Driving with bulbs blown

Logan Roy

Is it just me or is this on the rise?

The amount of people driving around with bulbs gone is mind boggling.

Suppose the complete lack of enforcement of road laws means this won't go away any time soon.

colm_mcm

No, it’s always been like this.

Darc19

No where near as bad as it used to be.

Remember, one car with a blown bulb will be seen by hundreds of other cars.

Also gives cops an excuse to stop you

A special bonus award to the person on the M3 outside Navan today at 6pm in the dark & pissing rain with one headlight blown, and no lights at all on the back.

Good luck driver.

colm_mcm

Darc19 wrote: »

Also gives cops an excuse to stop you

In America?

looksee

I was driving on a country road when I saw two small white lights on my side of the road but high in the air. I could not figure what I was looking at, it didn't make any sense. It was only as I cautiously got nearer, trying to establish which way it was going, that I realised it was some sort of large piece of farm machinery being towed slowly in front of me with no illumination other than the two lights. White lights. On the back. Way up in the air. And a large expanse of invisible but solid something holding them up.

lintdrummer

I actually think most of what the op is seeing isn't blown bulbs. It's the dreaded DRL syndrome.
I commute at a very early hour, almost always in the dark. Hardly a day goes by that I don't see someone happily plodding along with the lights on in the DRL position, leaving the back completely dark.
They're completely oblivious to the problem, their dash is presumably lit up, and they've lights shining out front so as far as they're concerned there's nothing wrong.
No amount of flashing or signalling seems to get the message through to these clowns. Totally oblivious.
It's all well and good on the roads I'm on, all street-lit, but I wouldn't see them on a dark country lane!

Logan Roy

lintdrummer wrote: »

I actually think most of what the op is seeing isn't blown bulbs. It's the dreaded DRL syndrome.
I commute at a very early hour, almost always in the dark. Hardly a day goes by that I don't see someone happily plodding along with the lights on in the DRL position, leaving the back completely dark.
They're completely oblivious to the problem, their dash is presumably lit up, and they've lights shining out front so as far as they're concerned there's nothing wrong.
No amount of flashing or signalling seems to get the message through to these clowns. Totally oblivious.
It's all well and good on the roads I'm on, all street-lit, but I wouldn't see them on a dark country lane!

No it's not that though you definitely see plenty of that too :pac:

I'm pretty certain all car instruments go dim in the dark to remind you to turn on your lights? I don't think having always on DRLs changes that.

kirving

What I don't understand is other drivers who don't bat an eyelid to a car with no broken/incorrect lights.

It should be completely unacceptable to drive around like that, but most people don't care.

I flash almost every car I see will a blown bulb or DRL's on when they should have dips. 90% of the time they either brake, or raise a hand as if to say thanks for warning them of a speed van....

Logan Roy wrote: »

No it's not that though you definitely see plenty of that too :pac:

I'm pretty certain all car instruments go dim in the dark to remind you to turn on your lights? I don't think having always on DRLs changes that.

Nope, not on many newer cars. Don't get me started on manufacturers culpability in this too, anything for a bright shiny dash that looks cool when you sit in the brightly lit salesroom.

Wishbone Ash

Kevin Irving wrote: »

What I don't understand is other drivers who don't bat an eyelid to a car with no broken/incorrect lights...

It's not up to other drivers to 'police' the roads.

The Rape of Lucretia

Its perfectly OK to drive with blown bulbs today. It used not to be. But now its unavoidable, and just part and parcel of modern motoring. And the car manufacturers are to blame - its fricking IMPOSSIBLE to change some bulbs in modern cars. Previously, it was a one minute job. You could stop at a garage, buy bulbs, or keep a few in the glove box, and change them with no tools, instruction sequence, skill, and without ripping the skin from all your fingers. Now, you simply cannot, without dismantling half the car. What are you going to do - pull in and sleep in the car intil dawn ?
So drive on I say. This rise is not the motorists fault.

martingriff

I was going to Ennis on Monday on the main Ennis to Kilrush road and it was foggy as crap and there was a car with a trailer before me. Now he either had no lights on the trailer or they were blown because the amount of times I was is he braking or not and having to slow was crazy. Using a trailer with no lights is crazy and illegal but in very foggy weather is idiotic and illegal

paddydriver

Saw a 161 XC90 with no lights on the other evening... Didn't think it was actually possible to have a modern Volvo with its lights off.. was some effort at stupidity by the driver!

deisedevil

Idiots driving around with their fog lights on. Clear night. Days and days after the last fog or misty weather.

kirving

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

It's not up to other drivers to 'police' the roads.

