Headlights

[Auturbo6]

No, im one of those fools that holds off turning on the headlights until absolutely necessary. My usual plan of attack is, headlights on when dash cluster becomes too hard to see. How ive been since 1993. lol. later.

[pauljh74]

Originally Posted by grandpa_spec_au

-1,000,000 for me.

I own a black car, and when driving through tunnels or even shady areas you get all sort of people who don't see you. Pull up to the lights and get the usual obligatory shrug from them and an "I didn't see you there"

The problem isn't they couldn't see you - it is they didn't look.

[grandpa_spec_F6]

Originally Posted by pauljh74

The problem isn't they couldn't see you - it is they didn't look.

I'd hazard a guess that the majority of the time that's true too, scary stuff no?

Either way, I keep them on just in case, and I like the look of them

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by geckoGT

Them getting a refraction after the crash because they did not see your car against a similar colour background will not help you when you are dead.

Absolutely spot on. There is no down side to having the lights on, it's proven to be safer to have them on during the day, why are we even having this discussion? It might only save you once in a lifetime. It might never, but it just increases the chance of avoiding an accident. It's certainly never going to be the cause of an accident. Better to be safe than dead or severely injured.

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

Poll options leave a lot to be desired.

Full Sun? No. All other times? Yes.
In the later model commodore's auto lights they have a setting for early/normal/late for when they come on
I found even the early setting was too late...

Yes they do leave a lot to be desired.

Either as a result of the wording of the poll responses or the cross section of the public that we have on these forums the results so far are no where near accurate. Looking around on the roads there is no way that over 40% of cars drive around in daytime hours with their headlights on, the true figure would be a lot lower, perhaps 5%.

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by Auturbo6

No, im one of those fools that holds off turning on the headlights until absolutely necessary. My usual plan of attack is, headlights on when dash cluster becomes too hard to see. How ive been since 1993. lol. later.

With my current car. I struggle to read the speedo in daylight without lights on if the sun is in the wrong spot.
Cloudy rain fog during day I will have them on. Clear I normally won't. But some cars look better with lights on during day.

I'm at work now sitting on a train at a red signal adjacent to a main road. There is currently light rain and I am watching traffic come around the bend that is about 700 meters away. And I can say that cars with lights on stand out as soon as they come around the corner. But cars without lights are a struggle to see until they get well around the bend. Just my little experiment there.

[Falcon Coupe]

Originally Posted by plarazza

Voted no. Maybe it is proven to be safer to have them on but find it pointless. In the middle of daylight If you can't see another car because they don't have their headlights on time for a visit to the optometrist

Agreed, looks like AFF is the daytime headlight fanboi club.

[Jimmyd]

Voted yes - when you play dodgems with rubberneck tourists all day its just one of many self preservation measures I apply........

[Matty4]

Originally Posted by pauljh74

The problem isn't they couldn't see you - it is they didn't look.

That's it in a nutshell right there. It's not that they make you more visable to others, it's just that most drivers don't make a concerted effort to look properly before changing lanes/pulling out etc.

In 22+ years of driving I have always had either dark coloured cars (blue, black and currently Ego) or colours that supposedly blend (Silver and light grey). Not once have I felt someone move into my path nor have I ever heard the "I didn't see you there"

I only use them at night or in really bad weather.

[Lukeyson]

Yes, always

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

Poll options leave a lot to be desired.

Full Sun? No. All other times? Yes.
In the later model commodore's auto lights they have a setting for early/normal/late for when they come on
I found even the early setting was too late...

Its pretty straight forward, i understand not everyday is full sun but if you couldnt work out that i meant day time as is in 'during the day' then there is something wrong.
Ok i could have put 'Daytime hours' other then that.

Originally Posted by geckoGT

Either as a result of the wording of the poll responses or the cross section of the public that we have on these forums the results so far are no where near accurate. Looking around on the roads there is no way that over 40% of cars drive around in daytime hours with their headlights on, the true figure would be a lot lower, perhaps 5%.

What you have to remember is that on here we have people on here mainly that are motoring enthusiasts, so care about being seen, not wanting their car ran into if it is indeed the case that it makes certain colours more visible in certain conditions.

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

Agreed, looks like AFF is the daytime headlight fanboi club.

Hardly see that as the case, whats wrong with using headlights in the day time?

[RAREV8]

Always have done....never high beams and never fog lights (unless very foggy) Most people cant set their side mirrors properly and so have a blind spot.....having my lights on has often been enough for said lane changer to spot me and rethink their manoeuvre.

On Highways, long country roads it makes a hell of a difference judging the distance an oncoming vehicle is from you if the headlights are on.

[Mr Hardware]

Originally Posted by Auturbo6

My usual plan of attack is, headlights on when dash cluster becomes too hard to see.

Yeah, I'm similar, except I put them on when it's hard to see whilst wearing sunglasses. I have a pair of aviators basically plastered to my face whenever i'm not inside at daytime.

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Its pretty straight forward, i understand not everyday is full sun but if you couldnt work out that i meant day time as is in 'during the day' then there is something wrong.
Ok i could have put 'Daytime hours' other then that.




