[Collette Wright]

Research by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) suggests that dazzle caused by the sun accounts for a greater danger than driving at night or in bad weather.

You can read more by clicking the following link, then please tell us about your experiences...do you think the sun creates a greater potential driving hazard than darkness and bad weather?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/...r-exposed.html

[Snowball]

Only a few hours ago, on another thread, wagolynn asked if commonsense should be added to the little red book for extinct or near-extinct species.

If we need a newspaper article to tell us that we should take more care because the sun can dazzle us, then an entry in that book is overdue!!!

I mean, the damn thing's been around long enough for us to have noticed its effects, and I think we all (or should) know about sun visors, sunglasses, etc.

Oh, and by the way, a message for the wallies out there, "Rain will make your windscreens obscure. To overcome this, there is a control on your steering column that operates wipers (these are rubber blades fitted to your car) and they clear water from the windscreen".:D

[smudger]

Geez! you would think that such an organisation as the I.A.M. would come out with something a bit more important then that:rolleyes:

We have some right crazy loony -tune drivers out there, who are more of a danger than a bit of setting sun;):D

[Snowball]

Originally Posted by smudger

Geez! you would think that such an organisation as the I.A.M. would come out with something a bit more important then that:rolleyes:

We have some right crazy loony -tune drivers out there, who are more of a danger than a bit of setting sun;):D

Amen to that.
Yesterday late afternoon I was driving home along the main road through our small town. I came to a road works on my side of the road, about 30 metres in length, reducing it to single lane, and light-controlled.

When the light changed to green for us, I had just entered the restriction when a car overtook the line of cars waiting at red, came straight at me, then swerved up a dropped kerb and travelled with all wheels on the pavement; passing on my right.

And he was moving quite fast. I dread to think what might have happened if there had been any pedestrians on that pavement.

With extreme idiots like this on our roads, can we really criticise authority for trying to counteract the situation with equally extreme legislation? These acts make it obvious that physical police presence on the roads is essential, rather than dumb electronic sentinels. And with cut backs in police budgets, that ain't going to happen!:mad:

[Hometune]

Originally Posted by smudger

Geez! you would think that such an organisation as the I.A.M. would come out with something a bit more important then that:rolleyes:

Well, as the I.A.M. is sooooo important, they could always switch the bloody light off........

[wagolynn]

Mentioning switching lights off; is the number of cars stationary at the road side or in a lay-by with the headlights on, on the increase or am I just getting paranoid.

[Rolebama]

Wagolynn: I have begun to wonder the same thing. Especially with cars parked half on the footpath, angling their dip beam straight in the eyes. I have also noticed an increase of cars parking on bends turning them into 'blind' corners.

[MrDanno]

I can't believe that the sun is worse than car headlights at night,I would say about the same.

The problem with sunlight and night driving is because people drive with filthy windscreens and when the light hits the dirty and grease you cannot see anything.

Yes, There is alot of people who seem to park on the wrong side of the road and sit there with their headlamps blinding oncoming cars. It isn't their fault though, The car manufacturers should have fitted motion operated headlamps :rolleyes:

P.S. Yes, The I.A.M. know everything and are fantastic...

[ficklejade]

I'd rather have the sun than these vile led or whatever they are headlights and driving lights at night - people don't seem to be able to dip them and they are truly blinding. OK, this is particularly so on single track roads where you get them full frontal so to speak- they're almost as bad as a full pod of rally car lights.

Surely it's only common sense to keep your screen clean - oops! forgot! We're heading for the winter and all those eejits who only make a tiny hole in the ice and snow to see forwards! :rolleyes:

[smudger]

Aye! we have all that to look forward to, them as well as the ones who don't think that dipped headlights are essential, when its foggy or the twilight time of the day:rolleyes:

[Snowball]

You can obtain headlight bulbs at the same wattage as OE bulbs, but which have about twice the light output, and they are legal. I have considered these for my dipped beams only; on the basis that, if you can't beat them, join them!;)

But there are bulbs on the market that are awesomely powerful, but they are not road legal. However, people being people, some drivers do fit and use them on the roads.

I declined the option of the so-called fog lights when I bought my car. There seems to be a grey area as to whether these are fog lights, or simply driving lights. The law on when to use them seems vague, and although drivers have been prosecuted for using them on clear nights, there have also been occasions when they have run into trouble with the law when using them in patchy fog.

