Automatic Headlights - Fog - Idiots

[sunny-dave]

I've done a couple of hundred miles on foggy motorways and A roads this week - most of the time it was bad enough to need my hi-intensity rears on for safety.

Yet there were dozens (hundreds?) of newish cars - top of the range models usually - with no rear lights on at all, and only 'running lights' at the front (if anything).

I was chuntering away at the idiocy of these people when I twigged the problem - my Audi didn't think it was dark enough in the bright, daylight fog to need any lights on at all - so I had switched them on manually.

I presume the idiots driving along in a misty shroud had forgotten (if they ever knew) where the light switch is and that they are legally responsible for using it in conditions of reduced visibility.

A growing problem as more car lighting systems are automated it seems.

[bhg481]

and don't forget to switch it off when the visibility improves.

[Hopkirk]

Cactus, I take your point, but I don't agree that the rear lights would have to be brighter during the day.

Just make it compulsory that the rear lights be on all the time at normal intensity and the problem is solved.

[cactusdriver]

I understand what you are saying, Hopkirk, but then the number plate would have to permanently illuminated and then folks would not use headlamps in poor conditions if they knew their rear lights were lit and the rear fog lamp only works when the healamps are on.....

[Old_Geezer]

I hadn't realised there was such a problem. I'm more aware of folk having "dazzling" fog lights on when it's either clear or minimal mist not affecting seeing others.

[Hopkirk]

I would ban the fitting of front headlights myself, they serve little useful purpose, and I am fed up with being dazzled by them in good visibility.

[bhg481]

I hope you meant foglights, Hoppy. If so, I agree. With modern headlights they are a complete waste of time.

[ToraToraTora]

almost as bad as the numpties driving about with fog lights on all the time!

[Hopkirk]

Oops, yes, I meant foglights!

[melv16]

I'd also like to see cruise control banned. Drivers on motorways are now braking to slow down(to disable the cruise control) instead of lifting off on the accelerator. This can be quite concerning when driving at over 70mph.

[bhg481]

How do you know? Can you see the driver's feet from your car? There is a breed of drivers who do not think ahead and drive too close to the car in front; when that car slows down they have to brake. I find that I rarely brake on motorways.

[SlackAlice]

Most of all the problems caused as mentioned in previous posts would be solved by drivers actually reading and understanding the cars manual. I get quite annoyed at how many drivers don't bother to read it and understand how 'automatic' lighting and 'cruise control' work.

I quite like my cars cruise control and I have a simple button under my left hand to disable/enable it.

[Retrochic]

Well I'm off for my weekly hospital appointment and its thick fog here, so I will endure 20 miles of drivers who think because they can 'see' in the fog they don't need any form of lights front or back, walkers who wear dark clothing while walking dark dogs on long leads on country roads without pavements, and middle aged lycra clad death wish bicycle riding morons with enough flashing red led lights on their backsides to send Morse code messages to Mars. On the other hand I could take the helicopter.....;-)

[Zacs-Master]

Melv, lifting off on the accelerator does not disable cruise control. With cruise control on, you don't need to touch the accelerator......that's the whole point of it.

[Hopkirk]

I don't think that's what Melv meant.

[Playbill]

Possibly a coincidence, but most of the cars I saw - or nearly didn't! - in the fog that did not have lights on were grey, silver, black or blue. Excellent colours to merge in with the murky conditions.

[melv16]

Zacs. When the cruise control is engaged the only way of slowing down is to press the brake pedal or disengaging it. Many drivers use the former, causing the vehicles behind to brake unnecessarily.

[Zacs-Master]

'When the cruise control is engaged the only way of slowing down is to press the brake pedal or disengaging it.'

Completely incorrect. There is a '+' and '-' button with which to adjust speed up or down.

[bhg481]

If car A (using cruise control) needs to slow down it doesn't matter how he does it, car B (behind him) also has to slow down. Touching the brakes lets him know in good time that A is slowing down so that B can be ready to take the appropriate action (not necessarily braking).

[melv16]

It would be much simpler and safer to lift off on the accelerator. BTW, where is your right foot positioned when CC is engaged?

[Hopkirk]

Your foot is on the floor, just by the brake pedal, Melv. Perfectly safe.

Also all cruise controls that I have experienced have an off button of some sort, so you don't have to brake to cancel it.