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| Really dude, you didn't notice this? (Source) |
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| "I can see just fine!" (Source) |
... people driving in periods of low visibility with their headlights off and people with only a single operating headlight, seriously this bugs the you-know-what out of me.
I drove in Germany for over seven years, there was a law there, country-wide, which mandated having one's headlights on in periods of low visibility (i.e. night, dawn, dusk, and when it's stormy - rain/snow).
As I recall, it was not possible to purchase, or operate, a motor vehicle in Scandinavia which did not have automatic headlights - engine on, the headlights came on. No option to turn those off.
In Europe, well western Europe, they were pretty adamant about having all the equipment on the vehicle in an operable condition, and using it when necessary.
"Turn signals?" asked the Rhode Islander. "What the heck are those?"
"Seriously, why signal for a turn, can't you see me turning?"
"Uh no, your headlights weren't on." I point out.
"Well, I can see just fine."
Argh.
Editor's Note: I thank John Blackshoe for giving me the day off yesterday. He finds lots of interesting stuff. What with the juvat Monday, that was two days in a row I didn't have to post. Yay me!
Agree Sarge, lights on when it's raining , snowing, sleeting or hailing or after sunset until sunrise. Your second photo caught a two-fer. Morans, just morans.
ReplyDeleteYup, what an idiot!
DeleteThose mugwumps are all over the U.K. Rules are as you described. (HAVING TO SHOUT as several F35B’s from 617 Squadron are playing chase overhead)
ReplyDeleteLucky Dog! Your own personal Air Show! What's not to like?
DeleteThe Dambusters!
DeleteJuvat! How'd you beat my comment?
DeleteI have noticed that the cars that don't have their lights on, are never the brightly colored ones, it's the white ones, in the snow, the gray ones at dawn/dusk, or in fog. Never the red or yellow ones.
ReplyDeleteBack in the day, those that would not show me their white lights, got to see my red and blue ones.
With good reason!
DeleteI like my F-150. Lights come on automatically and seem to be adjusted correctly. Had to turn them on manually a couple of weeks ago as vis wasn't all that great. Took me a few minutes to figure out how. But you're right, there does seem to be a lot of drivers who haven't a clue. I wonder if they're new here.
DeleteNaw, that couldn't be. The Border is secure. The Prez declared it to be so. therefore....
Could be new, unlicensed, undocumented, er, visitors?
DeleteDown here in east central Florida, they tend to be snowbirds!
DeleteThen there are those (usually jacked-up pickups) with a bank of aux lights atop. The driver can count the hairs on a raccoon's butt at a quarter mile, but an oncoming driver can just pray there is nothing in the other lane ahead till he goes by and the spots fade.
DeleteMark - Probably Rhode Islanders!
DeleteDon - Yup. like they don't have enough headlights?
DeleteActually, most of them have New York tags!
DeleteShame that Sheriff Jewell Futch from Lowndes County, Georgia isn't still in office!
Heh.
DeleteLights on, always, on a road. It's about being seen as well as seeing. Ought to be a ticketable offense, with fines increasing by big steps. (One out, a caution, with a week(?) to fix.
ReplyDeleteI visit a "dark sky" site that has volunteers with red flashlights who escort autos to the interior parking; those who can't go with no lights on (and can't turn off the door - interior lights) are sent to an exterior lot that's shaded om the viewing area.
Agree!
DeleteSeems slightly on topic?
ReplyDeletehttps://mewe.com/p/redpillmemesthings/show/63d94208afb2c2544f114cf9
Spot on!
DeleteNo argument with your points. May I add people with "lifted" truck/SUVs who don't readjust their headlights? Why the patrol officers don't do anything bugs me worse than the yokels.
ReplyDeleteVery good point.
DeleteNo sir, using turn signals is not giving information to the enemy. No sir, you did not run out of blinker fluid.
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteGood post. At first, I though this might be something about an unplanned visit to your eye doc, not good. But, rants about idiots not doing the obvious are perfectly fine use of digits.
ReplyDeleteJohn Blackshoe
👍😎
DeleteMost states it is against the law to have malfuntioning equipment and to not turn headlights on in diminished visibility. It is one of the 'things' that cops use when wanting to pull over a suspected drug car.
ReplyDeleteThey are non-moving violations that only become problematic if the owner/driver doesn't take care of them in a timely manner.
As to why most cops won't pull people over and issue said tickets? Because most jackwangs, I mean, drivers, will bitch and complain and stand up in city and county commission meetings and complain to said city and county commissioners about how unfair the LEOs are. Or they'll complain that they're being racially profiled. And they'll get the media involved.
Like the little town of Waldo, FL. Clearly marked as 'Reduce Your Speed Now.' Even had big billboards saying "Speed Trap Ahead." And having driven through said Waldo lots of times, most of the roads aren't really speed demon racer ready.
But people insisted in going 65 in a 35 mile zone. So many that the city basically was able to fund themselves on tickets. Until enough people complained long and loud enough with enough money to hire attorneys and such finally got the police department shut down. So now the Sheriff's Office is raking in the big bucks from said traffic enforcement.
What didn't surprise me is the number of college students who complained that it was their 3rd, 4th, X+1th ticket. Who didn't realize all they had to do was slow down to the posted limit. Easy peasy.
We have become a nation ruled by whiners and busybodies, scofflaws and ingrates.
Yup, pretty much.
DeleteIndeed!
Delete👍
DeleteThe Engineer who had the bright idea that the dash lights should come on without turning headlights on should be shot.
ReplyDeleteIt used to be that when you couldn't see the dash, it was a reminder to turn on your headlights
I hadn't thought of that, a good point.
DeleteHere in central VA, there has been a big drop in stops for equipment issues thanks to the whiners. There are some driving around with 1 HL out, but the absolute worst is dark-colored vehicles rolling at dusk on unlit back streets and roads with no headlights on, and that's becoming a growth trend.
ReplyDeleteRelated story: I realized I had a HL out while leaving work one evening, and immediately drove to a big-box to get a replacement; it was still light but it *was* getting dusky. I was intercepted about three miles from home, and the officer asked whether I knew why I'd been stopped. I didn't bow up, just said, "Well, if it's my headlight, I just got a replacement bulb and I'm headed home to put it in," and showed him the receipt. He was gracious, saw me on my way, and as soon as I got in the driveway I solved the issue. (I've since thought it would be smart to have at least 1 HLB, 1 TLB and 1 brake light bulb in the glove box on standby.)
The 2nd moral of the story is, if you're polite to the LEO during a stop, unless you have screwed the pooch somehow the encounter should be short and civil.
I just can't understand why people don't keep their vehicles maintained, as far as headlights go, it's a major safety issue. You're putting yourself and others at risk.
DeletePolite works in almost all human to human encounters, surprised how few people practice that.