Safe Speed Forums

I do the same in my car and have found similar, I do note that other road users point out that I have my lights on, great they have seen me and are aware of me.

Lighting up Saves lives
1. In DAYTIME you must use DIPPED HEADLIGHTS when
visibility is reduced seriously by FOG, MIST, HEAVY RAIN,
SPRAY or similar conditions. If you are in doubt about the level
of visibility – switch on dipped headlights for extra safety.

2. In conditions of poor visibility it is absolutely vital that other
road users can see your vehicle.The use of DIPPED
HEADLIGHTS makes this very much easier for them.
3. You must, of course, use headlights during the hours of
darkness, on main or dipped beam as appropriate.
4. Sidelights alone are not enough: they are often not seen until
the outline of the vehicle is visible, which may be much too
late. Sidelights are really only parking lights.
5. Dipped headlights must be properly adjusted to avoid dazzling
other road users.
6. Make sure all lights and indicators are clean and working
properly.
7. At dusk and on dull mornings DIPPED HEADLIGHTS will not
just help you to see but, equally importantly, will help you to BE
SEEN.
8. If you plan to drive when on holiday the use of DIPPED
HEADLIGHTS in poor visibility during daytime is compulsory
in many European countries.
9. SEE and BE SEEN.
USE DIPPED HEADLIGHTS DURING POOR VISIBILITY, and
help reduce traffic collision casualties in Northern Ireland.
10. Remember that you should only use front or rear fog lights
when visibility is reduced, generally when you cannot see for
more than 100 metres, as they dazzle other road users and can
obscure your brake lights.You MUST switch them off when
visibility improves.
FAILURE TO USE DIPPED HEADLIGHTS
NOW CARRIES A FINE OF UP TO £1,000.

Austria is the first west European country outside Scandinavia to make it compulsory for all vehicles to drive with dipped headlights during the day, on road safety grounds. From 15 April 2006, this will be enforced with a €15 fine. The European Commission is considering a similar law across the union.

Other considerations include:

* the current law of turning on dipped headlights in poor visibility is followed by most drivers in the UK;
* some vulnerable road users, such as motorcyclists, currently make use of their lights to stand out on the road but may lose the benefit if daytime dipped headlights are made compulsory.

Weather Related: 44% of total accidents

Road Surface Conditions: 35% of total accidents

This indicates an over representation of number of motor vehicle accidents in the Blue Mountains LGA are attributable to adverse weather conditions and road surface. When a comparison is made to the annual wet/rain days in the mountains at 131.2 or 37% and with cloudy/overcast days, 149.7 or 42% of days, these contributing factors become alarmingly significant.

A simple safety precaution that drivers can implement is to use their headlights during daytime. This is internationally referred to as Daytime Running Lights (DRL). Research shows that DRL increases visibility, especially when there is adverse weather conditions, low light, and glare from sun or from dull coloured motor vehicles.

Further analysis of driving experience shows that the fact of driving with daytime headlights reduces the frequency of the collisions in question by half, that is to say 25% of all fatal daytime accidents.

The psychological research review shows that DRL does not only improve the visibility of motor vehicles in daytime, but also influences the timely peripheral perception of vehicles making conflicting movements. Moreover, cars with DRL are better identified as cars and their distances are estimated more safely compared to cars without DRL. All this contributes to the expectations that DRL has positive safety effects, especially in conditions of low ambient illumination. At certain distances, 8% of vehicles become invisible to other road users, even in perfect conditions.

Research tells us that success in modifying people's behaviour has come largely through a combination of education programs, legislation, enforcement and appropriate engineer solutions, together with measures to make it easier for people to behave safely. DRL and the strategies of Drive To Survive have all these elements.

"In the short term there is no safety measure with the same degree of effectiveness"
(Gerondeau, C; A revolutionary and urgent measure of the initiative by the European Commission; European RO Issue 12EWS 1998)

Recognizing Rain Dangers on the Road

Rainy driving tips - In stormy conditions, it is more difficult to see other vehicles, road signs and the road itself. It is critical to make sure you can see and be seen.

* First and foremost: slow down! It takes longer to stop or adjust in wet weather.
* Stay toward the middle lanes - water tends to pool in the outside lanes.
* Maintain proper following distance 3 Second Rule. This needs to be increased in wet weather.
* Drive in the tracks of a car ahead of you.
* Don't follow large trucks or busses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so quickly and safely.
* Be more alert when driving in wet or slippery conditions. Watch out for brake lights in front of you.
* Avoid using your brakes; if possible, take your foot off the accelerator to slow down.
* Turn your headlights on even in a light rain, or in gloomy, foggy or overcast conditions. Not only do they help you see the road, but they'll help other drivers see you. If your car has daytime running lights you still should put them on, so vehicles behind you can see you better.
* Before it starts to rain, replace old or brittle wipers.
* Avoid off-road driving: it's hard to judge the actual depth of puddles and you can easily become stuck, even in an SUV.
* Never drive beyond the limits of visibility. At night rainy roads become especially treacherous. The glare of oncoming lights, amplified by the rain on your windscreen, can cause temporary loss of visibility while substantially increasing driver fatigue. In rainy conditions pedestrians, livestock, and wildlife are extremely hard to spot and even harder to avoid.
* Never drive through moving water if you can't see the ground through it; your car could be swept off the road.
* When driving through a puddle of uncertain depth, go slow. If it's deeper than the bottom of your doors, turn around and find another route. Deep water can cause serious damage to a modern car's electrical system.
* Avoid splashing pedestrians.
* If possible, stay off the road during heavy thunderstorms. Large flashes of lightning can temporarily blind and disorient drivers, and the accompanying high winds and heavy rain can create deadly driving conditions.

Further analysis of driving experience shows that the fact of driving with daytime headlights reduces the frequency of the collisions in question by half, that is to say 25% of all fatal daytime accidents.

The psychological research review shows that DRL does not only improve the visibility of motor vehicles in daytime, but also influences the timely peripheral perception of vehicles making conflicting movements. Moreover, cars with DRL are better identified as cars and their distances are estimated more safely compared to cars without DRL. All this contributes to the expectations that DRL has positive safety effects, especially in conditions of low ambient illumination. At certain distances, 8% of vehicles become invisible to other road users, even in perfect conditions.

Nothing you have cut and pasted is anything other than propaganda from organisations who should know better. But since they are organisations that also support speed cameras (AA Motoring Trust - the only UK organisation you could find) and the others are from an Australian park authority and a parochial news channel from Lubbock, Texas we can see how poor their (and your) ability to think really is. Rather similar to your inability to read through academic evidence to the contrary that I have already posted.

Has anyone actually been fined £1000? You have no idea do you? Happy to swallow the drivel dished out by the road safety brigade when it suits your own blinkered and ill-considered view of the world. Try breaking the habit of a lifetime and start thinking. You might learn something.

Whilst revising my theory test almost a year ago I came across this question:

What must you do before entering a tunnel?

A. Sound the horn
B. Turn on your headlights
C. Slow down
D. Tune in to a local radio station

Guess what, the answer was D. God only knows why you would spend 5mins picking up a reception for a local radio station, playing 90's music on a Sunday afternoon, when by the time your tuner is programmed inyou left the tunnel 2miles behind you!

Are you SURE that was the answer? You can't get a radio signal in most tunnels...

But it is often quite a good idea to turn on your headlights - there's no daylight in tunnels!

Perhaps it was a misprint?