{"id":445,"date":"2020-01-03T10:40:28","date_gmt":"2020-01-03T10:40:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.andyrussellmedia.co.uk\/?p=445"},"modified":"2020-01-03T10:40:28","modified_gmt":"2020-01-03T10:40:28","slug":"lighten-up-if-you-want-to-be-seen-and-safe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.andyrussellmedia.co.uk\/blog\/lighten-up-if-you-want-to-be-seen-and-safe\/","title":{"rendered":"Lighten up if you want to be seen and safe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It never fails to surprise me how much effort some people\nmake to light up their homes, gardens, even the whole neighbourhood, and it\nreally adds to the festive fun and seasonal spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It also amazes me how many people drive around with\nlights out on their vehicles, or even no lights at all, and that really annoys\nme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On our daily commutes we tend to pass the same vehicles and,\nday after day, I see the same ones with the same duff lights \u2013 or driving on\njust sidelights, sidelights and front fog lamps or even none on at all!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check your lights regularly<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
For goodness sake, check your lights regularly\u2026 although\nit must be obvious if a headlamp has failed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using your lights is a bright idea.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Why not make it a new year resolution to put as much effort\ninto making sure your vehicle\u2019s lights are as bright as your festive display\nand all functioning. It\u2019s a quick check and most bulbs are easy to replace or\nyour local garage or motoring store can sort you out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a motoring journalist, I get asked a lot of questions\nabout cars and motorbikes, driving and riding, technical stuff and general TLC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I often have answers but, if not, I\u2019m happy to find out\nmyself \u2013 after all, every day is a school day and you never stop learning – or\npoint them in the right direction to solve the puzzle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When should you put lights on?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
One question I am frequently asked is \u2018When should you\nput your lights on?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I draw on a simple, but clever, explanation I was given\nby a friendly traffic cop. I hasten to add he is a friend and I hadn\u2019t been\npulled over for some motoring misdemeanour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His answer is simply \u201cWhen you wonder whether you should\nhave your lights on\u2019. It\u2019s not rocket science but effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt is surprising how many drivers use the wrong lights or none at all when its dark.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Our brains act like a light monitor \u2013 remember\nphotographers using them to set their cameras up for the conditions \u2013 and will\ntrigger the thought about putting your lights on when it is getting dark or\nmurky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s always better to have your lights on when you don\u2019t\nreally need to than not do so and be left in the dark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But what about vehicles with lights that come on\nautomatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, they\u2019re great most of the time but, like anything automated\nrather than human, can be fooled and don\u2019t always react to the conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They don\u2019t always see fog or mist as being dark enough to\nturn on the lights, nor do they always come on in heavy rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s down to driver’s common sense…<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
So, in those conditions, it\u2019s down to the driver\u2019s common\nsense to over-ride the auto function and put the headlights on manually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, headlights. Not just sidelights and certainly not\nsidelights and foglights. If it\u2019s dark enough to need lights then use the head\nlamps \u2013 it ain\u2019t going to drain the battery while your\u2019re driving. See and be\nseen. Cars with auto-operating lights go straight to headlights, not sidelights!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As far as I am concerned, sidelights are positioning lamps\nso other drivers are forewarned of the car\u2019s presence if you have to park in a\ndark place or where visibility is poor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Highway Code lighting rules<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
In the Highway Code\u2019s lighting requirements Rule 113<\/strong> includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use headlights at night, except on a road which\nhas lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit\nof 30mph (48km\/h) unless otherwise specified.<\/li>
Use headlights when visibility is seriously\nreduced.<\/li>
Night (the hours of darkness) is defined as the\nperiod between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Rule 114 <\/strong>includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You MUST NOT use front or rear fog lights unless\nvisibility is seriously reduced. You MUST switch them off when visibility\nimproves to avoid dazzling other road users.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
And Rule 115 <\/strong>says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You should also use dipped headlights, or\ndim-dip if fitted, at night in built-up areas and in dull daytime weather, to ensure\nthat you can be seen.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
So there you have it \u2013 both opinions and officialdom. But\nthe abiding message is to make sure all your bulbs are brilliant and give\neveryone some light relief!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 … <\/p>\n
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