Why can't some people drive in the dark?

Jimmy Garlic

I have been doing a lot of driving around regional and national roads recently and have noticed that there are an awful lot of people who simply can't drive when the sun goes down.

The main things I have noticed some people doing are - Braking hard every time there is oncoming traffic (this one really really annoys me, a very dangerous practice that I will not hesitate to draw their attention to) . Tottering along at a ridiculously slow speed of around 40kmh, barely fast enough to comfortably stay in third gear. People who drive around with one working light, or lights so badly aligned they are pointing in every direction but at the road in front of them.

John_Rambo

I guess people can't see as well because it's dark.

The Backwards Man

Dirty windscreens for the most part I iamgine. It's just as important to clean the scum off the inside as it is the outside.

braddun

http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Womens_Health_Watch/2007/June/Blinded-by-the-night

henryporter

Age, quality of vision, nervousness exacerbated by diminished quality of light etc. etc. These are all the things my Mrs. tells me to consider when I'm cursing the desperate driving around me.

Duiske

It should be made compulsory that drivers sign up to Boards.ie. For some reason Boards members are perfect drivers, and everyone else is a ****ing idiot who must have got their licence from a lucky bag. :pac:

.red.

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

I have been doing a lot of driving around regional and national roads recently and have noticed that there are an awful lot of people who simply can't drive when the sun goes down.

The main things I have noticed some people doing are - Braking hard every time there is oncoming traffic (this one really really annoys me, a very dangerous practice that I will not hesitate to draw their attention to)

I used to be like that when driving back roads, maybe not as bad as slamming on the breaks but i had to slow down as i was blinded by the lights on cars. It wasnt too bad on wider main roads.

I got my eyes tested a few years ago and was told i was fine. I explained i found lights off other cars blinding on country roads and they did another test. It showed up that my eyes reacted to light a bit more than most.
They gave me glssses with no prescription, just some anti glare coating on the lens. I find them very good.
Maybe it was a placebo effect, maybe they do actually work, im not sure but i find i really notice when i dont have them.

FunLover18

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

I have been doing a lot of driving around regional and national roads recently and have noticed that there are an awful lot of people who simply can't drive when the sun goes down.

The main things I have noticed some people doing are - Braking hard every time there is oncoming traffic (this one really really annoys me, a very dangerous practice that I will not hesitate to draw their attention to) . Tottering along at a ridiculously slow speed of around 40kmh, barely fast enough to comfortably stay in third gear. People who drive around with one working light, or lights so badly aligned they are pointing in every direction but at the road in front of them.

I have touched the brake with oncoming traffic while it's dark. Road surfaces are uneven in some areas and one slight bump for the oncoming car sends their lights (even dipped) straight through the windscreen which can be disconcerting. But I would never slam on the brakes.

Driving home the other night on back roads, I was in third most of the way as there was very bad frost. I'm not to risk lives so I can get home that little quicker. Anyone who drives around at night the same way they would during the day is just dangerous, extra caution has to be taken.

That said there are definitely bad drivers to get worse at night. The lights thing is very annoying and extremely dangerous.

MarkAnthony

Someone driving slowly or constantly breaking is hardly ever dangerous in of itself. The behaviour it causes in the driver behind might be but that's largely down to the poor driving skills and lack of self control in the following driver.

Chill out, keep your distance and overtake where it's safe to do so.

The Backwards Man

Duiske wrote: »

It should be made compulsory that drivers sign up to Boards.ie. For some reason Boards members are perfect drivers, and everyone else is a ****ing idiot who must have got their licence from a lucky bag. :pac:

No such thing as good or bad drivers, there's good or bad driving

Jimmy Garlic

MarkAnthony wrote: »

Someone driving slowly or constantly breaking is hardly ever dangerous in of itself.

