George,
Didn't mean to imply that you don't know the difference between high and low
beams. The issue, though, (if memory serves me well) was using headlights
during the day. In Canada, new cars have to have these and, with time, we
will see more and more cars with their headlights on during the day.
Clearly, contrast between headlights and the ambient conditions will be
greatest when it is dark. If headlights bother you during the day, the
problem should be worse at night. Of course, if you don't at night, this
comparison will not be valid in your case.
It may also be the case that daytime running lights in city traffic won't do
much good; the traffic density will be too high. Where I live, though, the
towns are few and far between (my home town is at the end of a highway, and
the nearest village is ~20 km away). The roads are straight (often for tens
of kms), flat (no hills!) and mainly two-lane. I live in a resort area East
of Winnipeg with lots of cottages and summer homes in the area. On Friday
afternoons, there's a mad exodus from Winnipeg to "cottage country" and a
lot of overtaking.
I teach, part time, at a small college ~ 50 km South of Winnipeg and head
towards the city on Friday afternoons. Same thing: lots of overtaking by
oncoming traffic. Under these conditions, daytime running lights definitely
make cars easier to see and to contemplate chosing the berm or ditch to
avoid a head-on collision.
Chuck (in the country)
-----Original Message-----
From: George Dow [mailto:gdow@pylon8.freeserve.co.uk]
Sent: Tuesday January 16, 2001 9:18 AM
To: "Morgans@autox.team.net"@autox.team.net
Subject: RE: daylight running lights
Hi there
Chuck, you had me wondering at my senility suggesting I do not
know the difference between main & dipped beam (-: Though Stuart.....
(fine Scottish name) , dug me out of the mire ! also M/cycle headlights are
usually higher than cars and the new style ellipsoidal ? headlights with
their concentrated beams appear to amplify the dazzling possibilities.....
Perhaps you don`t have them in profusion on your side of the pond yet ?
enough to say that a car approaching over an undulating surface, equipped
with such lights gives the appearance of flashing his main beam .....Perhaps
not a prob in the Americas though in this country a flash of the headlights
can mean a few different things to another driver dependant on the
situation. i.e. a flash to a long vehicle when overtaken by such, is seen as
a sign that he is clear to cut back in and thus free up the overtaking lane
earlier than he might otherwise do, usually much appreciated by articulated
truck drivers and a flash of opposite indicators from him is a sign of
thanks.
Also more relevant in this context, is the flash of main beam from a vehicle
that has the right of way at a busy junction, this can be a signal to a
vehicle waiting to get from a side street, out into the main route that the
flashing driver is slowing to allow the side street vehicle to
proceed........
I guess it is easy to see where confusion can creep in with the daylight
running lights and the addition of the new ellipsoidal type h/lamp units on
bikes and cars..... ?
Of course the flashing of lamps is a driver behaviour kinda thing adopted by
many though not recognised by law in the case of an accident.....
I can understand that anyone who lives where the traffic is quiet will be
wondering what on earth I am ranting on about, where I live at times the
traffic can be real tight and fast in places and decisions to merge from a
side street on occasion have to be made very quickly, in fact too quickly to
be considered absolutely safe ! In my humble opinion a bright headlight
does not add greatly to that safety in all cases taking all things into
consideration (locally), I also would add that if everybody waited till it
was definitely safe to complete a manoeuvre....The rush hours would last all
day...... . On a personal basis I reiterate that I find it somewhat more
difficult to discern the approach speed of a bright light than an object of
definable outline....
A wiser man than I said
"There are lies, Damned lies, and statistics". (-:
All that said, I still feel safer in good daylight conditions to run with
lights off and rely more on defensive driving/riding, good stout leather
gear with bright yellow and reflective patches, with armour in "various"
places, if the worst comes to the worst, and when driving as opposed to
riding, I wear a belt.
As ever I am happy to discuss in a friendly sort of way.
Cheers, George
[This message delayed, as it needed manual intervention by the list
administrator. mjb.]
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