Headlamp converters

[happy_face]

I plan to drive in Europe in the summer and I have just been reading up about it. It says I should get headlamp converters for driving on the right hand side of the car. What on earth is this/does this mean?

It is not the same headlights regardless of which side of the road I drive?

First time I've ever heard of this. I'm only going on a short holiday not a permanent thing

[craft1948]

it's the direction your heaflights dip isn't it?

[pbeach]

You might not have realised this, but When you drive on the right your headlights dip to the right and vice-versa for when you drive on the left. If you do not want to annoy your continental cousins, you should change the way your lights "dip". This is typically done by sticking some black plastic on the relevant part of the headlight.

[ChuckFickens]

Go to halfords and get a European driving pack.

it will have a warning triangle, a high vis jacket, spare bulbs and the stick on headlamp converters.

All the above are legal requirements in some or all parts of Europe when driving (if in France make sure you keep the high vis jacket inside the car so you can reach it without leaving the car too)

[sigma]

What pbeach means is that on rh drive cars the headlight dips to the left and lh drive cars the headlight dips to the right. Therefore a rh drive car on the right hand side of the road would dazzle oncoming traffic even though on dipped beam. The headlight converter doesn't cause the headlight to dip the opposite way but blanks out that part of the headlight beam that would normally dazzle oncoming traffic.

[chazza]

We drove through Europe last year and were able to buy the kits in garages. They were just a couple of clear discs that were stuck on a certain part of the headlight depending on the model of the car (the instructions tell you exactly where to put them)

[happy_face]

aha!!!! most helpful answers.

thank you so much.

ChuckFickens, I am intrigued by your high vis jacket. Why would I need that? Is it in case of breakdown? I've never heard of that being compulsory before. That's why I love this site, you learn something new every day :-)

[dachse]

The information given here is correct for most types of headlamps, however if you have the HID projector type lamps these cannot be converted by stick-on patches. Usually vehicles with HID lamps will have a small switch mechanism on/in the lamp itself which when activated brings in a shade to block the unwanted light. This switch may be referred to as a Dover/Calais switch in the handbook.

[sigma]

High viz jackets are now compulsory in France in the event of breakdown

[ChuckFickens]

happy_face,

As stigma said Hi vis jackets are compulsory when driving in france, and they have to be in reach of the driver without leaving the car, so no good leaving it in the boot!

Though it is also just simply a very sensible idea to carry one in your car at all times, have you ever had to change a wheel at the side of the road in the dark... trust me you will feel happier doing it wearing a hi vis jacket (and have the added bonus of always being prepared for a surprise rave)

[Buenchico]

While your original question has been answered, it occurs to me that you might need to read up on the requirements for driving abroad:
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/ index.html

In France, driving a vehicle without both a hi-vis jacket and a warning triangle can result in an on-the-spot fine of between �90 and �135. Having a radar detector in the vehicle (even if not in use) is also an offence.

Watch out, in France, for 'priorit� � droite'. Unless there are signs to the contrary, vehicles entering the flow of traffic from your right have priority. (i.e. you can be driving along a main road with another vehicle joining from a side turning. Unless otherwise signed, that driver is allowed to pull out in front of you. You must give way):
http://haycox.blogspot.com/2004/08/priorite-dr oit.html

Remember also that speed limits in France (other than in urban areas) are automatically lower when it's wet.

Chris