Nonsense. Brake slammers are dangerous. People who do that are incompetent drivers, end of story. The painfully slow club are also highly incompetent, if someone can't manage to go beyond third gear and make decent progress when roads and conditions allow then they simply can't drive.

corktina

I agree, there's no need to brake when something comes the other way....it's incompetence. blame the Government though, because for many years there was no need for tutition and a proper license and even now there are thousands driving on provisionals who either haven't yet had a test or who know very well they would never pass one. The Traffic Corps and the RSA focus mainly on speed and tax discs as far as I can see, whereas they should focus on safety of drivers and vehicles.

ironclaw

I always put it down to a large part of the population growing up and learning to drive and continuing to drive in lit up urban areas. You would be hard pressed to find a long section of road inside the main urban centres where you would have complete darkness. Basically if you are not used to it then you simply won't cope well with it.

dr.fuzzenstein

I would guess advanced age, bad eyes, glasses that date back to the 80's (if you see a Father Jack style shock of white hair, you can expect to see some 1989 vintage pair of glasses), improper usage of fan, this leads to the cabin getting fogged up, lack of training (the accompanying driver was the dog and got license from pack of Rice Crispies) and usually driver hopped up on 20 different kinds of medication. Car is a 1994 Nissan Bluebird, 4 bald tires, NCT out since the noughties, bumper held on with blue baling twine, only one working light and cabin light on at all times. Safety equipment includes Padre Pio sticker and bottle of holy water as well as St Anthony medal.
Of course, according to the RSA, the above is a safe driver and not to be bothered, but those BASTARD BOYRACERS!!! GET THEM ALL!!!
I'd rather take a 20 something driver in a souped up car hopped up on pills, because he won't be anywhere near as high as the old git in his Bluebird.

DarkJager

It's night blindness, not helped by the amount of ***** driving around with one headlight or with their full beams on.

dr.fuzzenstein

Why can't some people drive in the dark?

That should be the question.

Jimmy Garlic

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

those BASTARD BOYRACERS!!! GET THEM ALL!!!

Not once have I ever had a problem with so called boyracers, they are usually courteous and aware of what is going on around them.

Truckermal

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

Nonsense. Brake slammers are dangerous. People who do that are incompetent drivers, end of story. The painfully slow club are also highly incompetent, if someone can't manage to go beyond third gear and make decent progress when roads and conditions allow then they simply can't drive.

Well Jimmy imagine driving for a crust and spend most of your life stuck behind a lot of these clowns any wonder I am losing my fcukin hair..

Jimmy Garlic

Truckermal wrote: »

Well Jimmy imagine driving for a crust and spend most of your life stuck behind a lot of these clowns any wonder I am losing my fcukin hair..

I drive for a crust aswell. I was mostly on the motorways (Dublin-Gway, Dublin-Limk Dublin-Cork) but now I am doing shorter local ish trips. My head is wreaked.

Kalman

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

Nonsense. Brake slammers are dangerous. People who do that are incompetent drivers, end of story. The painfully slow club are also highly incompetent, if someone can't manage to go beyond third gear and make decent progress when roads and conditions allow then they simply can't drive.

Keep your distance and there won't be a problem.. If you run into the back of a car that is braking it's you own fault. 'Tailgating' is now illegal.

Truckermal

Kalman wrote: »

Keep your distance and there won't be a problem.. If you run into the back of a car that is braking it's you own fault. 'Tailgating' is now illegal.

FFS what difference will that make if you are up there hole or ten miles behind they will still mope along....:rolleyes:

toastedpickles

Kalman wrote: »

Keep your distance and there won't be a problem.. If you run into the back of a car that is braking it's you own fault. 'Tailgating' is now illegal.

Easy said when you're in a car, just over take them, different kettle of fish when you're in an artic or and truck, from what i know it takes them ages to get up to speed, so when they encounter a numpty dawdling along they have to drop gears loose speed and from what I've read here it annoys them just as much as the people behind them, I'm sure truckermal can explain it better, but from the people i know who drive artics that's the general attitude

MarkAnthony

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

Nonsense. Brake slammers are dangerous. People who do that are incompetent drivers, end of story. The painfully slow club are also highly incompetent, if someone can't manage to go beyond third gear and make decent progress when roads and conditions allow then they simply can't drive.

It's only dangerous due to your own incompetence. You shouldn't be allowed on the road if you can't stay back if someone is driving poorly. If you can't control yourself again you shouldn't be behind the wheel.

