Headlights

[Cobbler]

I’ve seen a lot of vehicles with LED running lights fitted & one side out, LED headlights as well, expensive I would think to repair. I thought these were supposed to be more reliable.

 

[bricol]

I didn't make myself clear.

I am referring to the practice which UK C&U Regs banned around 1955/6 where the brake light doubled up as an indicator. So if braking and indicating at the same time the relevant brake light flashed whilst the other stayed on. An upgrade to semaphones. Lucas DB10 relay:

SNG Barratt UK | Keeping your Jaguar on the road

Classic and Modern Jaguar Parts Specialist. The world's largest independent supplier and manufacturer of parts and accessories for Jaguar Cars.

www.sngbarratt.com

It was banned because following drivers found it confusing, especially if one of the brake light bulbs was 'out'.

The USA permitted this until quite recently. Even when they have separate brake and indicators some maunfacturers still fit red rear indicators for the US market.

To overcome the high US rear end accident rate instead of insisting on separate amber rear indicators they insisted on separate red high level brake lights - which are largely surplus to requirements in other markets.

The US still uses amber for side marker lights I believe - just to confuse drivers even more!

I think it is still permitted - cars are simply required to have turn signals, but the law doesn't say what colour. So cheaper and easier to flash what's there. Certainly my 2016 Dodge flashed the brake lights. Causes a bit of fun to neatly add amber turn signals - cutting into your expensive new tail lights is a bit of deep breath moment! More difficult to do with modern LED lamps - older cars you could simply fit orange bulbs which would show as orange through a red tail light.

Side markers are amber at the front, red at the rear. And legal for the UK too, so mine are still there.

the really crazy thing in the USA was a requirement to shine a certain percentage of light straight up from the headlights to illuminate the reflective stud markings on interstate overhead signs - you can imagine what that did in fog or falling snow to forward visibility - looked spectacular from outside in falling snow though.

Also the federal regs only allowed certain lamps - hence you would see the same round or rectangular sealed beams (as halogen was banned until 20 ish yrs ago too) on all cars - including European cars - Peugeots, Jags, etc with quad lamps rather than the single large styled lamps seen here. But it did mean you could be pretty sure you would be able to wander into any Walmart etc and pick up a headlamp for your car at very reasonable cost rather than pay through the nose for something on back-order for months.

 

[Morrisman]

I see several new motorcycles around that have the front indicators on all the time, and to signal a turn one of them flashes off and on, the other stays on.

I thought it was illegal to show any other colour than white to the front, unless it is a turn signal. So has that snuck through illegally, or is it because it is actually a turn signal, though on full time.

Cars will be doing it next, just to complicate things.

 

[minimutly]

Erm, the "front indicators" on my transit are on all the time if I recall

 

[Greeves246]

I see several new motorcycles around that have the front indicators on all the time, and to signal a turn one of them flashes off and on, the other stays on.

I thought it was illegal to show any other colour than white to the front, unless it is a turn signal. So has that snuck through illegally, or is it because it is actually a turn signal, though on full time.

Cars will be doing it next, just to complicate things.

Canadian or American import. I had a VMax with twin filament bulbs in the font indicators, 6/21w, simple matter to disconnect the 6w feed.

 

[Hood]

Canadian or American import. I had a VMax with twin filament bulbs in the font indicators, 6/21w, simple matter to disconnect the 6w feed.

New Honda bikes have the indicators on the front on permanently, it is, I think, a lower intensity (easy with LED) than when actually indicating. I wasn't keen on them at first as I thought maybe people would only see one side and think I was indicating but so far (3 years) it does not seem to be the case.
I also have aux lights which turn off on the indicating side when turning and that seems to add to visibility.

The rear hazzards on my bike also come on with emergency braking, I have only noticed them doing it once and that was with max braking in an emergency situation. They don't come on with what I would call normal heavy braking, I think on my bike they are controlled by the 6 axis IMU rather than the ABS.

 

[premmington]

You would believe how many car owners moan about that there front lights are "too low powered" and want them adjusted/upgraded.

Honestly - mostly I am looking a light source like the sun - and they want more!


I did wonder if it was newer cars coming with darker shades of tinted glass of late - but I don't think so?


I don't think I roadtested a car for years - in the dark on an unlit street of country backroad and thought - the lights were not bright enough.