So when I see a car with no rear lights at night, or no lights at all in the evening, I should just ignore it lest I interfere with someone else's business?

punisher5112

paddydriver wrote: »

Saw a 161 XC90 with no lights on the other evening... Didn't think it was actually possible to have a modern Volvo with its lights off.. was some effort at stupidity by the driver!

You could always override by holding back high beam stalk when turning on the ignition.
It would stay off then....

All cars should be fitted with auto lights to be honest and the amount of tools going around with the DRLs on but have the rears coded on or some models when you switch to side lights the DRLs stay bright but rears come on.....

The light off these front lights is not aligned or angled down and they are blinding....


Everyone should have spare bulbs and it should be a NCT requirement.

punisher5112

deisedevil wrote: »

Idiots driving around with their fog lights on. Clear night. Days and days after the last fog or misty weather.

Not possible in any modern vehicle either as once switched off they actually have to select these to on again...

Brain dead numpties.

L1011

It was WAY worse a few years ago. More cars on the road with LEDs and more of those still using halogens that have proper sensors now meaning the drivers don't have any excuse of not noticing.

The sensor in my car is across the high beam of the dual filament bulb so I could potentially fail to notice the dip going if driving around town only for a while which is a bit of a design flaw but its not the newest car - newer cars don't use dual filament bulbs normally anyway.

PsychoPete

deisedevil wrote: »

Idiots driving around with their fog lights on. Clear night. Days and days after the last fog or misty weather.

What's the big issue with having front fog lights on ? I always have my fogs on

Rodin

The number of people who have no respect for being on the road is astounding.

Broken headlights.
Idiots using foglights instead of dip/main not knowing it doesn't activate their rear lights.
Unaccompanied learners.

Idiotic TDs who think it's ok to have a few pints and then drive...

Rodin

PsychoPete wrote: »

What's the big issue with having front fog lights on ? I always have my fogs on

It's illegal except in fog.
But front fogs are the least of the road's worries. Rear fogs much more distracting

Rodin

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

Its perfectly OK to drive with blown bulbs today. It used not to be. But now its unavoidable, and just part and parcel of modern motoring. And the car manufacturers are to blame - its fricking IMPOSSIBLE to change some bulbs in modern cars. Previously, it was a one minute job. You could stop at a garage, buy bulbs, or keep a few in the glove box, and change them with no tools, instruction sequence, skill, and without ripping the skin from all your fingers. Now, you simply cannot, without dismantling half the car. What are you going to do - pull in and sleep in the car intil dawn ?
So drive on I say. This rise is not the motorists fault.

Unavoidable?
I regularly see drivers with both dip and main beam gone...
Explanation? Didn't bother their hole getting it fixed. Mo other reason.

GreeBo

PsychoPete wrote: »

What's the big issue with having front fog lights on ? I always have my fogs on

There is a clue in the name.

PsychoPete

GreeBo wrote: »

There is a clue in the name.

People just love to complain is all

Rodin

PsychoPete wrote: »

People just love to complain is all

Particularly regarding those breaking the law.

punisher5112

PsychoPete wrote: »

What's the big issue with having front fog lights on ? I always have my fogs on

They are actually blinding in many cases and the light is spread out....

One can use fogs front or rear if the weather makes it warranted such as very heavy rain, snow and of course fog.

If you use these outside of above circumstances then you are in the wrong and a pain to others.

PsychoPete

punisher5112 wrote: »

They are actually blinding in many cases and the light is spread out....

One can use fogs front or rear if the weather makes it warranted such as very heavy rain, snow and of course fog.

If you use these outside of above circumstances then you are in the wrong and a pain to others.

Cant say I've ever had that issue, the headlights on some newer cars are more blinding

5uspect

I usually cycle to work but I also drive. Numerous times over the years I’ve told drivers that both of their brake lights were out. Usually if they’re stopped in front of me at a set of lights where I know it’s a long cycle or if I end up along side of them in traffic. On the bike I’ll usually tap the window and politely say something like, ‘sorry I noticed that your brake lights don’t seem to be working’.

The range of responses I’ve gotten is surprising. Some will genuinely be surprised and others will just stare at you like you have two heads and drive off. One guy said the company branded van he was driving was okay because it was a rental and when he didn’t like the face I must have made in response told me to **** off and it was my fault for driving behind him.

