Safe Speed Forums

Great job on Radio2 today, Paul. Suprised no-one else has mentioned it (unless I've missed something). Could you publish a transcript?

Second that I missed it !!

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Gordon Brown saying I got the country into it's current economic mess so I'll get us out of it is the same as Bomber Harris nipping over to Dresden and offering to repair a few windows.

Chaos, panic and disorder - my work here is done.

http://www.wildcrafts.co.uk

See: http://www.safespeed.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6224

No transcript or audio recording I'm afraid.

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

bbc.co.uk and 'Listen Again'

Whats the issue with lights during the daytime? I always ride with the lights on (although with my current bikes I have no choice, the dipped headlight is connected to the ignition).

If all vehicles had their headlights on and some were to use main beam, like a few brainless bikers I could mention, then bikers' use of lights would be rendered useless!

Always good to know what others think of me, I must be brainless then........

I use main beam whenever I filter in daylight and early in the morning and late in the afternoon when the sun is behind me.

Balrog

DON'T use main beam in daylight.
When you're filtering or overtaking, it dazzles car drivers via the door mirror. Also, anyone looking DIRECTLY at you will find it much harder to judge your distance and speed- your headlight is so bright, that the rest of the bike virtually disappears; all they see is a bright point of light surrounded by an indistinct blur, and they cannot focus on the light.

Then I assume you won't be too put out when you get splattered all over the road?

Thats why I do it; because I am after having an accident. Muppet.

Just filtering in slow moving traffic in daylight. Only when cars are nose to tail and going nowhere. In these circumstances a significant percentage of drivers, I would guess 33%, are not driving. They are reading a book, doing some paperwork or texting their mates. Effectively its dazzle or be ignored.

If they are going nowhere, then why dazzle them as the only cause of any accident would be you.

If they are moving, you want to do everything you can to maximize the chance they can see what you are doing.

Quote:-I use main beam whenever I filter in daylight and early in the morning and late in the afternoon when the sun is behind me.

Why Modern dipped beams are more than adequate, especially given the badly adjusted 'bike lights there are to be seen on the road.

I am glad you know the spec and state of adjustment of my lamps. I will modify my actions immediatly due to your sage advice and infinite wisdom.

If you (re) read my post above you might realise I was talking about drivers who do not use their mirrors.

so you're happy to blind the majority of people who use their mirrors, making them more likely to hit you or someone or something else, in order to wake-up the minority who don't?

You would drive when dazzled? And its me thats unsafe? Remind what the highway code says about what a driver should do if dazzled!

I think you are wrong on this one Balrog. A modern bike light on full beam is too bright and could cause accidents.

You are welcome to your opinion. For the record the bikes that I ride most often in traffic is a GSX600F and a GSF600. I would not ride the triumph on main beam.

I appreciate that everyone's eyes are different and I don't ride a motorbike.

I can't honestly say I've ever been that bothered about meeting a bike on main beam during daylight. I will confess to thinking "that's bright" but I don't think I've ever struggled to figure out what I was looking at.

As for distance judgement, I tend to assume that bikes are going fast all the time until it proves itself overwise, so I will refrain from changing lanes or whatever until it's either passed or is clearly not gaining on me (after giving a clear indication of intentions).

It probably takes me fractionally longer to get places than many on here, but I tend to go by "If in doubt, don't". It means I miss the odd opportunity to nip in somewhere or choose the faster lane, but on the whole I it appears to be a reasonable policy.

I can appreciate that many might find main beams dazzling (my father does), but personally I'm neither here nor there with it.

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