To dip or not to dip, that is the question.

[Nigel-YZ1]

I remember driving across the Woodhead Pass in a 2 year old car in the dark for the first time. The nearside headlight was pointing upwards.
When I had it fixed I was informed that manufacturers aren't that bothered about aligning them very well, and it's left to the first MOT to fix it!

Another problem today is the inclusion of indicators in the same cluster as the headlights, making them harder to see.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Had another non-dipper tonight. Quite hair-raising when you're doing 30mph down hill on a narrow unlit and unmarked country road. I was lucky not to fall off as I almost hit the verge on the OTHER side of the road - I was slowing down, but truly couldn't see a thing.

Just because I aren't in a car/van/truck/bus doesn't mean I have less need for the sense of sight.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Just because I aren't in a car/van/truck/bus doesn't mean I have less need for the sense of sight.

But to a certain type of motorist that sentence translates as

Just I because I aren't in a car/van/truck I don't exist.

 

[fenlandpsychocyclist]

My regular evening rides take me across the fens ... one particular stretch of road is 5 miles in absolute total darkness, dead straight, hardly
any trees or bushes, and frequent motorists 2-3 miles away on full beam!!
I have two of these on the bars, 1 beaming 10 feet ahead, and the other beaming 30 feet ahead (35 lux):

And to get a motorist to go to dipped beam a mile away, i have this on my helmet.
It can be focused from full road flood to narrow spot, the optics are very much like a projector (no dimpled reflector):

This headlight has stopped a few smidsys in their tracks recently, including a police car. The trouble is ... you can dazzle yourself if you
turn your head towards the average road sign!!

 

[col]

Its normal behaviour Im afraid. Iv now got that sick of being dazzled by ignorant oncoming traffic, my high beam doesnt go off till theirs do. you would be surprised how quick they dip now.

 

[ComedyPilot]

It's a puzzling one, I am clearly lit up, and colleagues have commented on (and complimented) my visibility, yet 'some' motorists still don't dip. Don't they realise just how blinding their lights are?

I suppose the question is - Why?

Is it because some of them see us as nothing more than pedestrians, with no need to dip?

Is it because the don't see us?

Or is it a 'punishment' for not paying road tax and riding on the pavement and RLJ'ing?

 

[col]

It's a puzzling one, I am clearly lit up, and colleagues have commented on (and complimented) my visibility, yet 'some' motorists still don't dip. Don't they realise just how blinding their lights are?

I suppose the question is - Why?

Is it because some of them see us as nothing more than pedestrians, with no need to dip?

Is it because the don't see us?

Or is it a 'punishment' for not paying road tax and riding on the pavement and RLJ'ing?

Your assuming its done on purpose and targeting you. Take solice that they dont dislike you and are just being nasty to you,they are not, its done to everyone.

 

[lukesdad]

Cree on a rubber bar mount quick flick of the finger job done.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Its normal behaviour Im afraid. Iv now got that sick of being dazzled by ignorant oncoming traffic, my high beam doesnt go off till theirs do. you would be surprised how quick they dip now.

Uncle Phil posted a good point a while back, that blinding the driver is not a good idea, as they are trying to control tons of metal at high speed.

I do the Highway Code recommended action of slowing down and stopping if I have to.

Trouble is, it almost always happens on narrow unmarked country roads, and equally frustrating (for the driver sometimes) I actually end up stopped in front of them, which stops them (slows them down ), and provides me with the opportunity to get off my bike, walk to the driver's window (shielding my eyes) and tell them why I stopped.

Then I shine my Petzl 4 LED headtorch in their eyes and ride off.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Your assuming its done on purpose and targeting you. Take solice that they dont dislike you and are just being nasty to you,they are not, its done to everyone.

It takes a deliberate action to put lights on full beam lights last I knew, and the fact they dip for cars in front of me and then, when passed, put them up again to melt my retinas - I could be excused for being a little paranoid/pissed off.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Cree on a rubber bar mount quick flick of the finger job done.

[CP goes to Google Cree]

 

[col]

I dont blind them, as soon as they dip i do. I nearly had an accident not long ago from being blinded, im not letting that happen again.

 

[col]

It takes a deliberate action to put lights on full beam lights last I knew, and the fact they dip for cars in front of me and then, when passed, put them up again to melt my retinas - I could be excused for being a little paranoid/pissed off.

I see it all the time, it happens like that to all things on the road.

 

[col]

If you can't dazzle them, then they don't care. It is only the fact that other car drivers can retaliate that makes some car drivers behave. From this you could draw the conclusion that the human race is ultimately doomed.

My God I agree.

 

[col]

Toss a coin and the looser has to change their mind or live with it?

Oh and we are all ultimately doomed too.