Driving Anti-Patterns - Necro Edition
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Rear fog lights are red. The only white rear light (here) is the one that lights up when you shift into reverse.
Ah, well, we're back to "electrical failure" then and you must be talking about something I've never seen. To make sure I understand, you're talking about something just like front fog lights, in that they're separate bulbs, usually lower than the regular set of lights, for example built into the bumper, right?
I quick GIS and I saw some images that weren't clear. How is a rear fog light different from the rear running light, is it brighter or something?
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I'm not quite sure myself; I think it's brighter. The Dutch wikipedia describes a bright red light (mandatory on left side since 1997), but does not link to an English article.
Given that most lights use coloured covers rather than coloured lamps, a white rear light seems more likely to be a broken covering than an electrical problem.
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I've seen plenty of USDM cars with white lights that look like they could be fog lights, but are in fact reverse lights.
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/3/2362/2901/30903950002_large.jpg
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The Dutch wikipedia describes a bright red light (mandatory on left side since 1997), but does not link to an English article.
The English article on car lights (I think; I don't remember exactly the title; I found it by googling "rear fog light") suggests they are normally closer to the brightness of a brake light, not a running light.
Given that most lights use coloured covers rather than coloured lamps, a white rear light seems more likely to be a broken covering than an electrical problem.
Most of the time I've seen that, it's not broken covers. What I'll see is something like a Lexus IS350, but with more parallelogram-shaped than circular inner white lights. If you're close enough you can usually tell whether the cover is broken or not.
Edit: Of course, I can't think of the particular car make or model I'm thinking of, but you see those lights--it's from an upper-end brand like Mercedes or Lexus or something--sometimes grafted into a cheap Asian car.
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San Diego has some of the worst traffic lights I've encountered. Going to work in the morning it's pretty common to hit 5 or 6 consecutive red lights for no good reason. Traffic is steady but not heavy or anywhere near overwhelming to the point where I'm just slow getting there. It's also not uncommon to come up on a green light and have it turn red when there are exactly zero cars waiting to proceed through the intersection in a different direction. And there's the light at the top of the freeway exit near work where two or the three times I've seen the red light flash green and then yellow before the first guy in line can take his foot off the brakes. Of all places I would assume a large west coast city would be doing their best to keep things moving smoothly so we're not all burning gas idling at lights.
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Back up north, in really severe weather, most people put their hazard lights on, because in, say, a blizzard, it might be the only way you can see another car.
And I said "up north" but I've seen it done in Florida in hurricanes as well, but like I said, I only see it in really heavy downpours or near-blizzard conditions. If a cop stopped me for that in those circumstances I'd ask who else he was going to ticket and threaten to fight it on "you're singling me out" grounds.
Yeah -- if I was a cop under those sorts of visibility-impaired conditions, I'd have my flashers on as well. Better to be visible and seen then to be the cop who got his cruiser totaled because a truck driver didn't see you in the snow/fog/driving rain/...
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Of all places I would assume a large west coast city would be doing their best to keep things moving smoothly so we're not all burning gas idling at lights.
Good god, no, they want you living in apartment towers in the city and using mass transit. West Coast "urban planners" are actively hostile to drivers.
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Tailgating is some kind of regional sport where I live. Lots of drivers don't seem to have heard of the two-second rule.
Two seconds? Luxury!
We have a half-second rule. The rule is a maximum, not a minimum. Don't be more than half a second behind the car in front or people will zoom around you to get in front, cut you off, yell, honk, etc. Consequently, there are as many rear-end accidents from following too closely as all other motor vehicle accidents put together. I think we have more rear-end collisions than anywhere else in the country.
In my younger, more foolish days I used to brake-check tailgaters. I haven't done that in probably fifteen years, not because I don't want to cause an accident but because it's just not effective. People here are just too dumb to learn.
I don't have the nerve. If they don't get back in safely, I'm going to be part of the smash.
I don't want to cause an accident and won't go that far, but I do like to make it clear that a smash is the ultimate and natural consequence of driving aggressively. Also it makes people around you act like a dick towards you.
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It's also not uncommon to come up on a green light and have it turn red when there are exactly zero cars waiting to proceed through the intersection in a different direction.
I'm just glad that they finally mixed Clairemont Mesa Blvd/Convoy after I moved away from the area.
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Good god, no, they want you living in apartment towers in the city and using mass transit. West Coast "urban planners" are actively hostile to drivers.
