Driving observations

[Keefanmaxx]

While driving and going about my business, I can't help but notice the number of cars that have headlights and sidelights not working. Now I'm not perfect by any means, but how do you not notice a headlight not working, especially when it's dark?
Call me 'old school' but I check all the lights on my cars regularly, especially the work car.

Another thing (which does get me) is the amount of people that blatently go through red traffic lights or stop in the yellow box junction.
Seems alot of drivers have forgotten some of the basics ........ or is it just me?? :dry:

 

[woodsieboy]

Its not just you, I agree completely with you, I would add the people who park on the nearside facing oncoming traffic with headlights on,suspect it may be to do with automatic lights, and the people who insist on driving in fog or rain without their lights on

 

[Keefanmaxx]

I do wonder at what point people realise the light isn't working. Probably when the car goes for a service or fails the MOT!!
I know cost is a big part of it with the new types of headlight units and bulbs being really expensive, but no excuse really especially with alot of new cars being ablevto warn of a defective light.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Definitely not just you

I recently gave a list of bad driving habits I have observed. Iv'e recently been having to journey into Birmingham to the QE hospital almost daily, and it conformed what I said several years ago that I'm glad I dont have to work in a city, the bad habits ar rife. I won't list them all, but I will particularly mention drivers using phones whilst driving. and the number of times iv'e slowed down or cut up by one of these idiots. and speeders.

There I've opened the flood gates now for al those who use their phones to up date on PC forum whilst driving......

 

[pitpony]

Mobil phones a no no when driving and the penalty should be a ban and a heavy fine, just like drink driving, having a light bulb out I suppose if a bobby could be bothered to stop you they would just tell you to get it fixed,

 

[Martin24]

At least I have a sticker on the back warning people that I'm disabled and absolutely anything could happen :silly:

 

[Thingy]

If we are doing the pet hate thing, my two are

People that automatically stop at Give Way signs, particularly roundabouts even though a blind man could clearly see a clear road

And

Driving with High Intensity rear lights in heavy rain.

 

[Keefanmaxx]

This was by no means meant to be a 'pet hate' thread. I'm just amazed by the number of cars that are running about with headlights out, especially during the winter months and the fact that there are many drivers who seem to think it's OK to carry on at red lights and wondered if others do too.

As it has been mentioned, my absolute hate is the mobile phone. My line of work involves dealing with the results of these being used and other bad habits that result in things going wrong and, if I'm honest, I don't think that 6 points and a £200 fine will be a deterrent.
I have been involved in delivering road safety campaigns around 'the fatal four' .... seatbelts, speeding, drinking and mobile phones aimed mainly at the 18 - 25 age group. Part of this uses quite shocking video footage and a couple of case studies, but changing attitudes and behaviour takes time and many interactions, yet everyone seems to know someone who drives while using a device or will happily sit as a passenger while the driver of on the phone.

 

[ProfJohnL]

People that automatically stop at Give Way signs, particularly roundabouts even though a blind man could clearly see a clear road.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[pitpony]

When I was working for a franchised car dealer driving one of his car transporters, I delivered a car to a young lady down in Illminster but part of the deal was that she used her car for a part exchange, when I gave it the once over checking the oil level the dip stick was bone dry, when I pointed this out to her she said the car had recently had a MOT,

 

[Anseo]

When I was working for a franchised car dealer driving one of his car transporters, I delivered a car to a young lady down in Illminster but part of the deal was that she used her car for a part exchange, when I gave it the once over checking the oil level the dip stick was bone dry, when I pointed this out to her she said the car had recently had a MOT,

A friend of mine told me that her car was running so much better after being MOT'd, I explained to her that an MOT was simply a safety check and did not include servicing or repairs.

Blank look followed,then silence, I'm convinced that she thinks I am talking nonsense and she is too polite to say so.

 

[Thingy]

In the last 7 days alone, twice I have been involved in a queue caused by a driver stopping on a motorway sliproad to wait until it was clear to go rather than adjust speed and filter in and only yesterday followed a woman who was quite clearly drunk. In the space of two miles hit the kerb half a dozen times, flattened a yellow bollard on a pedestrian reservation and as i called the police HANDS FREE she ran into the back of a skip. Leaving the scene she proceeded to the next crossroads and with indicator on pulled in behind an empty parked car waiting for it to move off. This is where the police caught her minutes later slumped over the wheel.

I was able to supply footage from my dashcam but the scary thing is that only a mile further on, the school crossing patrol was in operation. I hope its a substantial ban for her.

 

[emmerson]

One light ers are one of my pet hates. I'd ban 'em and crush their cars! I counted fourteen on my regular four mile journey the other night! But whilst on the subject, we used to ( and still do) moan about rear fog lights. Now we have the opposite taking place; modern cars with daytime lights. Apparently, when switching on the ignition on some models all the dash lights come on. This, combined with the DRLs, leads brain-dead drivers to believe they have their legally-required road lights on.
Just check the number of cars blithely driving around with no lights on the rear after dark.
Obviously, whoever decreed that front lights without tail lights in the daytime were OK didn't account for the many morons who drive on our roads.
Lights are mandatory, not optional!

