The distance you can see to be clear to stop in at night?
Discussion
Last night I was driving down a very dark section of motorway using dipped beams due to traffic on the other carriageway. The car has 'normal' headlights - nothing special but working properly and adjusted correctly.
The thing that occured to me, was that if there was a low, non reflective object blocking the road, at 70mph I very much doubt I would be able to see it, react and stop in the distance provided by the lights.
What would others do in this situation? (ignoring the merits of aftermarket HID lights for now)
The thing that occured to me, was that if there was a low, non reflective object blocking the road, at 70mph I very much doubt I would be able to see it, react and stop in the distance provided by the lights.
What would others do in this situation? (ignoring the merits of aftermarket HID lights for now)
Beyond Rational said:
Last night I was driving down a very dark section of motorway using dipped beams due to traffic on the other carriageway. The car has 'normal' headlights - nothing special but working properly and adjusted correctly.
The thing that occured to me, was that if there was a low, non reflective object blocking the road, at 70mph I very much doubt I would be able to see it, react and stop in the distance provided by the lights.
What would others do in this situation? (ignoring the merits of aftermarket HID lights for now)
I expect a great many drivers, including some advanced drivers, do not cater for the situation you describe, if they are honest about it.The thing that occured to me, was that if there was a low, non reflective object blocking the road, at 70mph I very much doubt I would be able to see it, react and stop in the distance provided by the lights.
What would others do in this situation? (ignoring the merits of aftermarket HID lights for now)
Best wishes all,
Dave.
This is a very good point. The answer is that you can't or at the least it is very difficult. Two friends of mine were killed on a stretch of road in kent a couple of years ago down to exactly this point. A police car a motorbike and a lorry were involved. The biker was also killed.
This triggered the lights for life compain (spearheaded by my friends mother)to have these types of roads illuminated. So far she has had this stretch of road lit!
Please give generously to this compain if you get the chance.
RIP guys.
This triggered the lights for life compain (spearheaded by my friends mother)to have these types of roads illuminated. So far she has had this stretch of road lit!
Please give generously to this compain if you get the chance.
RIP guys.
Beyond Rational said:
Last night I was driving down a very dark section of motorway using dipped beams due to traffic on the other carriageway. The car has 'normal' headlights - nothing special but working properly and adjusted correctly.
The thing that occured to me, was that if there was a low, non reflective object blocking the road, at 70mph I very much doubt I would be able to see it, react and stop in the distance provided by the lights.
What would others do in this situation? (ignoring the merits of aftermarket HID lights for now)
Good question to raise and one I have thought about.The thing that occured to me, was that if there was a low, non reflective object blocking the road, at 70mph I very much doubt I would be able to see it, react and stop in the distance provided by the lights.
What would others do in this situation? (ignoring the merits of aftermarket HID lights for now)
"We" are not good at seeing in the dark, unless there is no other light.
Try it, go for a walk out in the country, away from light pollution.
That's walking though, our "natural" pace.
So, we can now travel faster but needing artificial light to enable that.
The faster we want to go, the more illumination we need, why those who Rally at night, Road or Stage, bolt on as many lights as regulations allow.
Dipped though?, as you say, a real problem.
However, what I have observed is that, if the tarmac is grey, rather than black, it's easier to detect any objects in the carriageway.
Question to those who specify road surfaces?
I do think that car light designers should consider dipped beam performance more.
Or, perhaps we need some very low level, long range beams to illuminate the road surface?
Well you cant use main beam when other cars are around, but thier lights will be lighting the road to allow you to see further anyway.
When their arnt other cars, use main beam?
Oops, didnt read the OP properly, I agree about motorways, TBH I use main beams sometimes on motorways with oncoming traffic anyway.
I never had a problem with other people using main beam in on-comming traffic beams on motorways/dualcarridge ways. Yes you can tell thier lights are brighter, but they dont dazzel or blind you.
When their arnt other cars, use main beam?
Oops, didnt read the OP properly, I agree about motorways, TBH I use main beams sometimes on motorways with oncoming traffic anyway.
I never had a problem with other people using main beam in on-comming traffic beams on motorways/dualcarridge ways. Yes you can tell thier lights are brighter, but they dont dazzel or blind you.
Edited by loomx on Thursday 17th September 11:24
Edited by loomx on Thursday 17th September 11:26
loomx said:
I never had a problem with other people using main beam in on-comming traffic beams on motorways/dualcarridge ways. Yes you can tell thier lights are brighter, but they dont dazzel or blind you.
The fact you don't have a problem with oncoming main beams at night does not imply that everyone else is happy with it.I absolutely hate being dazzled, motorways or not.