Do us all a favour find a nice job somewhere that doesn't put you in situations you can't deal with.

Kalman

Truckermal wrote: »

FFS what difference will that make if you are up there hole or ten miles behind they will still mope along....:rolleyes:

I once saw a sticker on the back windscreen of a car, it read: "See you later alligator, in a casket, you silly basket !' Directed at speedsters of course.

corktina

Kalman wrote: »

I once saw a sticker on the back windscreen of a car, it read: "See you later alligator, in a casket, you silly basket !' Directed at speedsters of course.

see you later overtaker...you mean...it's a take on the american alligator rhyme.(in a while crocodile)

ednwireland

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

I have been doing a lot of driving around regional and national roads recently and have noticed that there are an awful lot of people who simply can't drive when the sun goes down.

The main things I have noticed some people doing are - Braking hard every time there is oncoming traffic (this one really really annoys me, a very dangerous practice that I will not hesitate to draw their attention to)

this does my head in as well, although i was driving the bosses jeep at dusk an realised at dusk when i pulled there was very little light out the headlights. there was frosted coating , cleaned them and they were fine ffs

Kalman

corktina wrote: »

see you later overtaker...you mean...it's a take on the american alligator rhyme.(in a while crocodile)

Yes, you are quite right. It was all a long time ago.

corktina

Kalman wrote: »

Yes, you are quite right. It was all a long time ago.

yeah well I'm pretty old... :-)

Kalman

corktina wrote: »

yeah well I'm pretty old... :-)

Yes, just lately I'm seem to be spending an awful lot of time attending funerals.

andrew1300r

The amount of ejits that wait till last second before dipping their headlights from full beams(or never !)on country roads is shocking. If I can see them coming from distance so can they see me. Or the other fools that have dipped their lights & then put on full beams again before they have even passed you !!!

Jimmy Garlic

MarkAnthony wrote: »

It's only dangerous due to your own incompetence. You shouldn't be allowed on the road if you can't stay back if someone is driving poorly. If you can't control yourself again you shouldn't be behind the wheel.

Do us all a favour find a nice job somewhere that doesn't put you in situations you can't deal with.

Things to do, places to be, time is money. No time to be chilling out behind every dozy tool who drives like it is still 1925. Make decent progress or stay at home.

Noccy_Mondy

I think it's a lot go to do with confidence. I know my mother is a nervous driver in general, but moreso "cautious" at night, not that she goes 40 in third or anything. She'd rather avoid driving a night, and she's only in her 50's..... I actually nearly prefer driving at night... once you get past the light issues (missing bulbs and not knowing where the dipped lever is) :mad:

bop1977

The simple answer is that in this country of ours, the majority of drivers have no proper driver education.

We have the op's problem, we also have no understanding of how a motorway should be used, merged and exited.

In this country if you can get the gear lever between the cogs without to much effort then your sorted to drive.

At the end of the day, if you have a license to drive then most people think it's job done as far as driving goes, whereas the license should really be viewed as a starting point in learning proper road craft. Sadly this will never be the case.

I'd say why can't people drive properly during the day!

dmc17

Duiske wrote: »

It should be made compulsory that drivers sign up to Boards.ie. For some reason Boards members are perfect drivers, and everyone else is a ****ing idiot who must have got their licence from a lucky bag. :pac:

In fairness, there are a lot of drivers out there with lucky bag licenses

SherlockWatson

The Backwards Man wrote: »

No such thing as good or bad drivers, there's good or bad driving

Ehhhh.... What?

That makes absolutely zero sense.

corktina

so a good driver can drive badly and a bad driver can drive well..... perfect sense.

Streetwalker

Hate driving in the dark myself my reactions are defo slower but im a slow driver anyway so not that worried. As long as I pass the eye exam im happy.

SherlockWatson

corktina wrote: »

so a good driver can drive badly and a bad driver can drive well..... perfect sense.

It doesn't even make sense in the context you just posted :pac:! He said there's no such thing as good drivers!

Streetwalker

Bam Bam Mickey wrote: »

I'd say why can't people drive properly during the day!

