Are drivers mental or what ?
Comments
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Yes old girl, Admittedly two older drivers have had accidents and killed two people, then come the outcry for older people to take tests before getting their licences reissued. Theres not been a demand for younger people to retake tests and as you say, loads
of young people have accidents and kill people.0 -
Amidst all the talk of older drivers being tested. I have had a licence for 60 years and am aware that I will not be as sharp as before. Some years ago I tried to find an official test to prove my road wothiness. There ain't one! I get a driving assessment
with a friendly class1 pollice driver, and when he says I am not fit I shall stop. Till then I still tow my van, but restrict my travel to no more than 200 miles in one day.0 -
Discoil, Yes I actually knew that, but the fact is that they normally completely overpower the operation of the brake lights and in poor conditions of driving rain and spray especially at night, following drivers often do not see they brake lights coming
on for a few vital milliseconds.Believe me I have had to deal with the result of that far too many times!
Why argue about such a mute point?
TF
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CY, for what it's worth I've driven hire cars that have the rear fog lights on the main lights stick as an individual twist addition(like a ring on a finger)-one twist forward-front fogs, further twist forward rear fog light.
Hers too. Found it yesterday.
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..., but the fact is that they normally completely overpower the operation of the brake lights and in poor conditions of driving rain and spray especially at night, following drivers often do not see they brake lights coming on for a few vital milliseconds.
....I still can't think of a good reason why we even need them. In 'only' 36 yrs of driving I can count the time on one hand - & still have fingers left - when fog has been that bad that I've not been able to see the car's normal tail lights. If a county the
size of America doesn't see the need for them .....0 -
On a related note, some VAG group cars have very poorly designed rear indicator and brake lights arranged concentrically in the same light assembly. Quite difficult to see indicator light when brake light is also illuminated.
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It would be impossible to administer. The delay in getting a driving test is apparently very long these days. Imagin the chaos if you suddenly required millions of extra tests. The system would go into melt down!
TF
Quite correct TF. waiting time for a driving test is between 8 & 10 weeks at the moment (I believe) & that's catering for around 1.5 million tests per annum.
I've no idea how many (lets say) over 70s drivers there are in the country but the number would definitely cause the system to implode.
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As I have no desire to continue driving if I am not safe on the road, I would have no problem with a test, at say 70, and then every 5 years. It would probably have the benifit of reduced insurance premiums. However, considering the logistics I can never
see it comming to pass.0 -
Richaed, Thats a new one on me. I have never come across a car fitted with auomatic fog lights. Automatic lighting yes, but not fog lights!
TF
I was referring to the folks with automatic HEADLAMPS, which don't always light up in foggy conditions.
Drivers either unaware that their lights haven't come on, or are aware, but can't remember how to manually switch on their lights. Or simply don't care.
My own car has automatic head and side lighting, and I must admit to having to look at the manual when it came back from its last service, auto lights and wipers set back to default settings. And as for the auto climate control, still haven't got that set
back to where I like it.Front and rear fog lights operated by separate switches, confusin dash board display, I had to get out of car to see which switch operated which light. Similar story with heated front and rear windows, not immediately obvious which switch operates which.
Gawd help us when cars come with touch screens rather than switches ....
you usually find that the light on the switches are green for front fog lights and amber for rear foglights
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Bardon56 - the fog lamp indicators on a subaru are both orange - one facing one way and the other in opposite direction. You HAVE to know which is which! In foggy conditions not difficult but in clear/wet conditions could be hazhardous for oncoming or closely
following traffic.0 -
It's surprising the number that insist on using their front fog lights at all times as well
I use my front fog lights at night in addition to headlights quite a lot these days. They give a much wider light pattern than the head lights alone. In town streets they show better what is between parked cars and on rural roads they illuminate emerging
wildlife. The headlights (even on dip) seem to be designed for distance and ignore the likelyhood of closer dangers.I too ignore the DRLs and use sidelights in daylight as there are then lights at the rear as well.
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So, if you use your forward foglamps on a clear night you are throwing 4 x 35 amps (or more) at on coming drivers instead of say a total of 70a. That's what I find to be dazzling and somewhat antisocial behaviour on the part of oncoming drivers. Please
cut it out.0 -
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So, if you use your forward foglamps on a clear night you are throwing 4 x 35 amps (or more) at on coming drivers instead of say a total of 70a. That's what I find to be dazzling and somewhat antisocial behaviour on the part of oncoming drivers. Please
cut it out.Can you redo your sums and express your view correctly.
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Forgive me for I have been out of the Police for 16 years now so my knowledge of this part of the law might be outdated. But I think that there might be some confusion about what used to be called Fog Lights and Spot lights and the lights that are commonly fitted to most cars today which are known as "Driving Lights".
Proper Fog and Spot Lights are large diameter and very powerful lamps normally mounted today on bars on the front of vehicles. I believe that the law has not changed, and that they should only be used in "Fog and falling Snow" conditions.
But what are fitted today often as part of a cars original equipment ,are classified as driving lamps, and are intended to highlight the kerb and the area's relatively close to the front of the vehicle. They are often connected to the steering, and will come on to assist in highlighting whichever direction the car is turning in. They are not high powered like proper Fog & Spot lamps, and should be fitted and adjusted so as not to creat any dazzle.
As I said, my knowledge may well be out of date now, but I believe that what I have said still applies.
TF
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That is my understanding too, TF. Fog lamps, front or rear, do dazzle when not used in accordance with the regulations. Driving at night with front fog lamps on is the equivalent of 4 dipped beams and causes dazzle to oncoming traffic. Even worse when raining
as the low beams reflect off the road surface. Driving lamps and spot lamps are pretty much the same thing and provide an additional pair of main beams. They should be wired to extinguish automatically when dipped beams are selected.
Daylight running lamps are there to warn road users ahead of the vehicle of its approach and is why they are brighter than normal side lamps. I don't see the point of switching on side lamps just to have have rear lamps on aswell. If visibility is reduced,
ie, rain, fog, snow, dusk, then the dipped beams should be used anyway.
Some vehicles have turn signal lamps that come on when the steering wheel is turned and illuminate the kerb in the direction of travel. Some have dipped beams that swivel with the steering.0 -
Admiral, -Sir!
I detect that you have recently changed your Avatar and I would wish to record my thanks, - The old one scared me and one of my Grandchildren half to death!
TF
Pirate to Peerage in the click of a mouse. Must have powerful connections.
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Read an article many years ago about how much extra fuel world wide would be used if all cars were fitted with daylight running lights. The answer to this question was an incredible amount,
I wonder if that was before the days of LEDs Mickey? As regards the comments for driving tests after a certain age, I am in favour of that. I am tested every year by my employers to see if I can still cut it and I welcome that. Helps me to continual improvement and keeps us all a little safer!
Are drivers mental or what? yes, some of them drive like they are!
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