Reverting to full beams before passing

DeepBlue

Why do so many drivers seem to do this?

At night you see the car off in the distance. You dip your beam and so do they or vice versa. Then just as they are about to pass you they flick on the full beam, nicely dazzling you, and mosey on about their business.

Is it just stupidity, carelessness or is there actually some advantage to dazzling the opposite driver just as you approach the closest point?

Miscreant

DeepBlue wrote: »

Why do so many drivers seem to do this?

At night you see the car off in the distance. You dip your beam and so do they or vice versa. Then just as they are about to pass you they flick on the full beam, nicely dazzling you, and mosey on about their business.

Is it just stupidity, carelessness or is there actually some advantage to dazzling the opposite driver just as you approach the closest point?

Depends on the road I suppose but I doubt it is to deliberately dazzle you.

I drive the M4/M6 regularly (Dublin to Galway) and for most of the road, there is a central concrete barrier at about car headlamp height. From a distance, I can see cars coming and will dip my headlights (they usually do the same), once I can no longer see their lights, I will go full beam again if necessary. I am pretty sure that there are times I have not fully passed the car on the opposite side yet but figure I am not causing an issue. For trucks, I will keep the dipped beam on until they pass as I know the driver is much higher up the vehicle.

For all other roads, I will dip the lights and not put full beam back on until the other car is practically beside me.

Not sure what everyone else's experience is but I have not found that momentary flash of full beam going by to be distracting, considering most of the time, passing speeds are going to be over 100kph and could be up to 240kmh on the motorway.

AnonZen

I'd put it down to a quirk of auto dipping headlights.

MarkR

People when grouped together have a bell curve of bastardness. Some are higher on the scale than others.

bazz26

It has nothing to do with auto dipping headlights. Its just assholes being well, assholes.

biko

Depending on where you were taught some will put fulls on again just before they pass you. I guess some do it a tad early.

CoBo55

biko wrote: »

Depending on where you were taught some will put fulls on again just before they pass you. I guess some do it a tad early.

Taught? Surely common decency and manners would tell you when to dip/undip your headlights. Getting people to dip in the first place is the main challenge I face on the roads.

bigtimecharlie

It annoys the hell in me too. You'll find the the driver who dips late, still has their hand on the light switch as they pass it's too easy just to put heads back on.

Perhaps their dipped beams are poor and this is what they should address.

BrianD3

Some are doing it as an impotent attempt at revenge if they think you didn't dip your lights early enough. Just as they are about to pass you they put theirs back on and you have no time to respond. I know a couple of people who admitted to doing this.

BronsonTB

If no car behind you when the opposite driver does this, usually flick the rear fog on/off as my way to say 'wanker'!

DaveyDave

I've actually noticed this happening more recently. The front of the cars haven't passed each other so I'm still in their line of sight. Just wait FFS.

Also annoys me that most motorists don't turn high beams off going over bridges.

Definitely not auto high beam in my experience, there's a small delay with it turning back on in my car when passing someone.

Cee-Jay-Cee

I will do this when I meet cars with badly aligned headlights. I know they probably just think I’m being ignorant but it’s not, it’s a revenge thing that might make them question their headlight settings.

If I meet VAG **** with HID/LED lights in reflector housings which are blinding on low and high beam, I don’t bother dipping. I’m sure they realise they’re lights are blinding but being a VAG wanker it most likely doesn’t register in either of their brain cells.

BrianD3

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

I will do this when I meet cars with badly aligned headlights. I know they probably just think I’m being ignorant but it’s not, it’s a revenge thing that might make them question their headlight settings.

If I meet VAG **** with HID/LED lights in reflector housings which are blinding on low and high beam, I don’t bother dipping. I’m sure they realise they’re lights are blinding but being a VAG wanker it most likely doesn’t register in either of their brain cells.

Quality rant but it's highly unlikely that they will make the connection between your "revenge" and their own actions.

Also:

AlfaZen

They are unable to judge the speed of light and always under estimate it.

corks finest

biko wrote: »

Depending on where you were taught some will put fulls on again just before they pass you. I guess some do it a tad early.

It’s just being a pig no excuse for it

bazz26

These are like the people who keep their full beams on coming towards you on the other carriage way of a DC or motorway as if their high beam light doesn't cross the central divide and blind you.

Water2626262

I think auto dippers are still at a primitive stage and might be to blame for some of these incidents. Had them both in Audi and bmw. Bmw are better overall but still can be issues where 1. It’s the dead of night down a country road and they won’t turn on the high beams. 2. They are just a bit too slow to switch off when you see an oncoming car. 3. Won’t turn off when there is a car ahead but at the end of a very long straight I.e. won’t turn off until you get closer. 4. They can be very liberal / lax at judging when dusk is over (see problem 1)

That’s my experience anyway. Nearly cause you more stress using them.

Wishbone Ash

bazz26 wrote: »

It has nothing to do with auto dipping headlights. Its just assholes being well, assholes.

Impatient assholes - just like those who step into a lift/bus/tram etc. without waiting for those who wish to exit to do so first.

mickdw

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

I will do this when I meet cars with badly aligned headlights. I know they probably just think I’m being ignorant but it’s not, it’s a revenge thing that might make them question their headlight settings.

If I meet VAG **** with HID/LED lights in reflector housings which are blinding on low and high beam, I don’t bother dipping. I’m sure they realise they’re lights are blinding but being a VAG wanker it most likely doesn’t register in either of their brain cells.

So you are better class of wanker than the other fella or is it worse?