driving with lights on

[richierich]

I agree with you Dan, good point made to me by a Police driver on a course too, when the wipers are on so should the headlights.

But not using headlights is still not as annoying as those people who choose to use sidelights and foglamps, you know who you are! I have seen a couple of Civics doing this. Although I have used my fog lamps once when no fog, trying to get out of a really dark car park, just could not see the kerbs near to the corners, fog lamps helped then.

[GHGH]

I've said this before: A problem rises when some drivers choose to use DRL, rendering the rest less visible.

In Norway DRLs has been legislated more than 20 years. I remember I got very quickly hard wired to expecting meeting cars to have lights, and dangerously failing to see those without.

[Blaven]

I do not agree that front fog lights blind oncoming traffic as I have never had an occasion [in 30+ years of driving] to think that I was being blinded or even distracted by someones fog lights at night. Obviously rear ones do blind a bit but it is a design problem-manufacturers just need to make it more visible on the dash that they are on or have a chime/beep every 5 or 10 mins to remind drivers they are still on

[sushi_chef]

The Highway Codes take on this is interesting...

The first line of point 93 really shocked me though!!



93: You MUST

• use headlights at night, except on restricted roads (those with street lights not more than 185 metres (600 feet) apart and which are generally subject to a speed limit of 30 mph)
• use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 201).
• ensure all sidelights and rear registration plate lights are lit at night.
  Laws RVLR regs 24 & 25 & RV(R&L)R reg 19

94: You MUST NOT

• use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users
• use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves to avoid dazzling other road users.
  Law RVLR reg 27

95: You should also

• use dipped headlights, or dim-dip if fitted, at night in built-up areas and in dull daytime weather, to ensure that you can be seen
• keep your headlights dipped when overtaking until you are level with the other vehicle and then change to main beam if necessary, unless this would dazzle oncoming traffic
• slow down, and if necessary stop, if you are dazzled by oncoming headlights.

http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/08.htm#93

SS

[Charles_Harding]

Originally Posted by sushi_chef

The Highway Codes take on this is interesting...

The first line of point 93 really shocked me though!!



93: You MUST

• use headlights at night, except on restricted roads (those with street lights not more than 185 metres (600 feet) apart and which are generally subject to a speed limit of 30 mph)

I think that they are referring to Main Beam headlights there!

"Marriage is a punishment for shop lifting in some countries!"

Charles H.

[Pottsy]

The first line of 93 doesn't say main beam, it just says "headlights". But luckily I would consider darkness as a serious reduction in visibility, so the next line has it covered.

[TTDegs]

But isn't the point that with street lights that close together, visibility wouldn't be reduced?

[WoolyCiv]

It's all designed to allow you to be pulled over whenever the polce want to.

Its a strange thing when the highway code is quoted as I remember in the dim and distant past when I was learning to drive being told that the highway code as its name implies is a code of conduct, it is not the law.