I'd say Irish drivers are some of the best in the world. You travelled? Try Naples, Madrid, Paris, Miami out for size and tell me the Irish are bad drivers. And don't get me started on driving in eastern Europe :rolleyes:

sh1tstirrer

dmc17 wrote: »

In fairness, there are a lot of drivers out there with lucky bag licenses

Here we go again the amnesty that lasted a month back in the 70's and people still think half the drivers in the country never did a driving test.

dmc17

sh1tstirrer wrote: »

Here we go again the amnesty that lasted a month back in the 70's and people still think half the drivers in the country never did a driving test.

If you read the post again, you'll notice I didn't say "half" the drivers.

degsie

I always assumed that some cars that were fitted with OCD (Oncoming Car Detection) that activated their brake-lights once another car was approaching in the opposite direction.

sh1tstirrer

dmc17 wrote: »

If you read the post again, you'll notice I didn't say "half" the drivers.

I never said you did.

ironclaw

sh1tstirrer wrote: »

Here we go again the amnesty that lasted a month back in the 70's and people still think half the drivers in the country never did a driving test.

Well, if you assume someone was 20 in the 1970s, and got one. That would make them 65-ish now. Seeing as you can only drive when you are circa 18 / 19 in Ireland, they do make up a reasonable proportion of the driving population. Again noting not everyone drives, even less in the current 'younger' populous owning to the recession etc. Add to this the addition of a massive motorway networt in the past 15 or so years, you have yourself a significant group of drivers who never had to experience, adapt or learn on an overall faster road network. Finally, add the 'I've done it this way since back in the day' that is oh so prevalent in Ireland, and you have yourself a nice mix for hassle.

smeal

N2- Ardee to Monaghan.. People are ridiculous for not dimming their lights after dark.. so dangerous especially where the road narrows.. always arrive home with a headache after that journey!

H3llR4iser

Streetwalker wrote: »

I'd say Irish drivers are some of the best in the world. You travelled? Try Naples, Madrid, Paris, Miami out for size and tell me the Irish are bad drivers. And don't get me started on driving in eastern Europe :rolleyes:

Ehr...no, just no. Drivers from the cities you mention tend to be exceptionally aware of their surroundings; The simple fact they can somehow negotiate the chaotic traffic and still make progress should be telling enough. They learn from the beginning to expect the unexpected...the light is green? That doesn't mean there won't be a car coming the other side. Car waiting at a stop sign? No guarantee it wouldn't pull out at the last moment, better be ready to take action and on and on.

Most Irish drivers, on the other hand, tend to be in a world of their own, unaware of whatever is going on around them. Having somebody suddenly popping onto the overtaking lane just as you're approaching them is commonplace and the reason is that they simply had no idea there was another car there - or didn't realize such car was overtaking.

Distraction is the #1 problem here, people do anything at the wheel, ranging from getting lost in their thoughts to turning back to the kids, except concentrate on the driving.

Also, most drivers have too much of a strict attitude towards certain rules. If you're overtaking, for example, do it quick;Nothing is more dangerous than traveling Km after Km side by side with another car or a lorry.

Last but not least, there's an appalling "vigilante" attitude in quite some drivers; The ones who decide to take it upon themselves to "teach that guy a lesson", to enforce the speed limit by hogging this or that lane and so on.

The whole broad spectrum, really.

smeal wrote: »

N2- Ardee to Monaghan.. People are ridiculous for not dimming their lights after dark.. so dangerous especially where the road narrows.. always arrive home with a headache after that journey!

Actually even the dipped lights...I have no idea why, it wrecks my head, but I do get blinded by oncoming cars quite often here. I thought it'd be something wrong with my eyes, went for a check but nothing is wrong; However I realized I don't get blinded quite as often outside Irenald - even in the UK. I have no idea how it is possible with the NCT et all, but I think most cars on Irish roads have horrendously aligned lights - either that, or they have effed up rear suspension that point the nose up in the air.
As I said in other posts, I heard comments from visitors as well, about "why does everybody go around with their full beams on?". And the cars in question didn't have their fulls on.

