Drivers not dimming their lights

[Matthew_T]

I was out this evening for a quick late night ride. It was about 10.45 and I was cycling an unlit country road (very twisty road with head height hedges).
A car was approaching from behind with its lights on full beam (I had mine on full beam too). At this point there was no traffic coming towards us.
As the car grew closer, I was expecting them to dim their lights (I had a bright yellow jersey on, one flashing LED rear light, one constant so they definately saw me). The car kept its lights on full and started overtaking me on a left hand bend (not the best thing to do).
Then a car came around the bend confronting the car overtaking me. The car (now besides me) dimmed their lights and managed to safely pull back in.
Them blinding me whenever I shoulder checked was not appreciated.

The nights are now drawing in and I would have hoped people would remember how to drive in the dark.

Has anyone else experienced something similar recently?

NB: I must point out that most drivers are very polite in the dark and do dim their lights when they see me. I also do the same with my light.

 

[goody]

I don't ride on unlit country roads much but when I have I wasn't to worried about the cars behind not dimming their lights only the oncoming ones. I was using one of those ebay magicshine type front lights and most oncoming cars did dim theirs eventually.

 

[the_mikey]

I can sympathise with car drivers, on an unlit road, dimmed lights don't give you a view of anything much, and it could be that the driver thought the full beam was helpful to make sure they can see the road ahead allowing them to pass safely.

 

[bianchi1]

I don't get it? Why should a car dip its headlights if its coming from behind?

 

[Matthew_T]

I don't get it? Why should a car dip its headlights if its coming from behind?

Because when wearing glasses, it causes glare. And if I wanted to turn right, full lights make it difficult to determine how fast the car is approaching. It also blinds you a little when you shoulder check.

 

[gaz]

I keep thinking these new xeon type lights are on full when driving in the dark but it turns out they aren't and my eyes are just being sensitive to the bright light.

As for your issue, I take it this was on a road with no lights. Have you had much driving experience on country lanes with no lights? It's pretty hard to do with just standard lights at anything above 30mph, it's probably unusual for drivers to come across cyclists in this situation, so they didn't know what to do and they certainly can't do what they are used to when a vehicle like a car is in front of them, which is following the car in front and using his lights as a way to see. And if you think about it this way, most bicycles don't have mirrors so the driver might think that he won't blind you by having them on.

In your situation I would say the shoulder checks aren't really necessary, you know the car is behind you, so don't blind your self. As for the overtake, well that is obviously stupid but couldn't you have positioned yourself better to prevent such an overtake on a corner?

 

[bianchi1]

In all my years of commuting at night, wearing glasses and turning right I can honestly never remember a single instance where I have been dazzled by a car approaching from behind.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

Well we all need eyes in the back of our head

 

[Matthew_T]

I keep thinking these new xeon type lights are on full when driving in the dark but it turns out they aren't and my eyes are just being sensitive to the bright light.

I had that a lot too. Its really hard to tell especially when a big 4x4 has them.

 

[Lanzecki]

I don't get it? Why should a car dip its headlights if its coming from behind?

On the back road I cycle I sometimes welcome full beam from a following car. Even though I have a 1600 Lux or Lumem (I forget) front light. That said, it can be quite disconcerting when shoulder checking and all you get is bright lights.

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

 

[bianchi1]

On the back road I cycle I sometimes welcome full beam from a following car. Even though I have a 1600 Lux or Lumem (I forget) front light. That said, it can be quite disconcerting when shoulder checking and all you get is bright lights.

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

Absolutely. A full beam light from behind is often a help when cycling.

And of course I dip my lights when I'm driving and following a car, motorbike (anything with fitted mirrors).

My pet hate is drivers using rear fog lights in the dark.

 

[Lanzecki]

Absolutely. A full beam light from behind is often a help when cycling.

And of course I dip my lights when I'm driving and following a car, motorbike (anything with fitted mirrors).

My pet hate is drivers using rear fog lights in the dark.

Sorry mate, I wasn't pointing at you in particular. More of a generalisation.

Ireland's biggest issue is people using front fogs all the time. Followed by not dimming their lights, followed by... The list is endless.

 

[HLaB]

I wear glasses and I welcome a driver behind who doesn't dip their lights,; they can see me better and I can use their beam to see ahead better. It also means that a distant approaching car (the real hazard IMO dips their lights earlier.

 

[Kookas]

And of course I dip my lights when I'm driving and following a car, motorbike (anything with fitted mirrors).

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

 

[cyberknight]

In all my years of commuting at night, wearing glasses and turning right I can honestly never remember a single instance where I have been dazzled by a car approaching from behind.

+1
In fact its a bonus as you can see more road .