Headlights question

ziggy23

Hi guys
Sorry this is such a silly question but I want to make sure I'm doing it right:o At night time the dipped headlights should be on when driving in a built up area? And the full beams (blue icon?) should be on when driving in a badly lit area? Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. I'm only learning to drive and was goin to take the car out tonight.

Alanstrainor

Dipped headlights are not only for use at night, they should be used when the conditions warrant them. Such as on dull days, twilight etc.

Full beams should be used on unlit roads where visibility is reduced. They should not be used when there are other cars infront of you. And they should be dipped again if a vehicle is approaching in the opposite direction.

ziggy23

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Dipped headlights are not only for use at night, they should be used when the conditions warrant them. Such as on dull days, twilight etc.

Full beams should be used on unlit roads where visibility is reduced. They should not be used when there are other cars infront of you. And they should be dipped again if a vehicle is approaching in the opposite direction.

Thank you so much:) Yes I knew they were to be used when it is dull etc. So If I'm driving around my area at night/dull (very built up) I just use the dipped headlights? Oh another question in very foggy weather I've heard people say use the dipped again instead of full beams. Is this right?

jimgoose

ziggy23 wrote: »

Thank you so much:) Yes I knew they were to be used when it is dull etc. So If I'm driving around my area at night/dull (very built up) I just use the dipped headlights? Oh another question in very foggy weather I've heard people say use the dipped again instead of full beams. Is this right?

Yes, it is. The water mist will reflect a lot of the high-beam back at you, so it's no great use and can be rather dangerous. In thick fog use your foglights, if the car has them.

pogcica

Using full-beams in fog just lights up the fog close in front of you so I would say yes use your dipped lights,And its also a good idea to use dipped lights ALL the time(Day,Night) as you are more visible to oncoming traffic and pedestrians(this is compulsory in other European country's).

Rgds D

ziggy23

Typical the car wouldn't start was making a humming noise then went completely dead even the radio and the light :rolleyes::( Battery gone I presume?

jimgoose

ziggy23 wrote: »

Typical the car wouldn't start was making a humming noise then went completely dead even the radio and the light :rolleyes::( Battery gone I presume?

Probably. How old is the car? What model?

ziggy23

jimgoose wrote: »

Probably. How old is the car? What model?

A 96 Micra:o The neighbour just called in to tell me I'd left the lights on too:o

jimgoose

ziggy23 wrote: »

A 96 Micra:o The neighbour just called in to tell me I'd left the lights on too:o

I see. Well, that explains that then!

ziggy23

jimgoose wrote: »

I see. Well, that explains that then!

You leave my mo-mo alone :pac:

jimgoose

ziggy23 wrote: »

You leave my mo-mo alone :pac:

I'm not saying anything about your <ahem> mo-mo, you left the headlights on and flattened the battery!

ziggy23

jimgoose wrote: »

I'm not saying anything about your <ahem> mo-mo, you left the headlights on and flattened the battery!

Ah no the headlights were only on for 10 minutes just put them on before the thing went dead:eek: Oh jesus I need a husband to be sorting this stuff out for me:o

jimgoose

ziggy23 wrote: »

Ah no the headlights were only on for 10 minutes just put them on before the thing went dead:eek: Oh jesus I need a husband to be sorting this stuff out for me:o

I think you'll find the battery has endured its last Winter. Fast-Fit or the like will sort you.

ziggy23

jimgoose wrote: »

I think you'll find the battery has endured its last Winter. Fast-Fit or the like will sort you.

Ok would that be expensive do you know?

MascotDec85

jimgoose wrote: »

I think you'll find the battery has endured its last Winter. Fast-Fit or the like will sort you.

Forget Fast-Fit. Go to a local Motor Factor. Much cheaper and you can fit it yourself in under 5 mins

Alanstrainor

jimgoose wrote: »

I think you'll find the battery has endured its last Winter. Fast-Fit or the like will sort you.

ziggy23 wrote: »

Ok would that be expensive do you know?

Jump it first and see how you get on. When you get it jumped, try and go for a drive for 30 minutes and let the battery charge. Then see how you get on over the next few days. If it's okay, then i'd probably leave the current battery in it tbh.

MascotDec85 wrote: »

Forget Fast-Fit. Go to a local Motor Factor. Much cheaper and you can fit it yourself in under 5 mins

+1, if it comes to it buy in a motor factors, should cost 50/60 quid or there abouts.

ziggy23

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Jump it first and see how you get on. When you get it jumped, try and go for a drive for 30 minutes and let the battery charge. Then see how you get on over the next few days. If it's okay, then i'd probably leave the current battery in it tbh.



+1, if it comes to it buy in a motor factors, should cost 50/60 quid or there abouts.

Cool thanks everyone for your help going to get someone to jump it for me tomorrow. It had been sitting there idle for a week or 2 so was bound to happen. Just a pity I had myself all revved up to go for a spin and this happens typical!!

