Head lights/Fog lights

[1bush2hog]

cp1969 Quote:
Originally Posted by 1bush2hog
Unless you're going less than 20mph, they are lighting an area of the road in which you could not possibly stop. So what is the point of seeing this area?

CP1969 - Maybe you have never driven on some of the same types of backroads at night? The lights DO help me see the edges of the road, especially where roads are narrow and curvy and the whitelines, and sometimes the yellow lines too, either do not exist or are difficult to see. Alot of times the edge of the road looks the same as the shoulder and without added visibility from additional lighting are downright dangerous to unfamiliar drivers.


That is most emphatically NOT the type of situation I'm talking about. I am talking about the use of these clown-on-board marker lights in mostly suburban situations--four lane, city, even on lighted thoroughfares, for crying out loud. In fact, I think it would be better for them to only be on when high beams are used...at least that way they'd be off once in a while. If all this illumination is necessary, high beams + driving lights would be the way to go. Hopefully some of these light addicts would feel obliged to dim their lights then...but, probably not.




Sorry CP - I thought you were referring to something different as evidenced by your previous reply to a user driving out in the COUNTRY

 

[turnkey4099]

cp1969 Quote:
Originally Posted by 1bush2hog
Unless you're going less than 20mph, they are lighting an area of the road in which you could not possibly stop. So what is the point of seeing this area?

CP1969 - Maybe you have never driven on some of the same types of backroads at night? The lights DO help me see the edges of the road, especially where roads are narrow and curvy and the whitelines, and sometimes the yellow lines too, either do not exist or are difficult to see. Alot of times the edge of the road looks the same as the shoulder and without added visibility from additional lighting are downright dangerous to unfamiliar drivers.


That is most emphatically NOT the type of situation I'm talking about. I am talking about the use of these clown-on-board marker lights in mostly suburban situations--four lane, city, even on lighted thoroughfares, for crying out loud. In fact, I think it would be better for them to only be on when high beams are used...at least that way they'd be off once in a while. If all this illumination is necessary, high beams + driving lights would be the way to go. Hopefully some of these light addicts would feel obliged to dim their lights then...but, probably not.




Sorry CP - I thought you were referring to something different as evidenced by your previous reply to a user driving out in the COUNTRY

But I can't see the point on the roads you describe either adn I live on them. The lights in question only light up a short distance so unless you are creeping the additional light isn't really adding much. When meeting another vehicle maybe...

Harry K

 

[MarEng]

Dan:

Just put two sets of the cheap ($8.99/set) driving lights from Harbor Freight on the tractor. Bolted them into the canopy lugs high up on the ROP. Two facing forward and two aft. Switched them in a box attached to the inside of the ROP. They work great! Especially since the FEL always seemed to block the headlights - right up until I took the entire grill out with a stump. The after set is focused closer in to illuminate about where the end of the backhoe reaches. Throws enough light around to also see the 3pt. Up front, the lights are focused about 100' in front of the tractor. Eventually the headlights will fill in the space between. The high mounting position was chosen after a bunch of night work with a rented D4 fitted with work lights.

Cheap solution that opens up a ton of work hours.

Brgds, Will.

 

[1bush2hog]

But I can't see the point on the roads you describe either adn I live on them. The lights in question only light up a short distance so unless you are creeping the additional light isn't really adding much. When meeting another vehicle maybe...


It adds enough for me and I'm driving speed limit which is usually 20-45mph depending on section of the road.

Maybe it's just the combination of vehicle and lights I am using.

When I have driving/fog lights on - I never get flashed by oncoming cars either so must not bother them. Now if there is a low car sitting in front of me at a red light, my regular dim headlights will light up the inside of their car without any help I guess I don't really see the same problem as others who are bothered by this, but then again I drive a truck so I am sitting up higher and maybe this makes it less obtrusive.