And if "you can tell thier lights are brighter" your eyes have already compensated for the brighter lights, reducing what you can see in front of you even more.
Here's hoping the police see, stop and have a "word" with you to explain why you're being an idiot.
loomx said:
TBH I use main beams sometimes on motorways with oncoming traffic anyway.
I never had a problem with other people using main beam in on-comming traffic beams on motorways/dualcarridge ways. Yes you can tell thier lights are brighter, but they dont dazzel or blind you.
Please don't do this, your bright lights shining straight into the eyes of traffic coming the other way reduces their visibility. Yes, you'll be able to see more, but at the expense of everyone else seeing less?? It's not only inconvenient for other road users, its selfish and dangerous.I never had a problem with other people using main beam in on-comming traffic beams on motorways/dualcarridge ways. Yes you can tell thier lights are brighter, but they dont dazzel or blind you.
Beyond Rational said:
Last night I was driving down a very dark section of motorway using dipped beams due to traffic on the other carriageway. The car has 'normal' headlights - nothing special but working properly and adjusted correctly.
The thing that occured to me, was that if there was a low, non reflective object blocking the road, at 70mph I very much doubt I would be able to see it, react and stop in the distance provided by the lights.
What would others do in this situation? (ignoring the merits of aftermarket HID lights for now)
I was having this very same conversation with myself during a boring journey last night. I concluded that it's just not possible to stick to the golden rule when driving at night on unlit roads. Use the clues you get from other vehicles lights and main beam as often as possible, even just for a second will help. Do what you can to minimise the risk and there isn't much more can be asked of you.The thing that occured to me, was that if there was a low, non reflective object blocking the road, at 70mph I very much doubt I would be able to see it, react and stop in the distance provided by the lights.
What would others do in this situation? (ignoring the merits of aftermarket HID lights for now)
I remember a traffic cops type programme where some guy was hit and killed on an unlit section of dual carriageway. Terrible for the driver of the car that hit him, but the police said the driver couldn't have been expected to see him in the dark.
I've got factory fit HID lights and they're great at giving you more vision within the range of dipped beam, but don't really help you see any further when on dipped only.
My company 2007 Vauxhall Astra has the optional HID lights and these raise the level of the dipped beam as speed increases. They really do improve the situation on motorways, especially along the nearside where the pattern of the beam increases the range anyway. I've never been flashed by oncoming cars so must assume that they don't cause offence.
They also turn with the steering in relation to the car's speed - clever stuff but not quite so relevant to motorways!
They also turn with the steering in relation to the car's speed - clever stuff but not quite so relevant to motorways!
Distant said:
Beyond Rational said:
Last night I was driving down a very dark section of motorway using dipped beams due to traffic on the other carriageway. The car has 'normal' headlights - nothing special but working properly and adjusted correctly.
The thing that occured to me, was that if there was a low, non reflective object blocking the road, at 70mph I very much doubt I would be able to see it, react and stop in the distance provided by the lights.
What would others do in this situation? (ignoring the merits of aftermarket HID lights for now)
I was having this very same conversation with myself during a boring journey last night. I concluded that it's just not possible to stick to the golden rule when driving at night on unlit roads. Use the clues you get from other vehicles lights and main beam as often as possible, even just for a second will help. Do what you can to minimise the risk and there isn't much more can be asked of you.The thing that occured to me, was that if there was a low, non reflective object blocking the road, at 70mph I very much doubt I would be able to see it, react and stop in the distance provided by the lights.
What would others do in this situation? (ignoring the merits of aftermarket HID lights for now)
I remember a traffic cops type programme where some guy was hit and killed on an unlit section of dual carriageway. Terrible for the driver of the car that hit him, but the police said the driver couldn't have been expected to see him in the dark.
I've got factory fit HID lights and they're great at giving you more vision within the range of dipped beam, but don't really help you see any further when on dipped only.
WhoseGeneration said:
Beyond Rational said:
Last night I was driving down a very dark section of motorway using dipped beams due to traffic on the other carriageway. The car has 'normal' headlights - nothing special but working properly and adjusted correctly.
The thing that occured to me, was that if there was a low, non reflective object blocking the road, at 70mph I very much doubt I would be able to see it, react and stop in the distance provided by the lights.
What would others do in this situation? (ignoring the merits of aftermarket HID lights for now)
Good question to raise and one I have thought about.The thing that occured to me, was that if there was a low, non reflective object blocking the road, at 70mph I very much doubt I would be able to see it, react and stop in the distance provided by the lights.
