Thread: Driving w headlights

I only use lights if its dark, wet, dusty or foggy. I would hate to burn out a switch again.

The issue with compulsory lights on for bikes is also to do with liability, instead of I didnt see you it would be your light was out therefore its your fault. I hate the idea of over legislating, pollies trying to score points with the media.

The problem with judging distance is more of a problem with motorcycles because they are either a single light or two close enough to appear as one. Try following an army trailer with a single rear light and judge the speed or distance.

Jeff

As a rule I always drive with low beam lights on at daytime. Our Disco is white, but when you have a good look, you will see that the bullbar, grill and windscreen are all black, only the front of the bonnet and roof present any "colour" to ongoing traffic. It is not much better than a black car.

As one who works in the road environment every day, IMO vehicles with lit headlights are much more visible than those not.

As posted by another earlier, our Subi Forester has auto-off headlights. This is a great feature, our headlight switch stays permanently on.

Originally Posted by amtravic1

I can never understand anyone driving with lights on during the day. If people cant see you/you see others without the need for lights then you should hand in your license due to having such poor eyesight.
I have ridden bikes on the road as well for 30 years and never use a light during the day. The glare from a light makes it much harder to tell the speed of an oncoming bike during the day. I say if you need lights during the day then get off the road.

Ian

Sorry Ian - I'm having trouble coming to terms as to why if other people can't see me why I should hand in my licence.

Yep I can see other cars - however sometimes, just sometimes, the environmental conditions (read weather + vehicle color) camouflages the oncoming vehicle. This can be further enhanced by a black bullbar on a metallic grey smaller 4WD - Ian - such a vehicle merges into the landscape especially on overcast days.

Lights. Low beam.

I can't judge the speed of an oncoming vehicle if I don't can't see it. And it won't matter anymore if it is too late to judge the speed of the vehicle..........
the other driver and I will probably be having this discussion whilst waiting for Pete to open the Gates.

My 'rules' for driving with lights are as follows:

Around town, daylight, good weather: no lights
When conditions deteriorate, low beam goes on.
Out of town, low beam on.

Haven't had to use high beam, yet, as I usually plan to avoid the need to drive on unlit roads at night.
(Although I may have bumped the switch once or twice )
I don't feel comfortable running parkers only.

I also happened to experience first hand just last night the impairment that lights make for judging speed/distance - I wanted to turn right, and there was a car that had just finished backing out of a driveway, starting to come toward me from a little further down the road. Now I know the road pretty well as I drive it regularly, but it was difficult to judge the distance & speed, especially as it was accelerating. I waited until it passed, and in the time I did, I could have turned, but better safe than sorry, I say.

I have always ridden bikes with low beam on. Enough people try to hit you as it is without them on.
Car lights are put on when weather and lighting conditions dictate.
Police believe they can book you for having them on, then you drive off to see a big sign with police asking you to drive with them on.
As for Commodores like the SS or HSV the small driving lights are hard wired to your low beam so you can not turn them off independently of your low beam. Me and my BIL got pulled cause he had his low beam on on a real dull ugly day. Like we said to the copper, then you can get s------d then I wont turn my lights on during the day. That easy.

Originally Posted by CraigE

I have always ridden bikes with low beam on. Enough people try to hit you as it is without them on.
Car lights are put on when weather and lighting conditions dictate.
Police believe they can book you for having them on, then you drive off to see a big sign with police asking you to drive with them on.
As for Commodores like the SS or HSV the small driving lights are hard wired to your low beam so you can not turn them off independently of your low beam. Me and my BIL got pulled cause he had his low beam on on a real dull ugly day. Like we said to the copper, then you can get s------d then I wont turn my lights on during the day. That easy.

I'm calling BS on this. I see just as many SS without ******* lights on as I do with them on.

I have my low beams on most of the time, on the highway they are on all the time.

I think it is amazing how many people do not drive with lights on especially in low light and in the rain.

I'm calling BS on this. I see just as many SS without ******* lights on as I do with them on.

Thats only because they have been tampered with, when they came from the factory they are wired to only come on with a minimum of parkers on.

What I don't like is people who drive with their fog lights on during the day. They're quite dazzling. In WA it's illegal to have them on if there's no fog.

I always had my light on when i had a bike.