To be honest - most cars that pass me - I just get dazzled and think the lights are too bright.

 

[Hood]

The recent trend in bikes (BMW and Royal Enfield that I know of) is to do away with the rear light and have the functions integrated all into the indicators. I am yet to be convinced about that being a good idea.

 

[redlig]

New Honda bikes have the indicators on the front on permanently, it is, I think, a lower intensity (easy with LED) than when actually indicating. I wasn't keen on them at first as I thought maybe people would only see one side and think I was indicating but so far (3 years) it does not seem to be the case.
I also have aux lights which turn off on the indicating side when turning and that seems to add to visibility.

The rear hazzards on my bike also come on with emergency braking, I have only noticed them doing it once and that was with max braking in an emergency situation. They don't come on with what I would call normal heavy braking, I think on my bike they are controlled by the 6 axis IMU rather than the ABS.

The lights on my trailie are controlled by a single axis thumb and r/h forefingers.

 

[dobbslc]

The recent trend in bikes (BMW and Royal Enfield that I know of) is to do away with the rear light and have the functions integrated all into the indicators. I am yet to be convinced about that being a good idea.

I saw a BMW R12 this week with lights like that and I couldn't see the indicators, I thought he'd lashed some aftermarket gear on!
Not a good Idea.

 

[Morrisman]

Canadian or American import. I had a VMax with twin filament bulbs in the font indicators, 6/21w, simple matter to disconnect the 6w feed.

No these are brand new Japanese bikes, or fairly new. There’s more than a few around like it.

And then there’s the cars where the sidelight turns off when the indicator is flashing. Apparently that is against the ‘rules’ too, something to do with control of the lighting. Loads do it now.

 

[Morrisman]

The recent trend in bikes (BMW and Royal Enfield that I know of) is to do away with the rear light and have the functions integrated all into the indicators. I am yet to be convinced about that being a good idea.

Seems quite common on new Harleys.

 

[bricol]

No these are brand new Japanese bikes, or fairly new. There’s more than a few around like it.

And then there’s the cars where the sidelight turns off when the indicator is flashing. Apparently that is against the ‘rules’ too, something to do with control of the lighting. Loads do it now.

That’s probably the DRL turning off to make sure the turn signal is visible, not the side light.

 

[Morrisman]

That’s probably the DRL turning off to make sure the turn signal is visible, not the side light.

Not too sure what the difference is really, twixt the 2.

All cars seem to have their lights, on all the time, which has sort of removed the safety of motorcycles riding with the headlight on so they can be seen better.

 

[Robotstar5]

That’s probably the DRL turning off to make sure the turn signal is visible, not the side light.

Mrs Robo's Meriva does that.

 

[Hood]

That’s probably the DRL turning off to make sure the turn signal is visible, not the side light.

Do modern cars with LED DRL's still have side lights?
I know my bike doesn't, it has the DRL which alters in brightness with the ambient light and if too dark then dip turns on along with the DRL and if you put on full beam all three are on.

 

[Bobupndown]

When I was a young tearaway I had a 55W halogen foglight as a reversing light - the ford Cortina the tailgating copper was driving behind me was blinding me something rotten. So I gave him the reversing light - I think he was a little annoyed...
How was I to know he was a copper?

Yep fell foul of this too with a lucas rear mount spot on my mini. Unmarked VR6 VW Vento traffic car saw me reversing out of a space and pulled me in, told off for having greater than 21watt reverse light bulb. Told me to remove it. Didn't!

 

[minimutly]

Yep fell foul of this too with a lucas rear mount spot on my mini. Unmarked VR6 VW Vento traffic car saw me reversing out of a space and pulled me in, told off for having greater than 21watt reverse light bulb. Told me to remove it. Didn't!

Yep. And no I didn't remove it either..

 

[premmington]

Not too sure what the difference is really, twixt the 2.

All cars seem to have their lights, on all the time, which has sort of removed the safety of motorcycles riding with the headlight on so they can be seen better.

This valid point - I not thought about.

Most VAG cars I got have DRL's

 

[brightspark]

its not a bad thing. a few times ive been driving during the day and darkish cars have blended in with the background and i wouldnt have noticed had they not had there lights on at a quick glance