Dipped Headlights

[hellywelly4]

It's a very dull murky day. Drizzling rain. Why are there some people out there without their dipped headlights on? Either no lights at all or just driving on sidelights.
I have heard that some people think they save electricity by using their side (parking) lights. This can't be true, can it?
Don't they realise that in conditions like today they can be virtually invisible.

One of my pet hates, sorry.

[chrissa1]

Remind me never to be on a road in the dark coming towards you, with just your sidelights on bednobs. You'd be heading for the ditch.

[Zeuhl]

Bednobs lol

i think you'll find that <<on a little bit and on>> IS side lights and dipped headlights
.

[bednobs]

ok, i got confused by "dipped" surely headlights are just "on" when they are on normal? dipped implies you have to do something to make then dip!

[bednobs]

also why is it called "sidelights" then when the front headlights are on a bit?? they are on the front not the side!
luckily i now have a new mercedes which you can just put on "auto" and it choses for you appropriate to the conditions!

[Zeuhl]

Well first, the side lights are quite separate bulbs even if on your car they may be close to the headlights.

second, there isn't a 'normal' for headlights - just two settings; dipped or main beam

On some cars, if the headlights are switched to main beam when they are turned on they will come on that way and be so until dipped.
.

[bednobs]

ok let me get this straight.
1) you get into your car at 11 oclock at night and turn the headlights on - that's dipped?
2) you are driving home from work about 5pm and it's starting to not be all that light anymore - you put your lights on low - that's sidelights?
3) you are driving along a country roat at midnight and can't see a thing you you put your headlights on a lot - that's main beam?

[bednobs]

because if that is the case, i do all that but didn't realise the names

[Old_Geezer]

More or less. Side lights are different than headlights.

Headlights are normally driving dipped to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic, but can be switched to main if nothing is coming the other way and you feel the need to see more. Or if you see me on the motorway in front of you and think it is so funny to be a pain in the neck.

[chrissa1]

Keep up bednobs. Lol

[DTCwordfan]

Sidelights - do away with they - they are a relic of history reflecting (no pun meant)_ the old carriage lights.

Agree with all re visibility - its the law but.......especially grey and silver cars.....my mother falls into this idiot category - she just doesnt get the message.

The thing that also bugs me are the a-holes that Advanced and Defensive driving courses stress the need to see the bottom of the tyres of the car in front at stop situations.

And to owners of Volvos - why are they so safe? Because of the nutters who drive them! (Having said that, I did drive one of their SUVs for a while)

[McMouse]

No one has mentioned xenon head lights on 4x4's. Intense blueish light that burns my eyeballs when one of the bu99ers comes hurtling round a bend on our narrow country lanes.

[hellywelly4]

Seeing some of the answers, it is quite worrying, isn't it?

[Zeuhl]

My pet hate is that at level crossings the rising slope up to the gates means dipped headlights can be shining straight at the cars opposite.

I always switch off headlights if i'm that near to the gates and leave only side lights on (see they can have a purpose) but some bu99ers are oblivious or not concerned about other people's retinas.

There, i feel better now.
.

[chrissa1]

Oh, that's what they are McMouse. I hate them too.

[TWR]

I understand well your concern on the idiots driving on side lights Hellywell, I was on HGVs for a ??? of years & very near taken car's with me! the idiots where expecting me to see them with the spray that was thrown up by the trailer, it should be made legal, Rain, ( Lights) it does not take a lot of common sense does it?

[whiskeryron]

It's quite simples really,what people call side lights should be refered to as parking lights (on when you are stationary) so it figures that when your vehicle is moving in low light conditions ( even in daylight when it's misty or pouring with rain ) you should have dipped headlights on.
Another problem that is becoming quite prevalent is people at nightime leaving their premises on the wrong side of the road with headlights on shining in your face as you approach them.

[whiskeryron]

I meant parked on the wrong side of the road outside their premises with headlights on facing traffic coming towards them. Ron.

[Toureman]

For all the drivers in this thread that don't know much about driving read this...........

from a little book...........

http://www.direct.gov...Highwaycode/DG_070302