MarkAnthony

H3llR4iser wrote: »

Actually even the dipped lights...I have no idea why, it wrecks my head, but I do get blinded by oncoming cars quite often here. I thought it'd be something wrong with my eyes, went for a check but nothing is wrong; However I realized I don't get blinded quite as often outside Irenald - even in the UK. I have no idea how it is possible with the NCT et all, but I think most cars on Irish roads have horrendously aligned lights - either that, or they have effed up rear suspension that point the nose up in the air.
As I said in other posts, I heard comments from visitors as well, about "why does everybody go around with their full beams on?". And the cars in question didn't have their fulls on.

We don't seem to have lights properly adjusted here. I'm guilty myself TBH - my car has a setting depending on how many are in the car, it gets largely ignored. That said I've standard headlights and not some nuclear powered yoke some people seem to have.

Also I don't think we're allowed to discuss the overuse of fogs :pac:

smeal

H3llR4iser wrote: »

Ehr...no, just no. Drivers from the cities you mention tend to be exceptionally aware of their surroundings; The simple fact they can somehow negotiate the chaotic traffic and still make progress should be telling enough. They learn from the beginning to expect the unexpected...the light is green? That doesn't mean there won't be a car coming the other side. Car waiting at a stop sign? No guarantee it wouldn't pull out at the last moment, better be ready to take action and on and on.

Most Irish drivers, on the other hand, tend to be in a world of their own, unaware of whatever is going on around them. Having somebody suddenly popping onto the overtaking lane just as you're approaching them is commonplace and the reason is that they simply had no idea there was another car there - or didn't realize such car was overtaking.

Distraction is the #1 problem here, people do anything at the wheel, ranging from getting lost in their thoughts to turning back to the kids, except concentrate on the driving.

Also, most drivers have too much of a strict attitude towards certain rules. If you're overtaking, for example, do it quick;Nothing is more dangerous than traveling Km after Km side by side with another car or a lorry.

Last but not least, there's an appalling "vigilante" attitude in quite some drivers; The ones who decide to take it upon themselves to "teach that guy a lesson", to enforce the speed limit by hogging this or that lane and so on.

The whole broad spectrum, really.



Actually even the dipped lights...I have no idea why, it wrecks my head, but I do get blinded by oncoming cars quite often here. I thought it'd be something wrong with my eyes, went for a check but nothing is wrong; However I realized I don't get blinded quite as often outside Irenald - even in the UK. I have no idea how it is possible with the NCT et all, but I think most cars on Irish roads have horrendously aligned lights - either that, or they have effed up rear suspension that point the nose up in the air.
As I said in other posts, I heard comments from visitors as well, about "why does everybody go around with their full beams on?". And the cars in question didn't have their fulls on.

Its mad how you say that because I experience the same thing! Thought there was something wrong with my eyes too. I also always seem to think that people are flashing their lights at me sometimes because they are so bright even on low beam! Sometimes find myself driving on main roads with my head tilted to the left hand side to avoid it which is obviously dangerous in itself..

H3llR4iser

MarkAnthony wrote: »

We don't seem to have lights properly adjusted here. I'm guilty myself TBH - my car has a setting depending on how many are in the car, it gets largely ignored. That said I've standard headlights and not some nuclear powered yoke some people seem to have.

Also I don't think we're allowed to discuss the overuse of fogs :pac:

Yes but...as far as I am aware, the setting on the dashboard (the little wheel) is there to point the headlights down in case you have something heavy in the boot, or three people on the back seat. The "normal" setting would be the highest up - at least it's how they work on my car, from the user's manual - and it shouldn't be so high that it blinds the heck out of other drivers.

Rubberchikken

the point is 'when roads and conditions allow'

a lot of our minor roads are in a bad state. plenty of road users have lights that even on dips would take your retinas out. not everyone turns off their headlight when meeting traffic. since they introduced the energy saving yellow bulbs in road lights, the quality of lighting has deteriorated considerably. and how many drivers insist on driving as fast in the dark as they do in the daylight?

isn't it better to take the road at the speed someone is safe and comfortable with, depending on conditions, and arrive in one piece.

after all, if there's an accident, you'll probably have to stop then.