Fog

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Woke up this morning to a pea supper.

Took The Mini Me to the train station.
Coming back. met up with MR PC Plod,with:

NO LIGHTS ON.

Set a good example, why not.

 

[Wedg1e]

I hate to point the finger - OK, no I don't - but around here it seemed to me to be taxi drivers of a non-white-British origin that started the silliness of unnecessary fog lights, and now every idiot is doing it.
On a lot of cars the lights switch is arranged so that you can't leave the fog lights on after you've turned the main lights off, putting them on has to be a deliberate act once you've started the car... so the idea that the lights have been 'left on' after prior fog doesn't wash with me. This is people at best putting on their security blanket and at worst adding bling to their car in the same way sad lorry drivers have an illuminated flag in the back of the cab, or BMW bike riders 'need' running lights on their GS1200...
As for indicators: since when did the requirement to indicate right on a roundabout until you're approaching your exit, end? Now it seems folk only indicate as they leave the roundabout, which on dual-carriageway roundabouts means you can never be certain whether they're actually turning right or going straight-on. Doesn't exactly help traffic flow... but I guess some people are only there for themselves.

 

[Wedg1e]

I tried to catch some fog whilst I was out tonight............. Mist

It's OK, no need to fret

 

[Ton-up]

It's OK, no need to fret

Haar, haar!

 

[rockweasel]

I always tell my wife to turn her lights on in the morning on her way to work, even in the summer. She can't understand why because "I can see where I'm going ..."

I tell her:

1) The sun in low in the sky which could blind drivers coming towards you.
2) Other drivers may be tired/hungover first thing in the morning and not paying attention
3) Not everyone cleans their windscreen, making it hard to see other cars when the sun is low/they're tired etc etc.

"But ... but I'll look stupid turning my lights on in the summer".
EXACTLY. "Who's that stupid driver with their lights on?" other road users will say, obviously noticing you.

 

[Bill Edwards]

As for indicators: since when did the requirement to indicate right on a roundabout until you're approaching your exit, end? Now it seems folk only indicate as they leave the roundabout, which on dual-carriageway roundabouts means you can never be certain whether they're actually turning right or going straight-on. Doesn't exactly help traffic flow... but I guess some people are only there for themselves.

Indicate left for left exit. Right for right exit, switching to left when passing the exit before your intended right exit.
Straight doesn't want an indicator when you approach the roundabout, only when you're passing the exit before your one.
Simples.

Not quite so simple where there's more than three nicely located exits but the same applies, left signal for first exit, nothing for straight on until it's time to leave and right for the later exits, again until it's time to leave when you choose left indicator.
It's those who CBA's to indicate when they're going to exit that need a kick.

 

[Wedg1e]

Indicate left for left exit. Right for right exit, switching to left when passing the exit before your intended right exit.
Straight doesn't want an indicator when you approach the roundabout, only when you're passing the exit before your one.
Simples.

Not quite so simple where there's more than three nicely located exits but the same applies, left signal for first exit, nothing for straight on until it's time to leave and right for the later exits, again until it's time to leave when you choose left indicator.
It's those who CBA's to indicate when they're going to exit that need a kick.

Thank you, I hoped it wasn't just me that could remember what we were taught 30-odd years back.
What confuses things around here is having roundabouts on dual-carriageways where road markings suggest you can turn right in BOTH lanes...! It's not unreasonable to expect the car in the right-hand lane to turn right whether or not he's indicating but when the car in the left lane goes round without indicating it's also not unreasonable to look at the situation and think they're going straight on - until they don't.
How hard can it be to literally lift a finger?

 

[the snooper]

My vectra was a treasure trove of well hidden "functions" stuff like being able to have the lights on oneside on but the other side off if .

Most vauxhalls have that feature just move the indicator stalk to which ever side you want on

 

[angellonewolf]

As for indicators: since when did the requirement to indicate right on a roundabout until you're approaching your exit, end? Now it seems folk only indicate as they leave the roundabout, which on dual-carriageway roundabouts means you can never be certain whether they're actually turning right or going straight-on. Doesn't exactly help traffic flow... but I guess some people are only there for themselves.

just becasuse anyone has indicators on dont rely on they being used properly i used to work in insurance when way younger (20 plus years) if your at any juction waiting to pull out and they got there indicator on to turn in giving you the time to pull out and you move and they have just left there indicator on with out noticing its the same as you pulling out on them its deamed you at fault even though is not realy you have to wait untill they have stated to turn the corner

 

[colnerov]

Yeah, that's called self preservation.

 

[colnerov]

Most vauxhalls have that feature just move the indicator stalk to which ever side you want on

I can remember Mk3 Cortina's having that when they came out in 1970.

 

[Wedg1e]

just becasuse anyone has indicators on dont rely on they being used properly i used to work in insurance when way younger (20 plus years) if your at any juction waiting to pull out and they got there indicator on to turn in giving you the time to pull out and you move and they have just left there indicator on with out noticing its the same as you pulling out on them its deamed you at fault even though is not realy you have to wait untill they have stated to turn the corner

I don't, I'm a biker, you learn not to trust anything else on the road to do the right thing

 

[ajlelectronics]

I don't, I'm a biker, you learn not to trust anything else on the road to do the right thing

I was appalled to note that I got flashed to come out of a side road today. . . By a BUS driver! You would think that they of all people would show a little professionalism?

 

[angellonewolf]

i hope he was in full control of the bus when flashing you

 

[colnerov]

I was appalled to note that I got flashed to come out of a side road today. . . By a BUS driver! You would think that they of all people would show a little professionalism?

Hi, I've done it after checking nothing is coming up the outside, it's a courtesy but it's up to the other vehicle whether they take you up on it.

Colin

 

[ajlelectronics]

Hi, I've done it after checking nothing is coming up the outside, it's a courtesy but it's up to the other vehicle whether they take you up on it.

I'm sure you consider it a courtesy Colin, but in mine and many other bikers' opinions, it is extremely dangerous.

1) It puts the other driver under a degree of pressure to move out, without paying as much attention as they may have done otherwise.

2) It obstructs the main road, delaying following traffic and reducing the chance of seeing anyone overtaking your vehicle that has suddenly stopped in the road.

3) Who is to say that the flashing is not because the driver has just spotted his Auntie Nellie?

4) The Highway code points out that the flashing of headlamps should not be done, except where necessary to warn another road user of your prescence. It should never be used as an invitiation to another road user to start a manouvre.

 

[barracuda816]

What annoys me here is the ever growing amount of motorcyclists (im not bashing all motorcyclists here) that appear to have their Main beams on all the time. I understand it makes them more visible but imho its down right dangerous and portrays them in a very arrogant and ignorant light.

 

[dobbslc]

Mmm some do that but also there's a lot more d@$ks in cars that blind everybody else coming towards them with badly adjusted lights.
I would say most bikes lights are very hard to adjust easily.
Bumps in the road along with the governments pothole breeding program cause bikes to bounce up and down a lot more than a car making it look like we are flashing our lights.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Fully agreed. Cars or bikes with badly adjusted lamps are a pain. I am not keen on the modern fashion for dip and main on seperate lamps on some bikes. It just looks like one has failed and is distracting, even when you know.

 

[Bill Edwards]

People (I use that word cautiously) who can't be bothered to dip their lights want one warning followed by disqualication. It's plain dangerous.
Also badly adjusted lights are a serious problem, I don't know how it happens so often given it's checked annually at the mot. Never, ever been a problem on my vehicles though, probably because I give a damn and keep an eye on things.