Now if I meet a vehicle that has 6 or more lights on it, then I can see (no pun intended) where there might be a problem. I've seen some trucks also that could probably qualify for a redneck truck as I know their lights probably cost more than their truck

You might be a redneck if...the accessories on your car cost more than your car

 

[cp1969]

When I have driving/fog lights on - I never get flashed by oncoming cars either so must not bother them.

Who would dare flash their lights?? Hard telling what else you might have one board...no way to win that arms race. The fact that people are telling you, on this board, that they find the lights bothersome should tell you something. Should.

Now if there is a low car sitting in front of me at a red light, my regular dim headlights will light up the inside of their car without any help

Am I reading this correctly, that you feel that since your low beams fill their car anyway, the driving lights can't possibly bother them? Maybe not, but I ask...in that situation, sitting in traffic at a light, what possible value do the lights add to your equation?

 

[Dargo]

The fact that people are telling you, on this board, that they find the lights bothersome should tell you something. Should.

That, and the fact that they were rated as the most annoying thing in a large survey from at least two companies...

You know, ripping a good one in a public restaurant after a meal is not bothersome to some people and, to the majority who find if offensive, few will actually say anything.

However, I do have to agree that throwing cigarettes out the vehicle window is more annoying and, arguably, more dangerous. As I said earlier, my hat is off to the smokers here who have mentioned how they do not throw their cigarettes out the window. It does not bother me one iota that those people chose to smoke in their vehicle. I'd even go along with the saying, "if you got 'em, burn 'em". Just don't bounce them off my vehicle please.

 

[1bush2hog]

Who would dare flash their lights?? Hard telling what else you might have one board...no way to win that arms race. The fact that people are telling you, on this board, that they find the lights bothersome should tell you something. Should



If I meet someone who has their bright lights on, I give a courtesy flash as people often unintentionally forget to dim their lights - contrary to what some people might think, there are no gang initiations related to flashing your brights to remind people to dim theirs. I'm not really worried about someone shooting me because I give a quick flash and that is it. If they dim their lights, great, If not I slow down and try to stay focused on the road. I don't look for, or start any trouble, but won't put up with any either. The one thing I do fear - is God's wrath.

I wouldn't have to flash someone who has their driving or fog lights on, as like I mentioned earlier - It does not bother me. As I have grown older, and my eyes have too, I try to consider that others may actually have a more difficult time than I do, seeing at night while driving. They are NOT breaking the law and I am not the headlight ****. Maybe some of these people just forgot to turn their auxillary lights off from the night before when was raining? Maybe it helps them to see better when drigving at night? Maybe they just like to look cool. My point is I don't really care because it does not bother me, and I also try to see the good in people rather than the bad. I do not think people do this just to intentionally annoy others - but I may be wrong and if so that is THEIR problem - not mine. I live in the suburbs of Atlanta, I see all kinds of drivers and lots of nut cases on a daily basis.

FYI - I also do not drive around with my auxillary lights on all the time - just when I need them. My reference to lower cars was only that ANY FACTORY LIGHTING on an SUV or truck would potentially be bothersome to those drivers, as their line of sight is different, and NO I do not have my auxillary lights on when I am at a light behind these types of cars - in fact many times when I am stopped at a traffic light directly behind a lower car, I will actually switch just my parking lights on until the light changes and then I turn my headlights back on when we start moving again.

Since you got my curosity up about driver's pet peeves surveys, I did a quick search and found this from Allstate - Interesting that the top driver pet peeves of those they surveyed had nothing to do with lights

New Survey Reveals Driving Pet Peeves
Drivers Find Little Wrong with Their Own Driving Habits, But Plenty in Others'

Litter Bugs, Tailgaters Among Top Drivers' Pet Peeves


On the lighthearted side, the Allstate survey shows that American drivers have strong opinions about the most annoying habits of other drivers. When asked about a list of behaviors, nearly nine in ten drivers said they are very annoyed when other drivers "drive too close," "throw trash out of the car window" or "don't use their signals." Following closely behind, 84 percent responded they're very annoyed by others who "drive slow in the passing lane," while 83 percent cited drivers who "weave in and out of traffic."


