The nights are closing in and the weather is getting bad, ( loads of heavy rain).
so why do people still insist on driving without lights.
I have done my own survey (Looking at cars and drivers coming towards me). And I am certain that the most uncompliant drivers out there who do not use their lights are women and young people.
I today passed a small hyundai getz, that was been driven by a woman who looked like she was in her late 20′s. at this time it was the worst rain i have seen for months and i could hardly see apart from lights coming towards me, which were a fair way away. This was while driving on the n78 going towards Athy in a 100km zone.
Well i over took her and was about 100m infront of her when i looked around and could not see her anymore.
Now imagine a car, (normal size i.e. bigger than a getz) travelling in the opposite direction on the n78, ( in the same weather conditions ) and this driver decides to overtake the car in front of them, and they see nothing on the other side of the road, so they pull out and wham, the car has a new hood ornament.
Why cant these idiots just turn their lights on, it takes a simple flick of the wrist.
No matter when i drive or where i drive a soon as i get on my bike or in my car I turn my lights on.
11 Comments
So you overtook her in the worst rain you’d seen in months? Your imagined car coming in the opposite direction could just as well not have had their lights on and it was you who could have had a new hood ornament. Any though of that before you passed out??
yes, its tru, but i could see lights coming towards me at a decent distance, if there was a car with no lights coming towards me they would have blocked the lights of the oncoming car.
but just the same it would have been a horrible needless accident if all drivers use their head and think of others.
I think its the law in Denmark isn’t it? I always drive with my lights on, it wastes more petrol but a silver car along with a grey road and 80% of the time a grey sky means I blend in a little too well – its the safer choice
again…why were you over taking in the “worst rain you’ve seen in months”, hmmmmm i’ve a feeling the woman in the hyundai getz will be starting a post entitled “sap who overtook me in really heavy rain”!!
Most people seem to think that lights are only to help you see your way, so if it’s not dark enough that you can’t see they won’t turn them on.
In reality lights are mean to help you to be seen too – is there not something in the rules of the road about turning on your dipped headlights in periods of low visibility (.e.g. heavy rain) and during twilight and dawn when the Sun is low? I don’t have the latest copy yet, but surely if it’s not there, it should be.
There are always advisories on the radio traffic reports about turning on your dipped headlights, but I guess people don’t listen…
I personally always have my dipped headlights on, makes more sense in the end, just in case.
We are supposed to be an intelligent species but it appears infact that we are actually quite stupid. Almost certainly some dim-light activated technology (which I think already exists) will be eventually fitted to cars to turn on lights automatically in dim light and dangerous conditions for us because too many of us can’t figure it out for ourselves. Maybe there should be some sort of intelligence test attached to the driving test (joke!! – before I get flamed by the PC lobby).
there is a sensor fitted to some motors to help stoopid people to decide if it dark enough for lights,theres also one for the wipers if you cant decide if its raining enough.people are afraid to waste petrol by having their lights on but the extra fuel comsumption is negligible.Ive seen at least 4 FATAL accidents in poor visibility so the message is clear TURN ON YOUR LIGHTS it may save your life.
I’m sure at least a few people that are afraid of their headlights for fear of using up extra fuel are the same ones that have one (or two) of those GAA flags attached to their car.
These little beauties will knock about 5mpg off your fuel economy.
I had to laugh one time, when I saw a taxi using a 4×4, with two GAA flags attached! Now there is someone that doesn’t care about what mpg they are getting
As a counter to those who try to save the battery by refusing to turn on their lights to allow their cars be seen in bad driving conditions, we also have those who drive with their fog lights blazing, morning, noon and night.
I haven’t decided yet if this is because
a: they don’t know the car is equipped with fog lights
b: they do realise this, but have no idea where the switch that operates said lights is situated, or
c: they are so delighted with the fog lights that they insist on having them switched on at all times.
If, as a punishment for this really annoying habit, these drivers were forced to drive, for long periods, being blindied by rear fog light(s), it might cure them of this – but, given the standard of driving in general – I doubt it.
My opinion would be that if any of these clowns can’t even put on their lights in driving rain or when needed then, WHY in god’s name are they allowed on our roads??
Cos any fool is allowed on our roads.Just buy a licence(is it still 12 euros)and off you go.