What you have to remember is that on here we have people on here mainly that are motoring enthusiasts, so care about being seen, not wanting their car ran into if it is indeed the case that it makes certain colours more visible in certain conditions.



Hardly see that as the case, whats wrong with using headlights in the day time?

That is what I meant when I mentioned the cross section of the public that AFF represents, being car enthusiasts we are not exactly the average joe and that is reflected in the poll results. I mentioned it not as a problem with the poll, more a factor that will affect the results.

Of course we are going to be called fanboi's, some here have the predjudicial consideration that anyone driving with headlights of DRL's on during clear daytime conditions is a ******.

They are welcome to see my headlights on and call me a fanboi or ****** if they wish, at least they have noticed me and unlikely to want to crash into me.

[Falcon Coupe]

From the poll results thus far we should see 43% of road users have headlights on during the day. As this is not nearly the case one can only assume fanbois of headlights congregate here...that or AFF is paranoia central.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

From the poll results thus far we should see 43% of road users have headlights on during the day. As this is not nearly the case one can only assume fanbois of headlights congregate here...that or AFF is paranoia central.

Well call me a fanboi then doesnt bother me all that much, but iam far from paranoid.

[grandpa_spec_F6]

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

...that or AFF is paranoia central.

No, you're thinking of Whirlpool forums, pretty sure they have an entire 'tinfoil hat' section

[Streets]

I was just out driving in the rain before and the amount of people without their lights on was staggering.

Originally Posted by chevypower

It might only save you once in a lifetime. It might never, but it just increases the chance of avoiding an accident.

I agree with this. Any measure I can take, no matter how minuscule, to reduce the chances of a car crash, I will take it.

[Auturbo6]

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

Yeah, I'm similar, except I put them on when it's hard to see whilst wearing sunglasses. I have a pair of aviators basically plastered to my face whenever i'm not inside at daytime.

We had a conversation on this subject at work a few months ago. I stated that id noticed that all cars with headlights on, during the trip home from work had sunglasses on, it was amusing to see that i was the only one that had noticed this occurance. lol.

[Halfmo Rocks]

Originally Posted by Streets

I was just out driving in the rain before and the amount of people without their lights on was staggering.
.

and it seems to be more often than not the grey/silver cars. they have no idea how invisible their cars are in low light

lights on always for me

[fmc351]

Originally Posted by Auturbo6

We had a conversation on this subject at work a few months ago. I stated that id noticed that all cars with headlights on, during the trip home from work had sunglasses on, it was amusing to see that i was the only one that had noticed this occurance. lol.

I have a nice pair of polarised RayBans, everything has a yellow tinge to it but they are not dark at all. I could wear them at night no problems. Even in rain in Qld I wear them, there is often the ever present glare even when overcast.

[BIGJB]

I to be honest am shocked with the responses to this poll, I thought for sure on a car enthusiast forum where I am willing to bet
that over 50% of the members are probably "LIVELY" drivers more would have taken any advantage available to them to make themselves
safer on our roads.

I would also like to know how many of the members that have voted yes on this poll are either professional drivers or
spend a lot of time on the road.

[BFZF8]

Originally Posted by Riksta

Bright clear sunny days, no. Unless I'm on the highway - highway trips they're always on regardless.

Cloudy/overcast day - depending how dull the light is, I will tend to put them on just to aid my car being seen by others.

I do exactly this. The rest of the time I don't touch the switch on the XR8 it just stays on "Auto". I didn't vote because this puts me somewhere in the middle.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Riksta

Bright clear sunny days, no. Unless I'm on the highway - highway trips they're always on regardless.

Cloudy/overcast day - depending how dull the light is, I will tend to put them on just to aid my car being seen by others.

+1. highway trips they are always on. anyone saying its a waste of time obviously hasn't driven a lot inter state. you can see a car with its lights on long before one without.

as for round town, mine stay on auto, unless its poor conditions (rain) and then i turn them on. at least with the fg you can adjust how early they come on and how late they turn off.

i didn't vote as i basically only do it on the highway.

[ZDI-970]

in rain or just overcast definitely leave lights on but on sunny days, i dont bother... come to think of it though i probly should leave them on anytime... our cars are all dark colours

[Keepleft]

Originally Posted by grandpa_spec_au

No, you're thinking of Whirlpool forums, pretty sure they have an entire 'tinfoil hat' section

I'm on another 14 day bin penalty over at WP. Offending lefties too much.

[BHDOGS]

I dont drive with my headlights on, if i did how would all the fullysick car drivers that drive around with them on be able to differentiate themselves for the look at me i need attention to live factor just like the new daylight driving lights craze of led bars on your front bumper.

[CRAIGAU3220]

Mine's an ex Telstra............Cant turn em off, only down to parkers which i don't bother.

[bluovl]

My daily driver is silver so I drive with the parking lights on only most days.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by BHDOGS

I dont drive with my headlights on, if i did how would all the fullysick car drivers that drive around with them on be able to differentiate themselves for the look at me i need attention to live factor just like the new daylight driving lights craze of led bars on your front bumper.

Typing fingers working before brain eh?