Wishbone Ash

Alanstrainor wrote: »

they should be dipped again if a vehicle is approaching in the opposite direction.

.....or pedestrians and cyclists.

jimgoose

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Jump it first and see how you get on. When you get it jumped, try and go for a drive for 30 minutes and let the battery charge. Then see how you get on over the next few days. If it's okay, then i'd probably leave the current battery in it tbh.

I've seen a lot of this. OE batteries tend to last a good while, but aftermarket batteries in my experience don't survive beyond three or four Winters. If that battery is four or five years old it's Donald Ducked, and will probably do the same thing within a few weeks!

Alanstrainor wrote: »

+1, if it comes to it buy in a motor factors, should cost 50/60 quid or there abouts.

FastFit here will supply and fit for €70. Note that there are two battery types knocking about for Micras of that vintage. The "Irish" one is square, and can be got from a motor factors for about €50. Oblong ones for the imported cars are a bit more at around €65-70, but a lot of those guys don't do any fitting.

starlit

If a car is overtaking you, you'll need to dip your lights once they have overtaken you as when a car is in front or behind you in traffic even if on the main road you need to dip your lights.

You can have your lights dipped mainly in fog (with fog lights on), dusk/dawn, in twilight, in built up areas at night, in town at night, always dip your lights when traffic approaches from the opposite side.

You really only use your full lights when driving out the main road/country road when there isn't any traffic, so you can see as much as possible in the road ahead as visibility is limited at night. Be careful of pedestrians and cyclists in particular when driving at night. Dip your lights when you meet them on the road. Dip also when overtaking a car.

Make sure you are in the correct lane and position also so as not to be too close to the grass margin, keep within the line. You may need to drive a little slower than usual than you would during the day but try to keep with the flow of traffic. Also try not to tailgate a car. Sometimes vehicles with one light might approach you as one might have a light broken so be wary of that otherwise might be just a motorcycle.

Practise the headlights outside your house to get used to them, takes practise as you can easily turn them off by accident and that's not a very safe thing to do! Just be aware of that. If there is a car manual for your car will give you instructions on how to use your headlights, its the same concept in every car but might vary on make if its a Japanese or European make there could be a difference there, for lights not sure but I know for the wipers is different between UK and Japanese car models. Maybe look up the model online might get info on that too.

ziggy23

doovdela wrote: »

If a car is overtaking you, you'll need to dip your lights once they have overtaken you as when a car is in front or behind you in traffic even if on the main road you need to dip your lights.

You can have your lights dipped mainly in fog (with fog lights on), dusk/dawn, in twilight, in built up areas at night, in town at night, always dip your lights when traffic approaches from the opposite side.

You really only use your full lights when driving out the main road/country road when there isn't any traffic, so you can see as much as possible in the road ahead as visibility is limited at night. Be careful of pedestrians and cyclists in particular when driving at night. Dip your lights when you meet them on the road. Dip also when overtaking a car.

Make sure you are in the correct lane and position also so as not to be too close to the grass margin, keep within the line. You may need to drive a little slower than usual than you would during the day but try to keep with the flow of traffic. Also try not to tailgate a car. Sometimes vehicles with one light might approach you as one might have a light broken so be wary of that otherwise might be just a motorcycle.

Practise the headlights outside your house to get used to them, takes practise as you can easily turn them off by accident and that's not a very safe thing to do! Just be aware of that. If there is a car manual for your car will give you instructions on how to use your headlights, its the same concept in every car but might vary on make if its a Japanese or European make there could be a difference there, for lights not sure but I know for the wipers is different between UK and Japanese car models. Maybe look up the model online might get info on that too.

Thanks for those tips doovdela
Haven't got the manual would I be able to get that sort of thing online? Won't be driving anywhere that I'll need the full beams for a while so just going to get used to the dipped first then move on from there.

CiniO

ziggy23 wrote: »

Oh another question in very foggy weather I've heard people say use the dipped again instead of full beams. Is this right?

First thing to remember is to make sure you have your dipped lights or fog lights (or both) turned on during fog, no matter if it's day or night.
It's very important to, just to be seen by others.

During the day, usually your dipped lights will do.

In darkness, during the fog, to answer which lights you need to use, depends on how dense is the fog.
If it's just a little fog, you might try your full beam headlights (obviously assuming it's ok to use them which is when there is no other traffic, no street lighting, etc).
If you can see that your own full-beam headlights are dazzling you because of the fog, it means your should dip them.

In that case it's best to drive on dipped headlights, and/or foglights as well.

When fog becomes very dense, you might encounter the same affect (dazzling through your own lights) by your dipped lights.

Then you can turn them off, and leave only your side lights and front fog lights on.
Make sure as well, that you have your rear fog light on in such conditions.
However a need to turn off your dipped headlights to avoid dazzling, only occurs when fog is so dense, you can't see further than few metres (maybe 10 feet).

