Regarding people who don't use their car headlights properly?

[NeonDoll]

This is real bug bear of mine!

For the past few weeks I've been nearly blinded driving to work by people using fog lights when there is no bloody fog and visibility is perfect! This morning there was a thick fog, so thick in fact that you could barely see your hand in front of your face and yet the amount of cars that were either driving without their fog lights on, or had their lights on main beam causing a glare was staggering!

How the hell did these idiots even manage to pass their theory driving tests? It's dangerous FFS. What the hell is wrong with them?

I leave the handbrake off in a queue of traffic for the opposite reason, yes, I would hit the car in front but that would disipate the force so that although more vehicles will be hit, each accident will be less impactive on the passengers. I take the point about the train accident though - horrendous! I do have to go across a level crossing but it is on a slope so handbrake required anyway.

When driving at night, you can see the point where your dipped headlights hit the road. I tend to try to stay far enough back so that happens behind the car in front, minimising any chance of dazzling them. No one else seems to do that and it's worse with 4x4s or vehicles that sit higher on the road as it shines right in the car :(

Many years ago, I almost was one of those train freak accident statistics - was stopped at a level crossing which was near a bend in a road. It was an icy morning and most traffic was crawling along, but a knob in a flashy car came tearing round the bend, slammed on the brakes and started skidding towards me. I could see the train coming, I could see him in my mirror and time seemed to slow down. By some amazing piece of luck, at the last moment his car skidded past mine and stopped just short of the level crossing. I never saw someone get into reverse so fast.

Ever since then, I have stopped very very far back from level crossings. Sometimes people drive to about an inch off my back bumper and toot the horn at me to move forwards, but I'm not budging. If they want to save two of three seconds by being a couple of car lengths closer to the level crossing once the train goes past they are welcome to pull in in front of me, but I'm not budging.

I was instructed to apply my handbrake if stationary for more than 5 seconds. It avoids dazzling the poor sod behind you with your brake lights. Its not fun sitting behind some idiot with his foot brake applied for a prolonged amount of time, especially at night. Plus I cant imagine its good for your brakes/pads.

Annoying , I have re read it. It says not to indicate on approach, but that you do indicate before the exit:

When taking any intermediate exit, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise

select the appropriate lane on approach to and on the roundabout
you should not normally need to signal on approach
stay in this lane until you need to alter course to exit the roundabout
signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want.

Have a look here for the rules on lighting and traffic queues under section 114- Fairly clear www.gov.uk/general-rules-all-drivers-riders-103-to-158/lighting-requirements-113-to-116 Road Vehicles Lighting Regs 1989

RoganJoshs, I think we might be talking at cross purposes, because I agree with what you have just written. I.e. don't indicate on approach, but signal left when you pass the turn before the one you want

The blue car in the diagram shows exactly that

He's the picture. Blue car is not signalling on approach, but starts to signal as it passes the 1st exit

Someone said that they had googled and it said to not indicate when going straight over at a roundabout. I added a link to say that the official word was saying that you do indicate.

I drive an automatic and never use my hand break.

I am an annoying person who keeps the break on in the dark.

My husband often just uses his side lights and I tell him he is being stupid. If you need lights put them on fully.

Oh actually it was their instructor. Anyway, my point wa that you do indicate, the link says that, I'm not sure what else to say, really.

I dont leave my handbrake off and keep my foot on the footbrake, I only leave the handbrake off if my vehicle can be stationary without using the footbrake.

*was

My Mum puts her full beam on when we drive down a certain unlit country road which is busy and has double traffic rows but no lights! People flash her...is she wrong?

McKayz
I was told to put the handbrake on if I was going to be stationary for longer than 5 seconds. For the same reason as Kato said.

I was also taught this, and still do it.

MrsTawdry Thu 22-Jan-15 13:26:41
My Mum puts her full beam on when we drive down a certain unlit country road which is busy and has double traffic rows but no lights! People flash her...is she wrong?

If people are flashing her, that means those cars are being dazzled by her full beam. So switch them off unless you don't have cars approaching you, then you can switch them back on once the last car has passed behind.

MrsTawdry do you mean that the oncoming traffic flashes at her? If so, then yes, she is wrong, because her lights are dazzling them. Even on dual carriageways, if the two carriageways are actually running parallel to each other (eg they don't have trees in the middle or whatever) the full beam lights would dazzle the oncoming traffic.

x posted

I was taught to indicate OFF a round about when going straight on - to drivers and pedestrians know where you are going

worse are the people that indicate at the wrong time causing you to almost pull out where they are in fact no going off

I never have my fog lights on unless it's foggy enough and I turn them on and off when it clears and then gets dense again.

I always use my hand break because it stops you hitting the arse of the car in front if some idiot hits you from behind - true experience!

Mrs Tawdry, yes!!

you shouldn't have full beam on if you can see any other vehicle - you need to flick them on and off depending on vehicles approaching or seeing the brake lights on a vehicle in front.

My Mum puts her full beam on when we drive down a certain unlit country road which is busy and has double traffic rows but no lights! People flash her...is she wrong?

Yes, of course she is. You use full beam only when there aren't other people coming towards you. She is endangering her life and others by making it difficult for other drivers to see ahead.

should clarify, you can have full beam on if the only vehicle visible to you is behind you and you can only see them in the rear view mirror.

Of course your Mum is wrong! You never have full beams on if people are driving towards you or if you are behind another car.

Well don't all jump down my throat with your "Of courses! I don't drive so there's no of course about it!

The road is very dark and I think she can't see properly on it. Either way I will tell her.

Thanks.

If you are approached by a dazzling oncoming car, shut one eye until it's passed. That way you won't be completely blinded when it's passed. You never know, it might just safe a cyclists life.

Yes, she is wrong. As others have said, she is dazzling the oncoming drivers, which is very dangerous. It gives a whiteout, pretty much.

I am one who finds oncoming headlights rather trying, but believe me it is a million times worse if that person puts their headlights up to full beam and refuses to dip.

I understand your mother wanting to be able to see properly, I really do. But so do the oncoming drivers, so there has to be give and take. Hence, always dip your headlights for them, dark and unlit road or not. Dazzling other drivers causes accidents.

Increasingly though, I find many car headlights dazzle while on dip these days too. There is only so much that can be done, but you should always do it.