Motorbikes with high beam headlights always on

[baxlin]

The function of headlights is to enable you to see. The function of daytime running lights is to be seen by others. When like sheep they all use headlights during the day or in the very early stages of twilight the end result is worse visibility for everyone.

My 2011 Volvo has dipped headlights as DRLs, so no option........

My pet hate is low level foglights on all the while, particularly on damp roads.

 

[rf065]

My pet hate is low level foglights on all the while, particularly on damp roads.

Must admit, I've never been blinded by foglights even on damp roads, rear foglights yes, but not fronts.

Russ

 

[190]

I'm not impressed with fog lights for no reason. It's not about being outright blinded or dazzled but the more light someone shines at you the less you see of every thing else that isn't lit up like a Christmas tree. Our eyes can't help it, they dilate in response to bright light.

As an example I learnt something back in 1982 when I was regularly driving long distances at night in a Humber Sceptre. That car had adjustable instrument lights with little eyelids that pulled down to reduce the intensity of warning lights. I discovered that the less light inside the car the more I could see outside due to the eye adapting. A more obvious example that we have all probably experienced is turning on the interior light while driving at night - you can't see a thing. I know I keep harping on about this but more light does not necessarily increase safety. Better visibility increases safety.

 

[robgosty]

I ride a bike, have extra LED lamps on the front, dipped beam on all the time and still seem to be completely invisible to the majority of car drivers, i now ride as if every car driver is out to kill me, works for me

 

[John N]

Is it just me ....more and more bikers seem to be driving with their highbeam on at all times

No it's not just you, I have noticed the same, often on the A14 from Peterborough to Cambridge, both ways!

 

[brucemillar]

Slight tangent (apologies). Driving home down the A2 in Kent, I am often confronted by Cyclists riding on the pavement, towards me on my left hand side. The latest 'trend' is for them to have full scale working mock-ups of the Bell Rock - Light House, strapped to the front of their bikes, pulsing out about a gazillion watts with every flash of their light beam. If caught in this pulse of light, you may find yourself and your car, teleported to another galaxy, far away from planet earth. They are seriously distracting, very high powered lamps. My Son (who cycles every single day) tells me, these are sold as "safety lamps" and are indeed phenomenally powerful to the naked eye and also phenomenally expensive to buy. How does he know his? Ask his partner? When he arrived home with his newly purchased "safety lights" he decided to test it out in their kitchen....... Bad move... She says that 48 hours later she still had white spots (floaters) in her eyes and is not making this up.

Now on a cycle, wobbling around in the dark on your NS and heading towards you in pitch blackness, I would say that these present a hazard. They are best distracting to any motorists, at worst, useless to the cyclist as a visual aid. The darkness between each pulse must be blinding, as the human eye attempts to adjust to the rapid change between black & white?

I am not a big fan of motorcyclists who tint their headlights in a variety of colours. Again it is distracting and (I believe) illegal? You are simply not expecting to be confronted with 'Pat's Mobile Disco' heading towards you at speed on the AXXX. There is, that second, as your brain attempts to compute what it is that you are seeing? Is it a space ship? a set of flying traffic signals? motorbike with illegally tinted headlights?

I read yesterday (warning this maybe an urban myth, but I am assured it not?) of a chap in his 4x4 who was hit head on by another car, that was badly damaged (as was the 4x4). Police were called and driver of 4x4 stated "they were on my side of the road" occupants of the other car stated "we were completely blinded by his headlights". Police then find that the 4x4 has LED headlight bulbs and report this to both insurance companies. The 4X4 insurers "move" to void his policy for using "illegal off road use only" LED bulbs. The third parties insurers are looking to recover their costs through the courts and this includes "personal injury".

Being seen is only part of it. Being legal and insurable is the greater part. Stay Safe!!

 

[John N]

Bell Rock - Light House,

Exactly
the same on the A40 from Oxford to Witney and beyond, but on BOTH sides as there is a Cycle Path each way. Problem is, Cyclists tend to swing their Handle Bars left to right as they pedal, add a Light on their head and the result is two very bright lights dazzling you in quick succession! Only good part being the bright light saves you from the affront of the Day-glow too tight Lycra Suits!

 

[mat8n]

Is it just me ....more and more bikers seem to be driving with their highbeam on at all times....I just flash them and chuckle to see brake lights in my mirror and wonder how long they will drive slowly thinking that there is a speed trap ahead....

No it's not just you, I have noticed the same, often on the A14 from Peterborough to Cambridge, both ways!

So finally people are starting to see motorbikes instead of not seeing them and it's a negative?

Surely the tiny hindrance of a single main beam headlight on in the daytime is a justified excuse if it saves a life?

I for one will admit I have not seen motorcycles on occasions, I've also not been seen while on my motorbike.

I can't see how this is a bad thing?

 

[Markssl]

This does not need its headlamp on to be seen !!

I have a brown car and purple motorbike!!! I should have gone to Specsavers!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[John N]

So finally people are starting to see motorbikes instead of not seeing them and it's a negative?

Surely the tiny hindrance of a single main beam headlight on in the daytime is a justified excuse if it saves a life?

