RAC report into headlight dazzle

[rab60bit]

Originally Posted by daveo138

Not so.

https://www.gov.uk/government/public...ycles-lighting

“ General guidance and advice on the legislative requirements in Great Britain relating to lights and reflectors on pedal cycles. The use of lighting and reflectors on pedal cycles is regulated under the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989, as amended. The most recent amendment affecting pedal cycles is Statutory Instrument SI 2005 No. 2559 which came into force on October 23 2005.

The main effect of this amendment was to permit flashing lights on pedal cycles. The flashing lights have to conform to certain requirements.

Obligatory lighting and reflectors
Any cycle which is used between sunset and sunrise must be fitted with the following:

white front light
red rear light
red rear reflector
amber/yellow pedal reflectors – front and rear on each pedal
The lamps may be steady or flashing, or a mixture, for example steady at the front and flashing at the rear. A steady light is recommended at the front when the cycle is used in areas without good street lighting.”

I would suggest the 2005 regulations you quote are obsolete since the high power LED's available to cyclists today were not even thought of in 2005! They are a damn dazzling nuisance, cannot be dipped and distracting if they flash; no regulation regarding settings so IMHO dangerous...and completely unregulated.

[roverbarmy]

In my "driving career" I drove thousands of miles at night. Nowadays, it's on a when I absolutely need to for the points stated above. My 11 year old bulbs were "yellowing"! I replaced them with Osram "Nightbreakers" (100% legal) which were literally night and day in comparison. My night confidence is much better but I still stay home at night when possible.

[Plezier]

Originally Posted by SteveThackery

To be fair, though, all car lighting must comply with EU (and British) regulations regarding brightness, colour, position, size, angle of visibility, etc.

Car makers may well indulge themselves when it comes to styling, but cars with non-compliant lighting wouldn't find their way into the showrooms.

Perhaps the regulations need reviewing?

You are assuming that money has no bearing on this and that the people who are the ones responsible for the rules have no stake in the car makers. Do you think they actually care about our safety?

Nope all they care about is their position and how much money they can grab now as for expecting the Police to do something about dazzling light you must be joking it's not on their bosses agenda plus I very much doubt plod even know what the regulations are and unless it suits their purpose at the moment they do not care but if they want to get a particular person then they will use anything in that pursuit legal or not! In their training they are taught what the Police and the powers that be what they want the rules and law to be not what it actually is they believe that they ARE the LAW and can do just as they like and not the enforcers of the law that they actually are and that the law applies equally to them.

This is the modern face of Policing especially in the UK

[bl52krz]

I have decided, after due diligence, to buy a pair of Lazerlamps.co.uk driving lights. They will be set to suit me. They are easily removed for the Mot.

[macafee2]

Originally Posted by laser558

Many newer vehicles have automatic function to dip the headlights - I know as I drive a Jag with it. Most of the time it is fine, but not always and I find myself having to over ride it. Still it is better than most rain sensing windscreen wipers!

Prefer the manual system on the ZT if I'm honest.

I'm sure I was in a new Volvo last year that had automatic dipping head lights. They were slow to dip, I would have dipped sooner.
A couple of days ago I got out of the car to talk to the driver of a Tesla behind to ask if he was on main beam, he said he was not but his lights were a bit of a dazzle.

Some drivers will drive on main beam when they can clearly see on coming traffic or traffic ahead. I think it is because the traffic is some distance away they don't think their main beam is an issue.

macafee2

[macafee2]

Originally Posted by bl52krz

I have decided, after due diligence, to buy a pair of Lazerlamps.co.uk driving lights. They will be set to suit me. They are easily removed for the Mot.

is it .co.uk or .com

macafee2

[StewartIngram]

This week I purchased, from Amazon, some clip-on yellow driving glasses. Allow I was sceptical of them actually working when I bought them, I have changed my mind now I've tried them.
Although a slightly weird feel when I first wore them, I very quickly became accustomed to the yellow tinge to the scene, and now don't really notice it, in fact it is quite calming. But the transformation of bright lights is amazing. When faced with a stream of bright oncoming lights - headlights and drls, mostly led, it is quite blinding. With the glasses on it reverts to what we used to see 15-20 years ago with filament bulbs.
I have the habit of not staring at them anyway, instead concentrating more on the nearside kerb, but the glare was noticeable, and much reduced with the glasses.
I would add that years ago ago I had an op on my left eye, which basically left me with a hole in my vision in that eye in the dead centre and my eye doesn't react as well to bright lights, but I now feel safer driving.

[daveo138]

Originally Posted by StewartIngram

This week I purchased, from Amazon, some clip-on yellow driving glasses. Allow I was sceptical of them actually working when I bought them, I have changed my mind now I've tried them.
Although a slightly weird feel when I first wore them, I very quickly became accustomed to the yellow tinge to the scene, and now don't really notice it, in fact it is quite calming. But the transformation of bright lights is amazing. When faced with a stream of bright oncoming lights - headlights and drls, mostly led, it is quite blinding. With the glasses on it reverts to what we used to see 15-20 years ago with filament bulbs.
I have the habit of not staring at them anyway, instead concentrating more on the nearside kerb, but the glare was noticeable, and much reduced with the glasses.
I would add that years ago ago I had an op on my left eye, which basically left me with a hole in my vision in that eye in the dead centre and my eye doesn't react as well to bright lights, but I now feel safer driving.

I bought a pair of yellow driving glasses about ten years ago, but I don’t remember them being particularly effective. I’ve no idea what happened to them. I will have a look to see if they can be found and give them another go.