What would others do in this situation? (ignoring the merits of aftermarket HID lights for now)
"We" are not good at seeing in the dark, unless there is no other light.
Try it, go for a walk out in the country, away from light pollution.
That's walking though, our "natural" pace.
So, we can now travel faster but needing artificial light to enable that.
The faster we want to go, the more illumination we need, why those who Rally at night, Road or Stage, bolt on as many lights as regulations allow.
Dipped though?, as you say, a real problem.
However, what I have observed is that, if the tarmac is grey, rather than black, it's easier to detect any objects in the carriageway.
Question to those who specify road surfaces?
I do think that car light designers should consider dipped beam performance more.
Or, perhaps we need some very low level, long range beams to illuminate the road surface?
Distant said:
loomx said:
TBH I use main beams sometimes on motorways with oncoming traffic anyway.
I never had a problem with other people using main beam in on-comming traffic beams on motorways/dualcarridge ways. Yes you can tell thier lights are brighter, but they dont dazzel or blind you.
Please don't do this, your bright lights shining straight into the eyes of traffic coming the other way reduces their visibility. Yes, you'll be able to see more, but at the expense of everyone else seeing less?? It's not only inconvenient for other road users, its selfish and dangerous.I never had a problem with other people using main beam in on-comming traffic beams on motorways/dualcarridge ways. Yes you can tell thier lights are brighter, but they dont dazzel or blind you.
Iv never really though about it affecting other people vision with thier eyes adjusting to the light, because i didnt feel like it affected me too much. But I do get where you coming from. I wont be doing it anymore.
Edited by loomx on Thursday 17th September 17:39
Beyond Rational said:
Last night I was driving down a very dark section of motorway using dipped beams due to traffic on the other carriageway. The car has 'normal' headlights - nothing special but working properly and adjusted correctly.
The thing that occured to me, was that if there was a low, non reflective object blocking the road, at 70mph I very much doubt I would be able to see it, react and stop in the distance provided by the lights.
What would others do in this situation? (ignoring the merits of aftermarket HID lights for now)
I had exactly this situation back in 2004. Travelling down the motorway late at night & a big grey object appeared in my lights. No real chance to hit the brakes & I ended up runing over the thing. As it went under the car it ripped off my sump & broke the gearbox.The thing that occured to me, was that if there was a low, non reflective object blocking the road, at 70mph I very much doubt I would be able to see it, react and stop in the distance provided by the lights.
What would others do in this situation? (ignoring the merits of aftermarket HID lights for now)
Was not a happy bunny
r-kid said:
Beyond Rational said:
Last night I was driving down a very dark section of motorway using dipped beams due to traffic on the other carriageway. The car has 'normal' headlights - nothing special but working properly and adjusted correctly.
The thing that occured to me, was that if there was a low, non reflective object blocking the road, at 70mph I very much doubt I would be able to see it, react and stop in the distance provided by the lights.
What would others do in this situation? (ignoring the merits of aftermarket HID lights for now)
I had exactly this situation back in 2004. Travelling down the motorway late at night & a big grey object appeared in my lights. No real chance to hit the brakes & I ended up runing over the thing. As it went under the car it ripped off my sump & broke the gearbox.The thing that occured to me, was that if there was a low, non reflective object blocking the road, at 70mph I very much doubt I would be able to see it, react and stop in the distance provided by the lights.
What would others do in this situation? (ignoring the merits of aftermarket HID lights for now)
Was not a happy bunny
I too have considered this problem recently when coming back from the airport at ~2am on some unlit motorway sections. Whilst for oncoming drivers HIDs are a pain, I think its one part of a modern car that has really improved the safety aspect of driving in this situation.
loomx said:
Distant said:
loomx said:
TBH I use main beams sometimes on motorways with oncoming traffic anyway.
I never had a problem with other people using main beam in on-comming traffic beams on motorways/dualcarridge ways. Yes you can tell thier lights are brighter, but they dont dazzel or blind you.
Please don't do this, your bright lights shining straight into the eyes of traffic coming the other way reduces their visibility. Yes, you'll be able to see more, but at the expense of everyone else seeing less?? It's not only inconvenient for other road users, its selfish and dangerous.I never had a problem with other people using main beam in on-comming traffic beams on motorways/dualcarridge ways. Yes you can tell thier lights are brighter, but they dont dazzel or blind you.
Iv never really though about it affecting other people vision with thier eyes adjusting to the light, because i didnt feel like it affected me too much. But I do get where you coming from. I wont be doing it anymore.
Edited by loomx on Thursday 17th September 17:39
Very nice Audi too mate
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