Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Jim Walker]

Many car drivers are using headlamps in good daylight. In fact some motoring organisations are recommending it.

I always drive my motorbike on dipped headlamp because motorbikes are more difficult to pick out in busy traffic. That precaution is rendered somewhat useless when a motorbike is surrounded by cars with headlamps on. I wonder if the car drivers who drive on daylight headlamps have trouble seeing cars without them? If they do THEY should not be driving. Add to that the fact that a pedestrian can step out from behind a lit up car and not be seen immediately with potentially fatal results.

I hate those car drivers and regard them as selfish. with no regard for anyone but themselves. I must point out that I have driven many times as many miles in cars etc. (and still do) than on motorbikes, so I am not just putting forward a motorcyclist's opinion. For obvious reasons I have long hated Volvo Cars.

What do other Forum Members think?

Jim Walker.

[Rick]

[MONTBREHAIN]

My son and I both have Hella daylight running lights on our vehicles with a pair on order for my daughters car. I feel all cars should having lights on (ala Volvo) WHEN MOVING. Anything that helps you get noticed is ok in my book. As for motorcyclists who seem to think they own the road and who cut in and out of traffic as they please hard luck, take you chances like everybody else "MO"

[Scotty]

Jim - The EEC has legislated that all new vehicles (don't know about motorcycles) will be fitted with daylight running lights as of 2011 I think it is, so you've got even more problems ahead.

As a qualified emergency service driver and a motorcycle licence holder I drive defensively all the time, but even that isn't enough to ensure my safety nowadays, my view now is make myself as visible as possible as all too often it appears an "E" Class Merc just isn't large enough to be seen by some drivers.

I drive at rush hour in Glasgow every day where the number of morons behind steering wheels (and some behind handlebars) has grown to such an extent I switch them on the moment I start the car. Before I started switching on my headlamps it was unbelieveable the number of drivers who just didn't seem to or chose not to see me coming and drive out of junctions and side streets in front of me. Some even think its funny to cut you up and ignore you as though they didn't do anything wrong.
Since I started using my headlights very few do it now as they are a very effective warning as you drive along a road, much like motorcycles with their headlights on.

I'm not going to apologise for looking after my property and their lives by driving with headlamps on, but I do really sympathise with your dilemma, however I don't think its going to change, if anything its going to get worse from your point of view if driving standards continue deteriorating the way they have.
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[Rich5ltr]

[Jim Walker]

It seems already that I am in the minority, But I make no apologies for my views.

Running lights are a good idea, but I do not think they should be headlamps. I think an alternative, like a lower wattage strip light for example, would do just as well. Only yesterday a driver in front of me turned right across the path of an oncoming car, mistaking the flash of headlamps as the car rode over a speed hump as a 'carry on'. I know he should have ignored the flash, but......

Another thing is that lighting up in daylight now seems to mean illegal lamps as well. Many people don't even know that driving lamps below 20inches (500mm) should (must?) only be used in fog or falling snow, daylight or not. Anyway - what happened to dim-dip headlamps? Even I thought they were a good idea, being seeable without being too bright.

I do agree that many bikers seem to disregard dipping and also ride in an unacceptable manner. I do not agree that 20 mph restrictions are my main enemy. My main worry about these is that they could make pedestrians complacent, expecting the traffic will be able to stop in time if they step into the road.

Jim.

[peter scott]

Well Jim I'm more than a little sympathetic to your stance although I know I'm just a dinosaur destined for extinction.

The rot set in a long time ago when proper separate sidelights gave way to those stupid little bulbs in the headlamps. When that happened the light was no longer concentrated but spread over too large an area.

Driving at night in towns was a real pleasure when proper sidelights were de rigour. Your eyes were wide open and you could see everything, unlike now where you only see lights.

Oh well, there are some advantages to the EU too.

Peter
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[peppiB]

I was recalling the other day when I was growing up and first learned to drive, if we were in a built up area at night, with street lighting (which was by no means as efficient as it is now) we used sidelights only. The headlights weren't switched on unless you went out of town onto unlit roads.

How times change

[MONTBREHAIN]

Heres the ones we use , very low wattage so no extra fuel consumption due to making the alternator work harder. They are wired to come on as soon as ignition is on. I swear by them . But I have been flashed by other drivers who think they are fog lights. Also only one policeman (in 3 years of them being fitted) told me to turn my fog lights off, I explained to him what they were and showed him hellas printout and he was fine . "MO"

http://www.tagfahrlicht.de/index_com.html

[dalbuie]

I think the reason you notice the cars with daylight lights just now is because they are in the minority. As soon as ALL cars have daylight lights on then all will be the same and therefore nothing will stand out, well maybe the classics without lights on

[oldtimer]

I have been waiting to see if one of my main concerns would appear .
While also being an opponent of the fog lamp when there is no fog brigade, I cannot understand why it is legal to sell, or permit the use of bikes, without lights or a bell. The season is once more almost upon us when hordes of doting parents will add another batch of ,in my opinion,illegal vehicles to the roads and,unfortunately to the pavements.
Where is Plod,where are the legions of Health and Safety jobsworths?Doubtless tucked up in snug offices, perhaps watching on CCTV but certainly not doing anything about the law or real H&S problems.
Better now with that off my chest
oldtimer

[Keith D]

I don't believe that you could drive a prewar Austin Seven with headlights on all day in the crowded UK, without having half a dozen spare charged batteries on board!

The generator cannot match the continuous load in stop start traffic! That's it! I've got one with reconditioned (but original) electrics and that wouldn't have a prayer!

Keith D

[buzzy bee]

Hi

People driving at night with front fog lights on is really annoying. One set of lights, then another pair of lights lower down, ie fog lamps should be banned. They are very distracting!

I have seen the plod pulling people over for this in the past.

Cheers

Dave

[the fly]

well thats cleared that up . thick old me had always thought that volvos were fitted with crap switches that were stuck on.enough disputes lads or it could come to handbags at dawn .
regards The Fly .
PSdoes anyone know the main diference between a volvo and a hedgehog. I have forgoten the answer.

[pigtin]

I wouldn't have dared say that Fly... do you know how many Volvo owneres there are on this forum?
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