Feisar

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

Its perfectly OK to drive with blown bulbs today. It used not to be. But now its unavoidable, and just part and parcel of modern motoring. And the car manufacturers are to blame - its fricking IMPOSSIBLE to change some bulbs in modern cars. Previously, it was a one minute job. You could stop at a garage, buy bulbs, or keep a few in the glove box, and change them with no tools, instruction sequence, skill, and without ripping the skin from all your fingers. Now, you simply cannot, without dismantling half the car. What are you going to do - pull in and sleep in the car intil dawn ?
So drive on I say. This rise is not the motorists fault.

My Dad laughed at me when I asked him to change a bulb in my Seat Exeo, ended up back at the garage and the one lad with a masters in changing bulbs wasn't on, had to go back the next day.

mikeecho

Pre NCT days. You wouldn't believe what was on the roads.. and was quite acceptable.

Not saying it was right, but drivers were more aware of risks.
Drivers pulled into the hard shoulder when an oncoming car was overtaking, we generally didn't drive as fast ( cars weren't capable) and we didn't expect the world to be clad in reflective clothing.

Pass the cotton wool..

Wishbone Ash

Kevin Irving wrote: »

So when I see a car with no rear lights at night, or no lights at all in the evening, I should just ignore it lest I interfere with someone else's business?

Yes. Why would you think flashing your lights makes it any more legal? Does it suddenly rectify their faulty lights? What do you do when you meet a driver who is exceeding the speed limit, isn't wearing a seat belt, is over the legal alcohol limit etc.

highdef

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Yes. Why would you think flashing your lights makes it any more legal? Does it suddenly rectify their faulty lights? What do you do when you meet a driver who is exceeding the speed limit, isn't wearing a seat belt, is over the legal alcohol limit etc.

If, on the rare occasion that a car flashes me, I will check to ensure that I don't have my full beams on by mistake and assuming I don't, when I next stop and exit the car, I'll check to ensure that I don't have a blown bulb.

Usually the other driver flashes me because I'm about to encounter a speed trap....... In my opinion this is most certainly a situation where flashing headlights is very very wrong as it is essentially perverting the course of justice. Or sometimes it's because there's an accident or some other hazard ahead.

As for meeting a driver who is exceeding the speed limit, it never happens as I don't exceed the speed limit myself so therefore can never catch up on a speeding driver.

Regarding someone not wearing their seatbelt, that's their own decision to leave themselves open to serious injury or death however if I ever see an unrestrained child in a car, I ALWAYS call the guards.

Finally, regarding meeting a driver over the limit.... Well I can't tell if the driver is over the limit when driving in my own car. The driver may be over the limit, be having issues with diabetes or be otherwise unwell and not in a good mental state so if I see a driver driving erratically, again I will ALWAYS call the guards.

But on the whole, I appreciate a driver flashing their headlights at me if my lighting is not correct or that I should be aware of a danger ahead.

colm_mcm

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Yes. Why would you think flashing your lights makes it any more legal? Does it suddenly rectify their faulty lights? What do you do when you meet a driver who is exceeding the speed limit, isn't wearing a seat belt, is over the legal alcohol limit etc.

Disagree.

deisedevil

PsychoPete wrote: »

What's the big issue with having front fog lights on ? I always have my fogs on

And your one of those who is wondering why everyone is flashing you.

Ever hear the warnings on the radio about turning off fog lights when they are not needed. There's a good reason.

looksee

As for meeting a driver who is exceeding the speed limit, it never happens as I don't exceed the asked limit myself so therefore can never catch up on a speeding driver.

highdef

looksee wrote: »

Sorry, that was a typo! It should have read "I don't exceed the speed limit myself

CalamariFritti

PsychoPete wrote: »

What's the big issue with having front fog lights on ? I always have my fogs on

The rules of the road are there because some people had actually a long hard think about what is safe and what is not and what is best procedure and what is not. The idea is to prevent people who think they know better or 'whats the big issue' from making up their own rules.

Some rules are more important than others but you dont get to pick and choose. :cool:

AndrewJRenko

5uspect wrote: »

I usually cycle to work but I also drive. Numerous times over the years I’ve told drivers that both of their brake lights were out. Usually if they’re stopped in front of me at a set of lights where I know it’s a long cycle or if I end up along side of them in traffic. On the bike I’ll usually tap the window and politely say something like, ‘sorry I noticed that your brake lights don’t seem to be working’.

The range of responses I’ve gotten is surprising. Some will genuinely be surprised and others will just stare at you like you have two heads and drive off. One guy said the company branded van he was driving was okay because it was a rental and when he didn’t like the face I must have made in response told me to **** off and it was my fault for driving behind him.