Also make sure you only turn your rear fog light when fog is dense (f.e. visibility limited to 50 metres or less). If it's not that dense, there is no point in turning rear fog light, even though it's not forbidden by ROTR, you might be dazzling other drivers with it.

Wishbone Ash

CiniO wrote: »

make sure you only turn on your fog lights when fog is dense

Corrected that for you! The use of any fog lights in the absence of heavy fog or falling snow is illegal.

professorpete

doovdela wrote: »

If a car is overtaking you, you'll need to dip your lights once they have overtaken you as when a car is in front or behind you in traffic even if on the main road you need to dip your lights.

Is that true? Would have thought if no car is in front of you then full headlights are needed (provided it's an unlit main road, etc), regardless of whether there's a car behind you or not? Maybe I'm misinterpreting, i.e. you're saying in traffic, no headlights.. I'm a learner by the way, so not calling you out, just wanted to clarify.

Thanks, P

CiniO

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Corrected that for you! The use of any fog lights in the absence of heavy fog or falling snow is illegal.

That's actually not true.
It is illegal to use fog lights, if there is not fog or not snow, but it doesn't have to be dense fog or heavy snow.
Regulations allow drivers to turn on fog lights (front or rear or both) if there is any fog or snow.
However it's not a good practice to turn them on (especially rear fog light) unless fog is dense.

CiniO

professorpete wrote: »

Is that true? Would have thought if no car is in front of you then full headlights are needed (provided it's an unlit main road, etc), regardless of whether there's a car behind you or not? Maybe I'm misinterpreting, i.e. you're saying in traffic, no headlights.. I'm a learner by the way, so not calling you out, just wanted to clarify.

Thanks, P

You are right (almost).
If there are no cars in front of you (going the same direction as you or towerds you) you are OK to use full-beam headlights, even if there are other vehicles behind you.
However it's not a requirement. You are not required to use full-beam headlights at all. It's just you can use them, but don't have to.

One thing to clarify here as well:
Full headlights can be used on unlit roads (without public street lighting) no matter if it's a build up area or not.
They can't be used though where there is public lighting, even if it's outside built-up areas. They can't be used as well just after start of lighting-up hours, when it's not yet completely dark, and as well in the morning, when it's already not completely dark.
They can't be used during dense fog or falling snow. And obviously they can't be used if they would dazzle anyone.

If you are driving with full-beam headlights on, and someone is overtaking you, the correct thing to do, is to dip headlights at the moment person overtaking you is in line with you, while at the same moment the he/she should turn his full-beam headlights on.

starlit

professorpete wrote: »

Is that true? Would have thought if no car is in front of you then full headlights are needed (provided it's an unlit main road, etc), regardless of whether there's a car behind you or not? Maybe I'm misinterpreting, i.e. you're saying in traffic, no headlights.. I'm a learner by the way, so not calling you out, just wanted to clarify.

Thanks, P

What I meant is this, if you are in a stream of traffic either in town or on the main country road and cars in line in front and behind you close up, you dip your lights so as not to blind them.

If not car is in front or behind you ya you can have your full lights on, on the main country road. If parts of the main road is lit then you dip your lights.

No if a car is close in front or behind you, you need to dip your lights whether in a lit up area or not. In traffic you dip your lights. No that's grand no probs, I am still a learner too and only getting use to the night driving myself so I can understand if you are unsure.

Its all in the rules of the road if you want to clarify further! Best of luck with the night driving!

ziggy23

See it is very confusing:D
Car still dead and no one to jump start it:(

CiniO

doovdela wrote: »

What I meant is this, if you are in a stream of traffic either in town or on the main country road and cars in line in front and behind you close up, you dip your lights so as not to blind them.

Cars behind you make no difference in relation to your full-beam headlight.
If there is no one in front, and one or many cars behind you, it's even better to have full-headlights on, as it makes easier for cars behind you to overtake.

If not car is in front or behind you ya you can have your full lights on, on the main country road. If parts of the main road is lit then you dip your lights.

It's not just "main country road". You can use you full-beam headlights at any road, which is not lit.

No if a car is close in front or behind you, you need to dip your lights whether in a lit up area or not.

What's indicated red is wrong.
Also in lit up area you are not allowed to use full-beam lights anyway, no matter if there is other traffic or not.

Wishbone Ash

CiniO wrote: »

Regulations allow drivers to turn on fog lights (front or rear or both) if there is any fog or snow

Apologies for being pedantic but the regulations specify "falling" snow. If there is snow on the ground but it isn't actually snowing, then the use of fog lights is prohibited.

CiniO

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Apologies for being pedantic but the regulations specify "falling" snow. If there is snow on the ground but it isn't actually snowing, then the use of fog lights is prohibited.

That's absolutely right.
It was just so obvious to me, I didn't even think it could be understood otherwise.