Duff Headlights - Rant

mike20 · 25th February 2008, 12:41

Driving yesterday evening (through Sutton Coldfield - West Midlands) I was dazzled by a car following me with just one headlight working. I actually had to use my rear mirror dimmer rather than the usually reliable rear spoiler.
Then another car with just one headlight came the other way, so it grabbed my attention.
In about a three mile journey I saw 8 cars with one headlight not working. Two followed me.

Was I just unlucky or is this a growing problem?
And why is it that when a car has one headlight not working, the other one seems twice as bright?

Perhaps it that the police are relying on cameras too much and not enough patrols, so people are getting away with it more.

allan40alt · 25th February 2008, 13:11

We came back from Rayleigh the other day and I was amazed at the number of cars with just one headlight working on the M1. It was the same with the rear lights.

Thing is; these cars were doing 90+ mph in the fast lane!!

Idiots!!

Kremmen · 25th February 2008, 13:18

The number I see with misaligned dipped headlights is also quite large - and a pain.

I can only assume that it's bad accident repairing mixed with an out of date MOT.

Any car, regardless of age with dipped headlight(s) - that aren't, should be made to get them sorted and then sent to an MOT station to get the work checked.

Lack of Traffic plod is definately a problem.

Unknownsoldier · 25th February 2008, 13:55

It is one of my pet hates, is one light working, as in darkness it can look like a motorcycle, it also dazzles quite often.

Tom

TTDegs · 25th February 2008, 18:48

My Dad occasionally regales me with the fact that I almost wasn't here becuase of this very problem...

More than 40 odd years ago, he was going to overtake a lorry on a (wide) A road, even though there was a bike coming in the opposite direction (loads of room apparently).

Yes, the 'bike' turned out to be a car with only the passenger side light working.

He was on his way to a first date with the girl who is my Mum

HondaRob · 25th February 2008, 18:57

Goodarticle on the telegraph about this sometime ago...:

Headlights: Let there be lights - Telegraph

R.

mike20 · 26th February 2008, 12:24

Good article in the Telegraph, I hadn't considered the difficulty in changing bulbs in modern cars, however I still think that this is a poor excuse.

I too recall an incident a few years ago when I attemped to overtake a lorry on a dark road and only when I was too far to turn back, the outline of a large old furniture removal lorry came into view. Both headlights were working but they were no brighter than a couple of candles behind smoked glass.
It was only of those heartstopping, close your eyes, breath in and go for it type moments. Its strange how you think that breathing in is going to somehow make you car narrower.

Sorry, gone off my own thread a little.

alanwalne · 26th February 2008, 12:30

As long as the ANPR can read your number plate, it appears to be OK.

Something I read last winter made me mad....... The fine for having your number plate obscured by snow is higher than not clearing your windows

This country is being set up for policing by camera.

With regards to maladjusted headlights, I wonder how many are due to people bending the clips when trying to fit lights into the tiny gaps

25th February 2008, 12:41	#1 (permalink)
mike20 Wheelnut Join Date: 7th September 2007 Location: West Midlands UK Posts: 63 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Duff Headlights - Rant Driving yesterday evening (through Sutton Coldfield - West Midlands) I was dazzled by a car following me with just one headlight working. I actually had to use my rear mirror dimmer rather than the usually reliable rear spoiler. Then another car with just one headlight came the other way, so it grabbed my attention. In about a three mile journey I saw 8 cars with one headlight not working. Two followed me. Was I just unlucky or is this a growing problem? And why is it that when a car has one headlight not working, the other one seems twice as bright? Perhaps it that the police are relying on cameras too much and not enough patrols, so people are getting away with it more.

25th February 2008, 13:11	#2 (permalink)
allan40alt Supporter Civinfo guru Join Date: 6th August 2006 Location: Rugby, Warwickshire. Posts: 2,246 Thanks: 12 Thanked 33 Times in 31 Posts iTrader: (0)	We came back from Rayleigh the other day and I was amazed at the number of cars with just one headlight working on the M1. It was the same with the rear lights. Thing is; these cars were doing 90+ mph in the fast lane!! Idiots!! Last edited by allan40alt; 25th February 2008 at 13:13.

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This thread is about: Duff Headlights - Rant, it's in Any non Civic chat here please! at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; Driving yesterday evening (through Sutton Coldfield - West Midlands) I was dazzled by a car following me with just one headlight working. I actually had ...

25th February 2008, 13:18	#3 (permalink)
Kremmen Krem de la Krem Civinfo guru Join Date: 7th January 2007 Location: West London Posts: 2,634 Thanks: 8 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts iTrader: (0)	The number I see with misaligned dipped headlights is also quite large - and a pain. I can only assume that it's bad accident repairing mixed with an out of date MOT. Any car, regardless of age with dipped headlight(s) - that aren't, should be made to get them sorted and then sent to an MOT station to get the work checked. Lack of Traffic plod is definately a problem.

25th February 2008, 13:55	#4 (permalink)
Unknownsoldier Comedian/Smart Ase Civinfo guru* Join Date: 22nd September 2007 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 2,454 Thanks: 56 Thanked 26 Times in 24 Posts iTrader: (0)	It is one of my pet hates, is one light working, as in darkness it can look like a motorcycle, it also dazzles quite often. Tom

25th February 2008, 18:48	#5 (permalink)
TTDegs Super Moderator Civinfo master Join Date: 4th August 2006 Location: Cardiff Posts: 5,638 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader: (0)	My Dad occasionally regales me with the fact that I almost wasn't here becuase of this very problem... More than 40 odd years ago, he was going to overtake a lorry on a (wide) A road, even though there was a bike coming in the opposite direction (loads of room apparently). Yes, the 'bike' turned out to be a car with only the passenger side light working. He was on his way to a first date with the girl who is my Mum

25th February 2008, 18:57	#6 (permalink)
HondaRob Wheelnut Join Date: 4th May 2007 Location: Midlands Posts: 79 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Goodarticle on the telegraph about this sometime ago...: Headlights: Let there be lights - Telegraph R.

26th February 2008, 12:24	#7 (permalink)
mike20 Wheelnut Join Date: 7th September 2007 Location: West Midlands UK Posts: 63 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Good article in the Telegraph, I hadn't considered the difficulty in changing bulbs in modern cars, however I still think that this is a poor excuse. I too recall an incident a few years ago when I attemped to overtake a lorry on a dark road and only when I was too far to turn back, the outline of a large old furniture removal lorry came into view. Both headlights were working but they were no brighter than a couple of candles behind smoked glass. It was only of those heartstopping, close your eyes, breath in and go for it type moments. Its strange how you think that breathing in is going to somehow make you car narrower. Sorry, gone off my own thread a little.

26th February 2008, 12:30	#8 (permalink)
alanwalne Who needs a 4x4?? Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 11th June 2007 Location: Kent Posts: 991 Thanks: 4 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts iTrader: (0)	As long as the ANPR can read your number plate, it appears to be OK. Something I read last winter made me mad....... The fine for having your number plate obscured by snow is higher than not clearing your windows This country is being set up for policing by camera. With regards to maladjusted headlights, I wonder how many are due to people bending the clips when trying to fit lights into the tiny gaps