I for one will admit I have not seen motorcycles on occasions, I've also not been seen while on my motorbike.

I can't see how this is a bad thing?

The OP was commenting about the use of Main Beam at all times, so was I, I'm a Biker too, though mine is off the road temporarily, more Riders are using Main Beam at Night/Early Morning!

 

[mat8n]

I think the Op was meaning daytime, hence why he flashes them as if there is a traffic camera up the road and laughs to himself, not that it's been left on by mistake.

I really don't think it's a bad thing. A high beam in daylight doesn't blind or dazzle anyone.
Hours of darkness are different.

 

[Alfie]

Anything that causes a motorist to see a motorcyclist is a good thing.

I had a car driver right across in front of me whilst stationary waiting at a roundabout and then knock me off the bike a few seconds later! Some just dont look at whats going on around them.

 

[Deleted member 126251]

I think the Op was meaning daytime, hence why he flashes them as if there is a traffic camera up the road and laughs to himself, not that it's been left on by mistake.

I really don't think it's a bad thing. A high beam in daylight doesn't blind or dazzle anyone.
Hours of darkness are different.

The reason I commented is that the modern bike high beam is pretty effective even, during the day (more so at this time of year) and I sometimes wonder if (especially the bikes with dual head lamps) the beam is not deliberately off set to shine directly at on coming traffic.....I don't flash them all ......only those whose lights seem to be shining straight into my eyes (both unpleasant and annoying).

Naturally no-one wants to see bikers injured but there is probably a better way to be seen, than shining bright lights at oncoming traffic.

 

[219]

Is it just me ....more and more bikers seem to be driving with their highbeam on at all times....I just flash them and chuckle to see brake lights in my mirror and wonder how long they will drive slowly thinking that there is a speed trap ahead....

Always was normal practice to drive on full beam during daylight for self preservation and avoidance of SMIDSY’s .

A main beam won’t cause dazzle during daylight , but is so much more readily seen than a dipped beam .

Of course , I used dipped beam after dark .

I did my motorcycling back in the 1980’s .

 

[219]

That's the problem. If one car doesn't see another then there is an accident that often both can walk away from. If it's a motorcyclist that isn't seen, the probability of a life lost is very much higher. So there is a certain element that will go too far in pursuit of "being seen" by other road users. Besides main beam use, Illegal LED or HID replacement headlight bulbs are not uncommon but that's true of car drivers as well. If you see a motorcyclist on main beam it won't be me as dazzling other road users coming towards you on a narrow road isn't a smart move in my book.

Here's a recent quote that illustrates the mentality. It's from a US based motorcycle forum where the rider had just fitted an illegal LED replacement lamp:

"Well I can really tell even during the daytime people in oncoming and in front of me don't like the headlight now...Shazam! THEY can SEE ME! Goal Accomplished."

And another one from the same thread:

"What he said. Besides, being "seen" that way can be achieved a lot cheaper by adjusting the stock halogen bulb all the way up. Same effect"

If not the smartest guys out there they are just trying to survive. It's the same as the vast majority of cyclists on our roads who all use illegal flashing lights in a quest to be seen.

Flashing lights on push bikes are not illegal , but are required to be accompanied by constantly lit ones .

Generally , it is not enforced though .

 

[219]

Every modern car that I have driven lately has automatic lights.

None of my cars has them , and when I do drive cars with that feature I never use it .

I can decide when to turn my lights on and don’t need my cars dumbed down for the brain dead .

These systems also don’t recognise poor visibility caused by fog or heavy rain , when the ambient light might still be above their threshold ( which is usually much below mine for turning lights on ) .

 

[219]

I don't understand it either. To me the saddest are the ones that do it to make a fashion statement. All the fuss made about blue lights is pathetic. Some will do it out of a sense of safety but again if everyone adopts increasingly brighter lights, safety will not be the outcome.

When driving the car I have a simple rule; if I can't see the beam on the road ahead then headlights should not be on. The function of headlights is to enable you to see. The function of daytime running lights is to be seen by others. When like sheep they all use headlights during the day or in the very early stages of twilight the end result is worse visibility for everyone.

Lots of vehicles don’t have DRL’s and for them use of dipped headlamps to be seen is perfectly valid .

 

[219]

I'm not impressed with fog lights for no reason. It's not about being outright blinded or dazzled but the more light someone shines at you the less you see of every thing else that isn't lit up like a Christmas tree. Our eyes can't help it, they dilate in response to bright light.

As an example I learnt something back in 1982 when I was regularly driving long distances at night in a Humber Sceptre. That car had adjustable instrument lights with little eyelids that pulled down to reduce the intensity of warning lights. I discovered that the less light inside the car the more I could see outside due to the eye adapting. A more obvious example that we have all probably experienced is turning on the interior light while driving at night - you can't see a thing. I know I keep harping on about this but more light does not necessarily increase safety. Better visibility increases safety.

I always have my instrument lighting turned down to the minimum necessary for exactly this reason .

I hate modern cars with dashes illuminated like Christmas trees , stupid display panels , sat navs when not required ( and don’t start me about idiots with them in the middle of the windscreen , at night , in full daylight mode ) .

No wonder there are crashes .