So my logic said, if there are doubts about their effectiveness and about when you can and can't use them, don't waste your money.

[MrDanno]

You can obtain headlight bulbs at the same wattage as OE bulbs, but which have about twice the light output, and they are legal. I have considered these for my dipped beams only; on the basis that, if you can't beat them, join them!;)

If the car's headlamp aim is set correctly it should not matter how bright they are. People should not use main beam with on coming traffic or when following other cars so that should not matter either really.

I fitted Osram nightbreakers because the headlamps on one of my cars were really poor.

But there are bulbs on the market that are awesomely powerful, but they are not road legal. However, people being people, some drivers do fit and use them on the roads.

Some people with standard bulbs are more of an annoyance if they are not correctly aimed.

I declined the option of the so-called fog lights when I bought my car. There seems to be a grey area as to whether these are fog lights, or simply driving lights. The law on when to use them seems vague, and although drivers have been prosecuted for using them on clear nights, there have also been occasions when they have run into trouble with the law when using them in patchy fog.

So my logic said, if there are doubts about their effectiveness and about when you can and can't use them, don't waste your money.

Fog lights have a very short cut off with a large width of light in front of the car.

I have them and cannot remember the last time I used them, They are useful in very thick fog.

I'm not sure if the regs have changed but, It used to be that driving lights should only come on when the headlamps were switched to main beam. Whereas fog lamps can come on with the side and tail lamps.

[Rolebama]

I have also noticed an increase in drivers who seem to think they should stay on main beam when driving on motorways. As to headlamp aim, I have used an alignment machine, and almost every time I have lowered the beam afterward because I can see for myself that the dip beam is too high.

[smudger]

Quote.."Whereas fog lamps can come on with the side and tail lamps."

The fog lights will only work when the headlights are on Dipped beam on my car, which I thought was the norm for them all?

[Rolebama]

I have come across a few cars over the years where you have had to have the dip beams on for the front fogs to work. Rather a pointless exercise really, as the fogs are designed to shine underneath the fog, not reflact light back at you. Then again, I have OEM 'fogs' on my car which can be turned on with the sidelights, but they reflect back, as I am convinced they are more of a driving lamp than a fog.

[wagolynn]

Originally Posted by Rolebama

I have also noticed an increase in drivers who seem to think they should stay on main beam when driving on motorways. As to headlamp aim, I have used an alignment machine, and almost every time I have lowered the beam afterward because I can see for myself that the dip beam is too high.

Oh, I thought it was just me, had the car back from MOT last week and first time I used it at night the dipped beams were too high, I was able use the control in the car to set them down a little. Interestingly I don’t recall this being a problem when the car was new.

[smudger]

Its just as well that a lot of cars these days have that function where you can adjust your headlights according to your load:cool:

The fog light that irritates me, is them rear ones, where folk leave them on way after the fog has gone, and you get that bright red light in your eyes:(

[Andy2009]

Originally Posted by smudger

Its just as well that a lot of cars these days have that function where you can adjust your headlights according to your load:cool:

Just a shame that most people don't seem to know that they are there or how to use them

The fog light that irritates me, is them rear ones, where folk leave them on way after the fog has gone, and you get that bright red light in your eyes:(

Not as bad as the front ones.

M61 in some places has had a couple of mild foggy patches the past couple of mornings - not enough to put fog lights on.

Yet there are still idiots on the road who, I think, have pinched some WWII searchlights and attached them to their cars. Night time is a nightmare. I wish the barriers in the central reservation where solid and higher (I'm sure they were designed at a height specifically to block light from oncoming vehicles...) - at least then I'd only have the idiots in the rear blinding me....

[wagolynn]

Andy2009, I think you are asking these over bright motorists to break two of the modern driving golden rules i.e. whilst driving, never consider others and never think about driving.

[Andy2009]

Originally Posted by wagolynn

Andy2009, I think you are asking these over bright motorists to break two of the modern driving golden rules i.e. whilst driving, never consider others and never think about driving.

Lol yeah - true. The post about rear lights is something I've never had the displeasure of experiencing until tonight. Every time he braked I kept thinking of the opening credits to some horror film with all the blood coming down.....

