans have their lights no higher than a car.
I thought you were joking with that comment earlier. seems you weren't . . . . .. :eek: scary

bernardo mac

Maybe I missed a comment re.this:Nothing as maddening as a vehicle behind you with full beams on!

pippip

I drove back from cork to dublin the other week at 12 at night. Unlit motorways. I used full beams once no one was in front of me or coming towards me.

With traffic coming towards you its fairly simple, if you can see their lights they can see yours, so switch to dim. From a distance the full beams don't blind you, its only once your within a few meters that you are effected. Everyone in the opposite direction were doing the same thing.

PS its not a problem at all to see what type of vehicle is coming towards you.

It BeeMee

Daegerty wrote: »

Its possible to dim for just lorries and vans.

sealgaire wrote: »

Thats just silly, how will know what kind of vechicle is coming towards you.

Trucks and busses are easy to spot, they have marker lights on top. Harder to spot a transit or a small van.

4x4's are easy as there doesn't seem to be any in Ireland that doesn't have it's fo....errrrr.. driving lights constantly on.

Zubeneschamali

pippip wrote: »

With traffic coming towards you its fairly simple, if you can see their lights they can see yours, so switch to dim.

This. When their lights start looking too bright to me, I dip mine.

Then I pause for them to dip, and if they don't, I whack the full beams back on.

Zubeneschamali

It BeeMee wrote: »

4x4's are easy as there doesn't seem to be any in Ireland that doesn't have it's fo....errrrr.. driving lights constantly on.

If you can see the foglights on oncoming jeeps, then ordinary cars are getting your full beams in the face.

barryfitz

Yes. I use them the exact same way I would on any other road. i.e no one in front of me and no one oncoming on the far side. If the central median (or whatever its called) is thick enough and high enough so that I cant see the other cars lights at all I will leave on my full beams, except when I spot a truck/bus/anything taller than the median (usually easily spotted by the smaller tell tale lights near the roof of these types of vehicles)

wyrn

Funny this should come up. I really noticed a lot of drivers driving on the M4 on Friday night driving with their full lights on. There was also a number of cars on the far side who didn't dip their lights for us on the other side of the road and there was the guy who I overtook who didn't dips his lights.

I regularly drive on the motorways at night and I've never once turned on my full lights. It has never occurred to me as I find them fairly (for night time) visible. Now, saying that if there was any doubt I wouldn't hesitate to turn them on (provided there was no one around to blind). For example a couple of weeks ago on the M4 around the Maynooth/Leixlip exit there was a van or trailer with no rear lights. The only saving grace for them was the red/white reflective strip at the bottom.

JayEnnis

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

This. When their lights start looking too bright to me, I dip mine.

Then I pause for them to dip, and if they don't, I whack the full beams back on.

So then the two of you are driving blind? Flashing is enough.

And what would all the people here who drive on unlit motorways with their dims on do if a deer appeared? (It happens) With your full beams on you would be able to react much quicker, I know my dims only light up at best 6-7 meters in front of me. Traveling at 120km/g that is absolutely no time to react.

bazzachazza

Between Leixlip and Kilcock the hedge in the central median is cut to 7ft and usually grows to about 12ft. Barring a few sections without it is possible to put your full beams on without blinding ANY vehicle on the other side. Anyone who drives who hasn't the time to check what type of on coming vehicle it is should really re-evaluate how they drive. How do you evaluate hazards ahead ? It takes a split second to see the two tiny lights 20ft in the air up ahead on the other side.

Yes the vast majority of motorway in this country has a concrete central median. I consider motorways like a normal road at night when it comes to high beam. If I can't see white or red than I would rather increase my forward visibility from 60m to 300-400m+ especially when travelling at 120km/h.

Would you drive on an unlit non motorway with dipped beams and never turn on your high beams ?

I drive the M18 most friday nights which is unlit for the most part, the new section especially is very dark and I feel much safer going 120km/h + using my headlights especially if its raining.

On this road anyway headlights from on coming cars dont bother me at all so sometimes I dim other times I dont depending on how fast Im going and on visibility at the time, always dim when behind a car or meeting a truck or bus though.