It's not unusual to find drivers with two out of three brake lights gone, or an entire light cluster on one side out (no back /brake /indicator light) or the idiots who don't know how their DRLs work.

There seems to be a trend of taxi men leaving fog lights on too.

When I say this to the driver, it is fairly obvious that about half of them already knew but couldn't be arsed getting it fixed.

KaneToad

punisher5112 wrote: »

Everyone should have spare bulbs and it should be a NCT requirement.

Not much use if you are unable to change them, easily, at the side of the road.

CalamariFritti

Ye manufacturers dont help the issue. Everything is about cost these days not maintainability or ease of use. That leaves us with bulbs that cannot be changed by the roadside (not that anyone would) and no spare wheels but this runflat/gunk can bullsh1t.

Seth Brundle

PsychoPete wrote: »

What's the big issue with having front fog lights on ? I always have my fogs on

Why?
Is it to look cool or what because it doesn't improve your view of the road unless you're driving in fog.

Logan Roy

PsychoPete wrote: »

Cant say I've ever had that issue, the headlights on some newer cars are more blinding

Why would you want to have them on if it's not foggy etc?

punisher5112

KaneToad wrote: »

Not much use if you are unable to change them, easily, at the side of the road.

Very few cars are difficult to be honest.....

Seen the roads policing out yesterday fitting lights onto bikes that hadn't lights....

biko

Drop the fog lights discussion, this thread is about driving around with blown bulbs
Thanks

looksee

punisher5112 wrote: »

Very few cars are difficult to be honest.....

Seen the roads policing out yesterday fitting lights onto bikes that hadn't lights....

What do bikes have to do with it? Bulbs are ridiculous. On the Toyota Jazz my usual, experienced, excellent mechanic ended up lying under the car part of the time, and trying to thread his fingers through a very small space to get the bulb into the lamp. He took about half an hour to do it in his own workshop (granted he hadn't experience of putting bulbs in the Jazz) what chance of doing anything by the side of the road, in the dark?

kirving

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Yes. Why would you think flashing your lights makes it any more legal?

So in summary, I think that flashing my lights makes their broken lights more legal?!
How on earth did you manage to come up with that?

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Does it suddenly rectify their faulty lights?

In some cases, yes it does. They turn on their lights. Simple.

For those that don't cop it immediately, if a couple of others flash them, then they get they might message.

In the vast majority of cases, people simply do not know the wrong lights are on, or that a bulb is blown, and I can't exactly say it to them driving past.

What's the harm in telling them? They are a hazard on the road. It could be me or you that's they hit because their rubbish lights don't illuminate the road properly.

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

What do you do when you meet a driver who is exceeding the speed limit, isn't wearing a seat belt, is over the legal alcohol limit etc.

Depends on the scenario. I've yet to see an obviously drunk driver that I can remember.

punisher5112

looksee wrote: »

What do bikes have to do with it? Bulbs are ridiculous. On the Toyota Jazz my usual, experienced, excellent mechanic ended up lying under the car part of the time, and trying to thread his fingers through a very small space to get the bulb into the lamp. He took about half an hour to do it in his own workshop (granted he hadn't experience of putting bulbs in the Jazz) what chance of doing anything by the side of the road, in the dark?

Well I just said I'd say.... No lights is quite fitting with the thread just it's 2 wheels, see many a moped or motorcycle with blown bulbs too.

H3llR4iser

paddydriver wrote: »

Saw a 161 XC90 with no lights on the other evening... Didn't think it was actually possible to have a modern Volvo with its lights off.. was some effort at stupidity by the driver!

I've seen plenty. People go through the effort to purposely switch the lights off even when it's difficult to do so, because they think it'll save fuel. Same with the idiots driving around with a fogged up / streaked windshield because the aircon is "mad on fuel".

Wishbone Ash

Kevin Irving wrote: »

...In some cases, yes it does. They turn on their lights. Simple.

For those that don't cop it immediately, if a couple of others flash them, then they get they might message....

Just to clarify, I was referring to flashing lights at those drivers with a blown bulb - not those with no lights on at all.

i57dwun4yb1pt8

if you are passing someone with no lights , flash em from behind , then once passed switch your lights on off a few times quick

if they dont grasp that message , you are dealing with a drunk a stoner or a maaaaarrrrrroooonnnn

Truckermal

I notice loads of Dacia Dusters missing lights for some reason especially the dipped beam on the LHS...