Rounding out the list of most-annoying habits of other drivers were "hogging the road," cited by 71 percent of respondents, "riding the brakes" (69 percent), and "talking on their cell phone" (61 percent).

 

[texbaylea]

I am a proponent of daytime running lights. Over my hearly 60 years of driving I have been in too many situations where, because of color of the on coming car and deep shadows or dusk, the on-coming car was invisible until it was almost too late to avoid an accident.

Vernon

 

[Chuck52]

The lights on my Impala are on all the time. I'm not bothered by daytime lights on other vehicles, though my night vision is getting bad enough that I can hardly stand regular lights form passing cars. Truck lights, even just low beam, tend to cause me problems. I try to avoid unnecessary driving at night when possible. I wish the idiot who drives the light colored pickup from somewhere west of me, and apparently has about the same work schedule as I do, had daytime running lights. He has appeared out of the fog with no lights just as I was turning onto the highway at least three times now. He is polite, however. When he has to hit his brakes to avoid hitting me, he hasn't yet flashed his lights or blown his horn or given me the one finger wave, or anything!

Chuck

 

[Dargo]

I wouldn't have to flash someone who has their driving or fog lights on, as like I mentioned earlier - It does not bother me. As I have grown older, and my eyes have too, I try to consider that others may actually have a more difficult time than I do, seeing at night while driving. They are NOT breaking the law and I am not the headlight ****. Maybe some of these people just forgot to turn their auxillary lights off from the night before when was raining?

Actually, in many states it is illegal. I haven't the time to go state by state, but I know for a fact it is illegal in Indiana and even New York. Here is a small snip about NY:

"Now, it seems like every other car comes from the factory with "driving" lights under the bumper. Every character with a four-wheel drive pickup has a row of the things on top of the bumper, where they don't any good in fog, but shine right into other people's rear-view mirrors. None of the buyers seem to know that their original purpose was for peering down dark, deserted roads, and use them constantly on busy streets lit with streetlights. Luckily, most of the factory installations aren't very bright, but the glare is still a problem. Owners refuse to dim them when prompted with the traditional flash of high beams, and the worst of these dim-bulbs respond with an angry flash of their own bights.

New York now has a law that requires drivers to turn off auxiliary lights along with high beams in the presence of other traffic. Other states may soon have similar laws."

 

[1bush2hog]

Actually, in many states it is illegal



My bad - I should have clarified it is not illegal here in GA

Thanks

 

[Dargo]

And, on my part for clarification, if they don't blind me, I don't care. Why would I? It's just if I'm blinded while I'm driving with my wife and five kids in the car, (heck, even if I'm by myself) well, that's obviously not a good thing. I honestly have no choice but to use my high beams to see the white line on the right side of the road. I'm not doing it to be a jerk and play "I'll get even with you", I'm doing what I have to to be safe. If I wanted to be a jerk, I'd turn around, catch up with the, get their license plate, and call 911 and report the car as having just run me off the road with my entire family because they blinded me and endangered seven lives in the process.

Now, my BIL who got ticketed for using them, he is out for vengeance. If he counts 4 lights on an oncoming car, no matter how bright or how dim, he paints them with his brights and plays chicken with them. He's really upset that he got ticketed and yet hundreds, no, thousands, of other drivers here violate the same law. I don't play that way. I'm too old, life is too short, and I have better things to do.

 

[1bush2hog]

I don't play that way. I'm too old, life is too short, and I have better things to do


Ditto.

