Drivers not dimming their lights

[yello]

It's pretty hard to do with just standard lights at anything above 30mph,

Well, there's your answer then

 

[GrasB]

Unless car headlights have got worse in the last 10 years then dipped beam give enough light for driving at 50mph, based on the pitifully dull dipped beam of a Mk2 Fiat Punto. On both my Alfa & Lotus the only reason I want main beams isn't for reach but rather width, mainly on the off-side.

I was taught when learning to drive & part of my AD training, if you can see another vehicles lights on the same road, be it front or rear, then you dip down, end of story. Drivers not going to dipped beams for cyclist is a real menace, I can't shoulder check & you lose a lot of indirect vehicle location information... meaning I need to shoulder check. Worse if I'm on the low racer normally my night vision tends to be completely wrecked & forces me to stop as I can no longer see where I'm going properly. If one has appropriate cycle lights for dark back roads there's no meaningful visibility gain for the rider & not dipping down only serves to REDUCE the visibility of the cyclists in the drivers view (lower the brightness difference between the cyclist & everything else).

 

[buggi]

i don't get this thread really, i personally like it when there is a car behind me lighting up the road ahead. it would only bother me i suppose if i had to turn right and needed to look behind me, but i haven't had that situation yet. i usually find a quick gesture of the hand (like i'm patting a basketball) and they usually dim their lights if coming towards me and they've forgotten. this could work from behind. But generally, i appreciate the extra light on a dark country lane.

 

[buggi]

.

After all you'd turn you main beam of if following another car wouldn't you.

yes you would, but that's because you can blind the driver in front because of the rear view mirror. cyclists don't have mirrors so no reason why a driver would consider in inconvenient. I think this is a "helmet debate" area.. some will prefer, some will not. Either way, i'm not sure we can actually blame the driver for this??? they probably think we're glad of the extra light.

 

[screenman]

Some people should stay in more.

 

[gaz]

Unless car headlights have got worse in the last 10 years then dipped beam give enough light for driving at 50mph.

on an unlit road? The cars I have driven that where made in the past 10 years I wouldn't be comfortable doing that.

 

[snorri]

Some people should stay in more.

.....or just go to bed earlier.

 

[Spinney]

What if a bike has mirrors? Plenty of people have fitted them, even if that isn't everyone. ;o

I've got a mirror, but I have to turn my head to see into it so headlights shining in it would not bother me while riding along, unlike in a car where the rear view mirror is set up to be used with minimal turning of head/eyes.

 

[snorri]

i don't get this thread really,

Don't worry about that, it's not aimed at you.
This thread is just another chapter in the 'Matthew_T educational programme'

 

[fossyant]

From behind, can't say a car having full beam on is a problem. Used to do loads of riding on unlit lanes. Oncoming can be an issue, but with the amount of light modern bike lights can kick out it's not too bad if the driver doesn't dip.

When I used to commute with a 3w Halogen (it was on a BLT system that cost about £90 at the time) then dazzling headlights would ruin your night vision as the contrast between main beam and a piddly 3w bulb was huge. Not as much an issue with modern bike lights.

Get yourself some mofo rear lights Matthew !! Ones powered by Lipo batteries

 

[roadrash]

if you dont like whats behind you , stop and let it pass .... simple really

 

[cd365]

I also don't mind a car with full beam on coming from behind me, it lights up the road for a few fleeting seconds better then my lights do and I can generally avoid an extra couple of pot-holes.

 

[Dave Davenport]

Matthew; You seem to spend half your life actively looking for something to moan about, just chill out a bit son

 

[Arjimlad]

I also don't mind a car with full beam on coming from behind me, it lights up the road for a few fleeting seconds better then my lights do and I can generally avoid an extra couple of pot-holes.

 

[subaqua]

Matthew; You seem to spend half your life actively looking for something to moan about, just chill out a bit son

have you ever lived on N Wales coast. moaning like that is a spectator sport