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Car lights...

(44 Posts)
Tegan2 Sat 10-Feb-18 00:15:21

I've been doing quite a lot of night driving recently and have realised that about one in ten cars have faulty headlights. Is it just happening in the area that I live [East Midlands]? I thought the police used to pull people over for things like that, but I never see any police cars these days. One car was a taxi which, I would have thought, would lose it's licence if caught. I'm probably too complacent myself when it comes to my car lights, but my MOT is always in late November so I tend to assume they'll be ok for the winter.

vampirequeen Sat 10-Feb-18 09:10:33

I think people don't realise they need to check that their lights are working so don't always notice when one stops. Lights are a nightmare for me atm. Not the headlights but the reverse lights. We noticed we only had one so we changed the bulb but then we had no reverse lights. Then we changed the fuse and yippee we had two reverse lights. Now the reverse lights seem to work or not work at random. We think it may be the switch so that's the next job. If it's not that then it's an auto electrician job with the painful cost that entails.

shysal Sat 10-Feb-18 09:19:05

I make a habit of pointing out to people when they have a faulty bulb when possible. It is surprising how rude they can be, with no thank you and often a grumpy irresponsible 'I know'! I would be very grateful if somebody told me mine had 'gone'.

phoenix Sat 10-Feb-18 09:19:58

Loads of them in North Devon too!

Bathsheba Sat 10-Feb-18 09:30:50

And South Devon!

JackyB Sat 10-Feb-18 10:56:30

Even here in Germany things aren't perfect. I see lots of one-eyed cars. It's worrying when they pass you and you realise you could have taken them for a motor cycle.

And don't get me started on unlit cycles.

SueDonim Sat 10-Feb-18 13:13:05

Same in Scotland. Also, lights that are not balanced properly so one of them dazzles you even when dipped.

Mapleleaf Sat 10-Feb-18 22:10:20

You would think, wouldn’t you, that with today’s technology there would be a bleep and a highlighted light icon to tell you which light is out. ( I suppose in the really expensive cars this already exists, but what about the rest of us with ordinary cars)?! ?

Mapleleaf Sat 10-Feb-18 22:13:18

Oh, JackyB, you are so right about unlit cycles, and I’d add, often these same cyclists don’t wear any light reflective clothing. Why? If I was a cyclist, I would want to be highly visible, not invisible!!

Tegan2 Sun 11-Feb-18 01:45:42

The road back from the gym is unlit but has a pavement that is also a designated cycle path; my big dread whilst driving home is not seeing a bicycle on the road because sometimes people don't use the cycle path.

ReadyMeals Sun 11-Feb-18 09:11:42

What they can pull people over for and what they choose to pull people over for are two different things. It depends on how busy they are, how short staffed and perhaps even occasionally how lazy. Or sometimes maybe they're just being kind and tolerant, who knows. Anyway my point is they're left quite a lot of discretion within the law.

Diggingdoris Sun 11-Feb-18 09:20:40

During a five mile journey on Monday evening I saw three cars with only one headlight. We should all check our own once a month I suppose. It's no good expecting the police to advise us, as there's not enough officers to attend break-ins, stolen cars etc!

moxeyns Sun 11-Feb-18 09:21:45

I'm very grateful if someone points out when my lights are out. I just don't see a difference!
My OTHER bugbear is cyclists with what look like 1000W headlights. Completely dazzling - and it makes them much less visible than decent ordinary bulbs, because you're forced to look away.
Maybe the common factor here is ageing eyesight.

NfkDumpling Sun 11-Feb-18 09:23:25

Lots in Norfolk too. We need traffic police.

gransruleok Sun 11-Feb-18 10:25:54

I would go to Halfords for advice first, they are very helpful and not expensive. Hopefully your problem can be solved easily. Good luck.

Marieeliz Sun 11-Feb-18 11:53:23

Yes, we have them here in the North West. My friend and I keep commenting on the one eyed cars. Police could make a fortune giving them tickets.

Coco51 Sun 11-Feb-18 12:12:45

Very few drivers in Norfolk realise that the little stick by the steering wheel turns on the indicators so other road users know where they are going - I’ve even followed police cars that don’t use them!

starbird Sun 11-Feb-18 12:33:38

I have a basic model Fiat Punto which has only one reversing light ( as I discovered when I told the garage that only one was working!). Apparently by law you only need one and it is quite common not to have two.

grandMattie Sun 11-Feb-18 13:38:28

Loads in Kent too.
My bugbear, though it is a little less these days, are the constant use of FOG lights when the night is so clear you can see the stars!

Camelotclub Sun 11-Feb-18 14:11:18

A particular bugbear is people not indicating. It seems to be happening more and more. Maybe they're afraid of wearing out their bulbs.

I don't drive much at night but DH has - he comes home in the dark in winter. Police aren't bothered as there are no longer enough of them to go round!

PS Also agree re fog lights, only ought to be used when it really is foggy.

Camelotclub Sun 11-Feb-18 14:12:01

starbird
My Golf only has one reversing light too. It's entirely legal.

MaizieD Sun 11-Feb-18 14:48:54

Goodness, yes, indicators.

Drivers don't seem to realise that not only do other road users want to know their intentions but also pedestrians waiting to cross a road would like to know if the car approaching the junction they're waiting at intends to go straight on or turn and mow them down...

Legs55 Sun 11-Feb-18 15:07:16

Don't get me started on the lack of use of indicators, I'm not a mind readergrin.

I don't drive much at night as I find lights disorientating, I've been like this since my 30s, Optician told me it's because I'm slightly longsighted in one eye & slightly shortsighted in the other. Nothing to do with age, I don't wear glasses for driving apart from sunglasses

GabriellaG Sun 11-Feb-18 15:50:39

I check lights every time I use the car as stop and indicator lights are important during the day as well as others for night driving. I test them and the reversing lights against the garage wall before setting out but can't easily change them. BMWs are notoriously difficult in that regard.

nipsmum Sun 11-Feb-18 15:50:59

After following a young lady driver for approx 3 miles, I put down my window at the Traffic lights and leant over and said did you know your indicates aren't working ? She was not amused. Cyclists with no lights or very poor lights and dark clothes are very common in Aberdeen especially around the hospital and the universities. It s a nightmare for drivers .So many don't even wear crash helmet's.