 

[NewToy]

And, on my part for clarification, if they don't blind me, I don't care. Why would I? It's just if I'm blinded while I'm driving with my wife and five kids in the car, (heck, even if I'm by myself) well, that's obviously not a good thing. I honestly have no choice but to use my high beams to see the white line on the right side of the road. I'm not doing it to be a jerk and play "I'll get even with you", I'm doing what I have to to be safe. If I wanted to be a jerk, I'd turn around, catch up with the, get their license plate, and call 911 and report the car as having just run me off the road with my entire family because they blinded me and endangered seven lives in the process.

Now, my BIL who got ticketed for using them, he is out for vengeance. If he counts 4 lights on an oncoming car, no matter how bright or how dim, he paints them with his brights and plays chicken with them. He's really upset that he got ticketed and yet hundreds, no, thousands, of other drivers here violate the same law. I don't play that way. I'm too old, life is too short, and I have better things to do.

Sounds like your BIL is in need of some counseling before he kills someone with his vindictive antics.
John

 

[Dargo]

Sounds like your BIL is in need of some counseling before he kills someone with his vindictive antics.
John

Believe me, I'm not going to disagree with you. You wanna tell him though?

 

[turnkey4099]

I don't play that way. I'm too old, life is too short, and I have better things to do


Ditto.

Same here. Playing the 'get even' game is pointless as the oponent will have no clue why you did it. Short of stopping him and explaining his error, you accomplish nothing except raise both parties blood pressure.

Harry K

 

[NewToy]

Believe me, I'm not going to disagree with you. You wanna tell him though?

I'll take a pass on that. Sounds like he's easy to get riled up! On another note, I just took my test for an Ohio D/L. While glancing through the driver handbook they have a little section on passing car's on a two lane road. They say it's Ohio law to sound your horn as you're passing another car on a two lane road. That really struck me as a strange law. I was thinking the other driver would think you are trying to antagonize him by blowing the horn at him while passing, could lead to a retaliatory horn blow or worse.
John

 

[dfkrug]

30 y ago I was driving at night in a snowstorm in Michigan, on a rural road,
when I got pulled over by the MI State Police. I was probably going 40
on a road that was posted 55. I was running high beams AND fog lights.
The cop says I can have only 4 lights on at once, but he was not certain.
So he made me get out, submit to a search, and get into the back of his
patrol car, while he looked it up in a manual that musta been 4 or 5 inches
thick. I don't recall if he ever found the ordinance.

It is amazing the difference between sates (and countries) with respect to
headlights.

They just passed a law here in CA where you must have headlights on
if your wipers go on.

In some places (Denmark for example) you must have your headlights on
ALWAYS. I got flashed within 1 minute of crossing the border from Germany.

In Paris, all headlights are yellow. I have no idea why.

In Switzerland, nighttime drivers turn off headlights at red lights. Engine,
too. They must sell a lot of starter motors in Switzerland.

 

[LBrown59]

Auxiliary lites Running lites or ever what you want to call them:
I always hook them up to a switch connected to the on position of the ignition switch.
This way you can't easily park the vehicle and leave them on to run the battery down.
By going through the Ignition switch It gives 3 on/off positions rather than just one.
1*On/off with Low beams.
2*On/off with High beams.
3*On/off by themselfs.
Three is reall a life saver in case your headlight switch fails and both your HI and Low beams go out, which I have had happen on 2 different pick up trucks.

 

[WVBill]

Don't think anyone's mentioned it but most annoying to me is the "Euro-Style" headlights that have a very sharp cut-off height. They're also usually the HID Blue color. It's usually Mercedes Benz, BMW's, and Lexus but Toyota Prius have them too.

I drive a small car (Pontiac Vibe) and whether these guys a approaching me or behind me, my eye level is often right at their cutoff point so simple road unevenness makes them look like they're constantly flashing their high beams at me.

Annoying...

Also annoying is the "magnet effect" where on a four lane road and I'm in the right lane, guy comes barelling up behind me so I switch my inside rear view mirror to the night position. Then he moves over to the left lane and gets the "magnet effect" where he's stuck on my left rear bumper with his lights blinding me from my outside rear-view mirror....


WVBill