Motorised vehicles with defective lights.

[goo_mason]

I can see how you might not realise a rear bulb has gone, but really can't understand how anyone can drive round with broken headlamps.

Probably for the same reason that many drive around untaxed, uninsured or even unlicensed - because it's easy to get away with and the chances of being stopped for it are remote.

 

[doog]

There seem to be more and more each year. It's almost 1 in 5 now - either headlights, rear lights or brake lights.

1 IN 5 ?

No way......that is so totally wrong

 

[goo_mason]

1 IN 5 ?

No way......that is so totally wrong

I said 'Almost..'

Around here it is. I've taken to counting them.

 

[doog]

I said 'Almost..'

Around here it is. I've taken to counting them.

edit

that is a grim figure . probably not worth the arguing as we live in different parts of the world

 

[mr_cellophane]

Brake lights I can understand a little more as they are hard to check on your own

Nonsense, I check mine with a quick dab on the brakes when I am stopped in traffic with a nice shiny bus behind me.
I told a policeman a couple of weeks ago that he had a brake light out. He didn't seem too bothered about it
Saw a car last week and the reversing lights came on instead of the brake ones. Bit off putting when doing 60 on the M25

 

[mcshroom]

Nonsense, I check mine with a quick dab on the brakes when I am stopped in traffic with a nice shiny bus behind me.

I can't remember the last time I was in that situation, we don't get stuck in traffic that much out here

 

[lukesdad]

I said 'Almost..'

Around here it is. I've taken to counting them.

You count car headlights ?

 

[goo_mason]

You count car headlights ?

I'm multi-talented, me! It's one of my many skills...

 

[Browser]

Z'fafr as I know it's the driver's responsibility to ensure they work each and every time they go out. Before someone flames me for that, I'm not saying 'thou shalt check thy lights before every journey', just that if the poliss stop you and one doesn't work, unless you can categorically state that you checked them before setting off then you won't really have a leg to stand on.
One thing I can't understand, back in 1988-89 I had a 1982 Fiat Strada Super 85 with a warning light system built in. The dash had a little car schematic in the instrument binacle which showed a warning light if a lamp was out. Now, considering this was a used Italian car with the usual reliable eletrical system, this worked properly, and the two or three times I had a lamp fail it showed on the panel. Why can't modern cars have this facility?

 

[slowmotion]

Hang about, self-righteous people....how many morons ride their bikes with no lights at all...?

 

[PBancroft]

I find it gets less as winter goes on, as people take their cars in for servicing or actually realise themselves.

 

[Jezston]

Hang about, self-righteous people....how many morons ride their bikes with no lights at all...?

Sounds like something hit a raw nerve. Had someone comment on your car's lights recently have you?

I doubt anyone posting in this thread would be riding with out lights.

 

[Bicycle]

Sounds like something hit a raw nerve. Had someone comment on your car's lights recently have you?

I doubt anyone posting in this thread would be riding with out lights.

I agree with that conjecture Jezston. Few or none on this thread (indeed forum) would ride in the dark without lights.

But we are not a representative cross-section of those who cycle. We tend to be on the keener end of the enthusiasm scale.

Similarly, few people who post on "It's hard to balance the SUs on my 1340cc Stage-B tuned Riley Kestrel" will drive with defective lights.

They are also on the keener end of said scale.

Nonetheless, SlowMotion has a point, up to a point. I see lots of unlit or poorly lit bicycles after dark. Lots and lots and lots. And lots.

I see poorly lit cars and cars with defective brake or turn signals, but I would not single out car drivers for being thoughtless in this regard.

 

[siadwell]

I'm probably even worse off than Orange above, I got a deal on a Renault Grand Scenic froma relative that was too good to pass up as my car was at that certain age when lots of things start to go wrong at once. I bought the Haynes manual and discovered that Haynes recommend that you remove the front bumper and grill assembly and take out the headlight cluster to replace the bulb if a headlight is defective!
I think it must be a cunning plan by the manufacturer to extract more money for the most mundane of repairs.

I had a Renault dealer as much as admit that their cars are designed to be flimsy so the dealers could make money on repairs.

But you don't need to take the bumper off to replace either headlight bulb on a Scenic (not the Mk2 anyway). The driver's side is easy if you remove the washer bottle pipe and the other side needs some dismantling of the battery cover (I found out how on Google) and thin arms. Just don't drop the metal bit that goes around the bulb and locks it in place...

 

[fossyant]

Plenty of cars need bumper removal to change bulbs for some 'money grabbing' reason. Also lots of folk who don't have a clue about these things, so just carry on with defective lights. Got friends who we've told had faulty lights, none were 'practical' sorts, so just left it until the next service (which could be months away).