[wagolynn]

Rear fog lights can be a real nuisance, because they are in the centre of a following driver’s field of view.
Perhaps they should automatically turn off and need turning back on manually, each time the engine is stopped.
Some drivers appear to like driving a Christmas tree, or at least as many lights on, it must work on the same level as infants; anything bright amuses them. I wonder if they ever work out fuel consumption.

[MrDanno]

Originally Posted by wagolynn

Perhaps they should automatically turn off and need turning back on manually, each time the engine is stopped.

Some cars automatically switch off the rear fog light when the headlights and sidelights are switched off.

[wagolynn]

Originally Posted by MrDanno

Some cars automatically switch off the rear fog light when the headlights and sidelights are switched off.

Do they come back on again when the rest of the lights are switched on?
It appears to be fashionable (Christmas tree lot) to have front fogs on all the while, I think that would include the rear fogs as well.
I think the vehicle construction regulations, intended a separate switch for rear fogs with an indicator to show they are on.

[MrDanno]

Originally Posted by wagolynn

Do they come back on again when the rest of the lights are switched on?

In cars like my Citroen, When the lights have been switched off then turned back on the rear fog light is then off. It is a very simple mechanical set up within the light switch on the end of the indicator stalk but, it only does it for the Rear fog and not the fronts.

It appears to be fashionable (Christmas tree lot) to have front fogs on all the while, I think that would include the rear fogs as well.

It is illegal to drive with fogs on when the visibility is not reduced enough and people do get fines for it.

I think the vehicle construction regulations, intended a separate switch for rear fogs with an indicator to show they are on.

The regs. state that the rear fog light must have a warning lamp visible from the normal driving position, It can be part of the switch or in the instrument cluster.

[Andy2009]

Something that's puzzled me about my car.

The beam is adjustable - with numbers 0 to 3.

The manual states that it should be set to the number of passenger to get the correct setting (so if there are 2 passengers the level is set to position 2).

However, the controls seem to be reversed. The higher the number, the lower the beam is set :confused:

[smudger]

Aye! well when you think about it, the more folk in the back, the "higher" your light beams will be.

Or am I missing something here:confused:;)

[MrDanno]

You are right Smudger. It lowers the beam to counter act the rear of the car being lower with extra weight.

[Snowball]

Originally Posted by wagolynn

Do they come back on again when the rest of the lights are switched on?
It appears to be fashionable (Christmas tree lot) to have front fogs on all the while, I think that would include the rear fogs as well.
I think the vehicle construction regulations, intended a separate switch for rear fogs with an indicator to show they are on.

My car does not have front fog lights. The rear fog light (OE) is activated by pulling out the lighting control switch, and a warning lamp illuminates in the instrument panel. When the lights are turned off, the switch automatically retracts and the warning light goes out. Turning the lights on again does not automatically operate the fog lamp.

Regarding my rear fog causing dazzle, it can be difficult to determine need/no need, particularly in patchy fog conditions. I try to give thought to following drivers by deciding on the effectiveness of rear lights v.rear fog lights as they appear to me from vehicles in front.

In patchy conditions, if the rear fog light ahead, at sensible distances apart, isn't bothersome then I leave my fog light on. If a following driver is too close, then any resultant discomfort is his/her own fault for following so close.

Quite a number of years ago, I had a driver hanging onto my rear lights in very bad, dark and foggy conditions. When I stopped and got out of my car, he did the same and asked "where are we?" I replied that, if it was any help, I was on my front drive!:D

[Rolebama]

I have now begun to notice the amount of Audis with Daytime Driving Lamps which seem to stay on at night. Amazing amount of dazzle from them on unlit lanes.

[Snowball]

Originally Posted by Rolebama

I have now begun to notice the amount of Audis with Daytime Driving Lamps which seem to stay on at night. Amazing amount of dazzle from them on unlit lanes.

Are you referring to the 'optional extras' which are situated low down under the headlights? Are they driving lights or fog lights, or could they be either?

I decided not to take up the option, because I have read of drivers being stopped by the police when using them in either (a) clear conditions or (b) when in patchy fog. The position at present seems to be a bit confusing as to when these lights can be used legally without risk of prosecutuion, so I don't see the point of paying out for something that I daren't use in case I get pulled over by Plod.

Currently we seem to be in a position of having to deal with these oncoming lights so, for me, I would prefer the lights to be legal full stop, have a set fitted to my car, and damn it!