Why is it in these misty murky conditions do so many people drive around without lights, or more stupidly sidelights.

Just too dumb to realise lights should be on.
To self absorbed that they don't realise theirs aren't on, even though all around do.
Think it's not necessary. "I can see ok"
Think they are paying for them.

As for people with DRL's. lights up front but no rear lights!

Bad enough on urban roads, but on faster roads and motorways.........


Sorry, rant over.
I'll get my coat.... Andy
Freelander2 HSE (59 Plate, MY10 spec)

First rule of driving INFORMATION.
A lot of people seem ignorant of NOT giving other
drivers a clear view of themselves at all,
Wipers on = lights on,
Dull/misty = lights on
low bright sun light behind = lights on,
It's a no brainer.
And to add to your rant,, INDICATORS, why do people not use
their indicators!  DAVE.

Andy,

I don't think that this will improve your outlook on the world but I will share my experience.


Because of the climate where I live we can get heavy fog in low areas and clear roads in slightly higher elevations.

When this happens the traffic on the motorway will slow down to a crawl and because it is still moving you won't see brake lights.


As you can imagine this causes a lot of accidents.


Over here most cars don't have a rear fog light so that won't help
(I know the Germans would demand that you turn on the rear fog light)

I am originally from a different part of the country and where I am from if you are going to drive very slowly on the motorway then you need to turn on your hazard lights (4 way flashers? I am not sure what you call them)

So when I get in this situation that is what I do but the people that are from here don't do anything.

They just slow down from 65 to 5 and wait for someone to crash into them.

Take care

Paul

Dave47 wrote:

And to add to your rant,, INDICATORS, why do people not use
their indicators!

And whilst we are on the subject... Why is it that the British new car buyer appear to be drawn to a car in a colour that is almost indistinguishable from the natural shade of the clouds? And why is it that it is inevitably these cars that do not switch their lights on... Why...!?

another thing I notice as the nights are dark, how many newish cars have their head lights on but they are very dim, its not the 1970s anymore, they cant all have an alternator fault, the lights on my HSE are very bright  2017 SEAT Ateca 4drive 2.0 xcellence (May 2022 -
2007 HSE with HST bodykit in Zermatt Silver 169,700 miles (dec 2016 - May 2022 )
2007 Honda Civic Type S GT (2012-2017)
2002 Mini Cooper S (2008-2012)
1992 Honda Legend 3.2i (2003-2008)
1990 Honda Concerto (1999-2003)
1985 Honda Accord (1997-1999)
1983 Honda Accord (1993-1997)
1983 Mini Mayfair (1988-1993)
1974 Mini 1000 (1979-1986)

My pet hate is the lack of indicators when exiting a roundabout = are they staying on or coming off. How many near misses do we see.  MY 09 GS manual in Lago Grey, Wood Co arm rest and side bumper strips - now sold.

MY 15 SD4 SE Auto Orkney Grey with colour coded Bumper Door Mouldings

I put a lot of the blame on automation.

Auto this and auto that and in particular auto headlights.

If for some reason the lights have been turned off when the driver would normally leave them in auto they don't always notice.
After all how many times when driving around an area with street lights do you wonder if your own lights are on as you can't see any difference on the road.

Tenet, we have a large roundabout near us, (St Nicholas-at- Wade0 with five exits,
it is the first roundabout/major hazard for any one coming out of the London area,
ie. A2, M2 and A299.
to many drivers take the roundabout far to fast, not only giving any one a chance to enter,
(HGV's use the inner approach lane and go wide with car drivers going wherever and generally
no dam indicators!
It is a black spot with a high number of accidents. DAVE.

andyk159 wrote:

As for people with DRL's. lights up front but no rear lights!

Click image to enlarge

some years ago, one member put bulbs into the rear lamp cluster. Whilst these are not DRLs, they do give a red lamp to both side and rear. Wired up to ignition +ve feed from the boot fuse box.

DEG5Y wrote:

I put a lot of the blame on automation.

Auto this and auto that and in particular auto headlights.

If for some reason the lights have been turned off when the driver would normally leave them in auto they don't always notice.
After all how many times when driving around an area with street lights do you wonder if your own lights are on as you can't see any difference on the road.

there is NO legal requirement, for manufactures to deploy rear DRLs.

my [poor] brother has a brand new Seat, which he took me out for a spin recently. He thought his new vehicle had rear DRLs, until I proved to him it didn't.

I always thought it illegal to have only front lights illuminated and not the r ear - obviously I am wrong, but who in the automotive world thought it would be a good idea to have just front lights and not rear?

In reality DRL are designed to be obvious in bright daylight, so they will dazzle oncoming traffic at night - that's why they dim when driving lights are on. So maybe the thinking was force drivers to put their lights on by not having rear lights. Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

@Andy131
So maybe the thinking was force drivers to put their lights on by not having rear lights.

They assumed there was a level of understanding, which clearly isn't there. Jules

Sons 2014 vw polo has dipped beam headlights and tail lights on as drls permanently. Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

2014 Orkney grey Freelander SD4 GS.
2004 Zambezi silver Discovery 2 Td5 (Gone)
1963 Surf blue Morris Mini Minor Super de Luxe (my little toy)