Motorised vehicles with defective lights.

[marinyork]

What is the panels perception of the proportion of motorised vehicles with defective lights of some sort, excluding number plate lights ( I don't count those ). My view from my commute is that it is overwhemingly cars at fault and is at something like one in ten vehicles with some sort of lighting defect.

It is hard to calculate (I've counted many times) in terms of getting fair samples and at any one time you can only see part of a car and part of it's array of lights, but I say the figure could well be as high as 20%. This would include all lights and however major/minor (might even be higher than 20%). For example one year my dad's car failed it's MOT on one indicator not being orange enough in colour, since then I've started to notice how many other cars out there might have this particular problem (and a small amount of danger involved).

The ones that worry you are where you see the same car with defective lights not once but multiple times over a period of time.

 

[snorri]

. 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).

Do people still get their cars serviced?

That was all a bit last century surely.

 

[goo_mason]

Going slightly OT here for a sec, but has anyone else been temporarily confused by some of the new vans that have orange lights sticking out of the side, where you used to get indicators on old cars? For a split-second you think it's indicating before you realise it's just a light on the body panel!

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

I drive up to the Peaks a few times a week. One light out and permanent front fog lights seem to be normal up there. I'll see 4 or 5 headlights out per 40 minute trip and probably 75% at least using front fogs.

Seems some cars these days are wired to allow fogs instead of headlights - that's strange

 

[gb155]

I noticed quite a few cars with one headlight totally out yesterday - not something I've noticed before tbh

 

[tyred]

Going slightly OT here for a sec, but has anyone else been temporarily confused by some of the new vans that have orange lights sticking out of the side, where you used to get indicators on old cars? For a split-second you think it's indicating before you realise it's just a light on the body panel!

Yes, I was confused by that at a roundabout the other day.

 

[Jezston]

I noticed quite a few cars with one headlight totally out yesterday - not something I've noticed before tbh

Notice a LOT of cars with the left headlamp looking rather dim this weekend. So much so that I ask my mum (who was driving at the time) if this was some kind of feature in cars I didn't know about.

 

[gb155]

Notice a LOT of cars with the left headlamp looking rather dim this weekend. So much so that I ask my mum (who was driving at the time) if this was some kind of feature in cars I didn't know about.

Ironic that

The ones I saw were also the left hand side ones too

 

[fossyant]

Notice a LOT of cars with the left headlamp looking rather dim this weekend. So much so that I ask my mum (who was driving at the time) if this was some kind of feature in cars I didn't know about.

Blown headlamp bulb, only sidelight one I suspect.

 

[MissTillyFlop]

THIS^^^^^^^^^

The number of times I have tapped on a car window and said "you have no working brake lights!" which often means 3 failed bulbs or a failed brake switch and the response is "yeah, thanks". No shock, no surprise, almost as if they know and don't care. The cycnical side of me wonders if it is intentional in some cases so they can get a newer car and a nice juicy personal injury claim against the poor muppet that crashes into the back of them?)

I once saw a guy with his exhaust pipe hanging down, with a shower of sparks trailing behind his car.

I pointed this out and he smiled and gave me the thumbs up and then said "I know".

Let's hope his petrol tank didn't....

 

[I like Skol]

I once flashed down a porsche I was following that was leaking petrol as he drove along the road. His response was "it's going in to be fixed tomorrow"!!!!!!!!!

 

[Archie_tect]

I have in the past tried to count the numbers of cars with defective lights and reckoned it to be about 10%. I can remember my Dad being stopped by the police to be informed he had a light not working.

I had a Beetle in the late 70s - stopped at Beattock services one winter when a traffic policemen stopped me as a headlight hadn't lit after re-starting after a break. I had a spare bulb for it so prepared to change the bulb when he tapped the lens - it came back on and stayed on - magic!

I've always carried spare bulbs and fuses- ever since my motorbike days- you never know.

 

[MissTillyFlop]

There does seem to be an increasing number of cars with only side lights on. And indicators are now apparently defunct now that we all have psychic powers of premonition.

 

[slowmotion]

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.

No raw nerve was hit and nobody has commented on my lights. Sorry to disappoint but your mind-reading powers are a tad defective.

I was just making the point that there are loads of people, about 50% round where I live, who ride bikes without lights and that perhaps cyclists shouldn't get too critical of motorists. It's the same double standard as complaining about motorists RLJing.

 

[Jezston]

What?

It's only a double standard if the cyclists complaining about cars with faulty lights are cycling with faulty lights themselves.

I don't think what you are saying makes a great deal of sense.