 

[KeefySher]

One light ers are one of my pet hates. I'd ban 'em and crush their cars! I counted fourteen on my regular four mile journey the other night! But whilst on the subject, we used to ( and still do) moan about rear fog lights. Now we have the opposite taking place; modern cars with daytime lights. Apparently, when switching on the ignition on some models all the dash lights come on. This, combined with the DRLs, leads brain-dead drivers to believe they have their legally-required road lights on.
Just check the number of cars blithely driving around with no lights on the rear after dark.
Obviously, whoever decreed that front lights without tail lights in the daytime were OK didn't account for the many morons who drive on our roads.
Lights are mandatory, not optional!

Dear Mr Angry
The auto lights are also not such an advancement. Auto lights do not always detect the reduced visibility in daylight fog that requires the driver to manually switch on the requisite headlight c/w tail lights and if sufficiently dense (fog as well as driver ) front/rear fog lights.

However, all is not lost. In recent fog and poor visibility conditions have noted the BBC Radio 2 traffic announcers are actually giving a prod to not rely on auto lighting but to manually switch headlights and fog lights on. Not heard the advice on commercial radio.

As with all technology, the capability of human cerebral development, may actually be far more advanced, or in the case of tech savvy NOT.

Always revert to plan B, see and be seen.

 

[Woodentop]

What is most annoying in my Passat is that there is no warning whether the headlights (in auto mode) are on or not. The dash lighting comes on and the satnav map goes to night mode when the headlights turn on automatically, but when they go off the satnav screen does not always change and the dash lights usually stay on.

I would have thought one small indicator light would not be too much to ask?

Also annoying that you cannot turn on the rear fog light without having the front fog lights on first.

Oh, and to add insult to injury, why is there a mentality that says 'its foggy so must put my rear fogs on.' Said drivers don't seem to realise the only time they should have the rear fogs on is when they are tail end Charlie. If there is a vehicle behind all that happens is the glare from the fogs in front reduces the sensitivity of the driver by that split second that the brake lights are on as well - assuming they are working!

/moan mode off

 

[Hutch]

The rear hi intesity lamps when used in really heavy rain, and fog, might give enough glare to keep the following person a bit further away. I hate people tail gateing at any time, I live near the M1 junction 13 to 15 , a notorious bad area for accidents. And see it a lot.

 

[chrisbee1]

While driving and going about my business, I can't help but notice the number of cars that have headlights and sidelights not working. Now I'm not perfect by any means, but how do you not notice a headlight not working, especially when it's dark?
Call me 'old school' but I check all the lights on my cars regularly, especially the work car.

Another thing (which does get me) is the amount of people that blatently go through red traffic lights or stop in the yellow box junction.
Seems alot of drivers have forgotten some of the basics ........ or is it just me?? :dry:

I'll be in trouble on the forum. When I checked my lights this morning I noticed my N/S parking lamp was out. Note I call it parking lamp, not sidelight. I believe it's this terminology that leads to motorists driving around without displaying headlamps when required, something I don't do. To change the bulb requires baby sized hands or the dismantling of half the car, which ain't happening in this rain! When the headlights are on it's impossible to see if the parking lights are on and as I don't envisage parking anywhere where lights are required it can wait for better weather before being changed.

No, there's lots of you who have forgotten. :lol: :lol:

 

[emmerson]

Now then chrisbee! This raises the question of why do cars need "parking"lights? No-one parks their car with lights on any more, and these dim lights are no good for anything else, so why have them? Lights and ignition should go straight to dipped headlamps.
My old Talbot camper has two switches for lights. One brings on parking lights, without ignition; the other brings on all the lights, including headlights.So, with this switch on, I cannot drive on just parking lights.This is thirty year old technology. Can it not be adapted for today's computer controlled vehicles?

 

[chrisbee1]

Now then chrisbee! This raises the question of why do cars need "parking"lights? No-one parks their car with lights on any more, and these dim lights are no good for anything else, so why have them? Lights and ignition should go straight to dipped headlamps.

So you can legally park on a road outside a 30mph limit at night?

 

[pitpony]

Have a read of the Highway it is an offence to park on the highway without lights,

 

[chrisbee1]

Have a read of the Highway it is an offence to park on the highway without lights,

Unless in a 30mph (or lower)zone.

 

[emmerson]

We've now just squared the circle!
It is an offence to drive with only one headlight, which is where I came in!

 

[Keefanmaxx]

Have a read of the Highway it is an offence to park on the highway without lights,

Unless in a 30mph (or lower)zone.

What if, like the area I live in, the street lights go out after midnight (except those on junctions)

 

[emmerson]

We've now just squared the circle!
It is an offence to drive with only one headlight, which is where I came in!

Just to qualify that, if I remember rightly, doesn't the law state that if a light is fitted, then it must work?
Therefore, it is an offence to take a vehicle on the road, day or night, without ALL of its mandatory lights in working order.

 

[Keefanmaxx]

I do believe you're right Emmerson! :lol: