One of the bright spots of the year is now over so the Christmas lights are coming down to be packed away for another year.
It never fails to surprise me how much effort some people make to light up their homes, gardens, even the whole neighbourhood, and it really adds to the festive fun and seasonal spirit.
It also amazes me how many people drive around with lights out on their vehicles, or even no lights at all, and that really annoys me.
On our daily commutes we tend to pass the same vehicles and, day after day, I see the same ones with the same duff lights – or driving on just sidelights, sidelights and front fog lamps or even none on at all!
Check your lights regularly
For goodness sake, check your lights regularly… although it must be obvious if a headlamp has failed!
Why not make it a new year resolution to put as much effort into making sure your vehicle’s lights are as bright as your festive display and all functioning. It’s a quick check and most bulbs are easy to replace or your local garage or motoring store can sort you out.
As a motoring journalist, I get asked a lot of questions about cars and motorbikes, driving and riding, technical stuff and general TLC.
I often have answers but, if not, I’m happy to find out myself – after all, every day is a school day and you never stop learning – or point them in the right direction to solve the puzzle.
When should you put lights on?
One question I am frequently asked is ‘When should you put your lights on?’
I draw on a simple, but clever, explanation I was given by a friendly traffic cop. I hasten to add he is a friend and I hadn’t been pulled over for some motoring misdemeanour.
His answer is simply “When you wonder whether you should have your lights on’. It’s not rocket science but effective.
Our brains act like a light monitor – remember photographers using them to set their cameras up for the conditions – and will trigger the thought about putting your lights on when it is getting dark or murky.
It’s always better to have your lights on when you don’t really need to than not do so and be left in the dark.
But what about vehicles with lights that come on automatically.
Yes, they’re great most of the time but, like anything automated rather than human, can be fooled and don’t always react to the conditions.
They don’t always see fog or mist as being dark enough to turn on the lights, nor do they always come on in heavy rain.
It’s down to driver’s common sense…
So, in those conditions, it’s down to the driver’s common sense to over-ride the auto function and put the headlights on manually.
Yes, headlights. Not just sidelights and certainly not sidelights and foglights. If it’s dark enough to need lights then use the head lamps – it ain’t going to drain the battery while your’re driving. See and be seen. Cars with auto-operating lights go straight to headlights, not sidelights!
As far as I am concerned, sidelights are positioning lamps so other drivers are forewarned of the car’s presence if you have to park in a dark place or where visibility is poor.
Highway Code lighting rules
In the Highway Code’s lighting requirements Rule 113 includes:
- Use headlights at night, except on a road which has lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30mph (48km/h) unless otherwise specified.
- Use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced.
- Night (the hours of darkness) is defined as the period between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise.
Rule 114 includes:
- You MUST NOT use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves to avoid dazzling other road users.
And Rule 115 says:
- You should also use dipped headlights, or dim-dip if fitted, at night in built-up areas and in dull daytime weather, to ensure that you can be seen.
So there you have it – both opinions and officialdom. But the abiding message is to make sure all your bulbs are brilliant and give everyone some light relief!