Automatic Headlights - Fog - Idiots

[sunny-dave]

I've done a couple of hundred miles on foggy motorways and A roads this week - most of the time it was bad enough to need my hi-intensity rears on for safety.

Yet there were dozens (hundreds?) of newish cars - top of the range models usually - with no rear lights on at all, and only 'running lights' at the front (if anything).

I was chuntering away at the idiocy of these people when I twigged the problem - my Audi didn't think it was dark enough in the bright, daylight fog to need any lights on at all - so I had switched them on manually.

I presume the idiots driving along in a misty shroud had forgotten (if they ever knew) where the light switch is and that they are legally responsible for using it in conditions of reduced visibility.

A growing problem as more car lighting systems are automated it seems.

[Hopkirk]

I think very many people don't realise that daytime running lights only show at the front - they think their snazzy bright LEDs are enough but aren't aware they are in darkness at the rear..

[sunny-dave]

I agree Hoppy - the plods could do with nicking one or two 'pour encourager les autres'.

[Zacs-Master]

And one where the dashboard is lit up like a Christmas tree all,the time rather than only when the lights are on, like in the good old days. A retrograde step.

[sunny-dave]

Yep - the telltale for my lights isn't even on the main display - very easy to miss that they are not switched on.

[Hopkirk]

The trouble is, Sunny Dave, that nicking a few won't do anything, because they don't realise.

Perhaps we need a a government information programme to teach people that daytime lights are at the front only.

[sunny-dave]

I agree, Hoppy - very good idea.

[Hopkirk]

We just need to ask that nice Mr Osborne for the funds for this campaign.

[sunny-dave]

Who is the current Minister for Transport - they all seem to have a subterranean profile - haven't heard/seen one for years.

[Hopkirk]

Apparently it is Patrick McLoughlin, now called Transport Secretary.

He's a bit busy with HS2.

[sunny-dave]

Ah - the "Minister for Vanity Projects" then.

[Hopkirk]

He must be doing something right, HS2 seems to be getting all the money.

[shoota]

It would have as little effect as the 'campaign' for the introduction of penalties for centre/offside lane hogging.

If anything the situation is worse now...

[tonyav]

Yeah and minister for 101 uses for Chinese steel.

[Hopkirk]

Perhaps they should make manufacturers put the rear lights on all the time when daytime lights are fitted.

That would solve it.

[TWR]

It's not only in fog all lights should be used Sunny, In my opinion if it rain's especially on Motorways / Duel Carriageways, all lights should be a legal Requirement, I've very near come un-stuck a few times with clowns coming up blind in the spray of my Trailer.

[cactusdriver]

Daytime running lights are brighter than sidelights so that they can be seen - when you switch on your headlamps or select sidelights they dim. If we had daytime running lights on the rear they would also have to be brighter, giving the problem that drivers would be driving at night with dazzling rear lights because they wouldn't bother to switch to headlamps (present compant exepted!)

[cactusdriver]

And then we haven't considered brake lights.....

[retrocop]

TWR
//In my opinion if it rain's especially on Motorways / Duel Carriageways, all lights should be a legal Requirement,//

It already is. Not parking/side lights either. Dipped beam no less!

[retrocop]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/regulation/25/made

[cactusdriver]

And don't forget the rear fog lamp in poor visibility.