I'll be posting in the status thread soon about how MTS in San Diego is horrible...
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Ah, well, we're back to "electrical failure" then and you must be talking about something I've never seen. To make sure I understand, you're talking about something just like front fog lights, in that they're separate bulbs, usually lower than the regular set of lights, for example built into the bumper, right?
We've got those as well. (The mounting depends on the model of car.)
How is a rear fog light different from the rear running light, is it brighter or something?
It's about as bright as a brake light, much brighter than a normal running light. In thick fog (or other similarly obscuring weather) they're invaluable, as they help make sure that the idiot behind you sees you and doesn't run into you at nearly full speed if you have to slow down a lot. I'd only use the hazard lights if I was about to come to a full stop in an unexpected place, and they're not as bright as a rear fog light (though they compensate by flashing).If the fog is really thick, I'd just rather not be on the highway at all. I might delude myself into thinking I drive well, but I sure as hell don't trust everyone else to do so.
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It's also not uncommon to come up on a green light and have it turn red when there are exactly zero cars waiting to proceed through the intersection in a different direction.
It sounds like this is not what is going on here, but there are at least two reasons that this can be very reasonable:- The light is on a sensor, but someone coming from the side showed up early in the cycle, made a right turn, and was gone before you got there
- It is is a pedestrian-heavy area; the problem is that you'll get a lot of people who show up and all assume that someone else hit the walk button and so the light doesn't change, or does change but without giving a walk.The lights in the downtown near me are all on timers for this reason.
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in most circumstances they're far more of a hazard on the road
I have read that cyclists on footpaths is more dangerous to both the cyclist and the pedestrians. My ten-second Google search didn't turn anything up to support that. I do know I generally hate riding on footpaths because they're narrow and pedestrians don't expect you. Crossing side streets is a pain. Most places in Australia it's illegal to ride on footpaths although where I live it's allowed. We also have an excellent cycle path network so most of the time I don't have to make the footpath/road choice which is awesome.
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I do know I generally hate riding on footpaths because they're narrow and pedestrians don't expect you.
Hah. I hate riding in the street because the streets are full of 40pmh drivers who don't appreciate a bicyclist filling up a lane.
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typical? no.
unheard of? also no.
You mean Hollywood has been lying to us all this time?!
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in this state driving with your hazard lights on might actually be a moving violation
It's illegal here.
late-model Mustang who had a red ring around his inner headlights
Aftermarket lights, I assume? Here displaying a red light to the front of the vehicle will get you stopped and given a defect notice right quick. Red lights go on the rear, or on the rear half of running light modules.
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Back up north, in really severe weather, most people put their hazard lights on, because in, say, a blizzard, it might be the only way you can see another car.
Turns out it varies by state, and is actually perfectly legal in my state but NOT legal in Florida.And I said "up north" but I've seen it done in Florida in hurricanes as well, but like I said, I only see it in really heavy downpours or near-blizzard conditions. If a cop stopped me for that in those circumstances I'd ask who else he was going to ticket and threaten to fight it on "you're singling me out" grounds.
So far I have never driven in conditions such that another car having its hazard lights flashing (instead of just its lights on) made them any easier for me to see, but as with any driving behavior that makes me assume another driver is more likely than average to do something stupid without my having any warning (specifically, change lanes inadvisably...because their turn signals are at best harder to notice, and at worst disabled while the flashers are on), it does make me focus on that vehicle more than on the others in the vicinity...sometimes to the detriment of my awareness of the rest of the road, and almost always with a goal of getting past them as soon as (hopefully safely) possible so that I can stop worrying about them.
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Hah. I hate riding in the street because the streets are full of 40pmh drivers who don't appreciate a bicyclist filling up a lane.
Indeed, this happens sometimes. I choose carefully which roads I'm going to ride on, and I appreciate and use the cycle path network we have. If I lived in a different city I would probably not cycle to work.
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Aftermarket lights, I assume?
I assume, or a modification thereof. They were in the place where the inner pair of headlights goes on a modern 'Stang.
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yeah, these are definitely illegal
http://www.umnitza.com/albums/predatorice/red.sized.jpg
which is why I have something closer to these
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yeah, these are definitely illegal
That's exactly what I was talking about, except for only one pair of lights having them.
Who thinks this is a good idea? I think we should bring back the idea of outlawry, where jackassery like this means I can take a crowbar to the lights, and not be breaking any law.
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Like this, but only the inner lights?
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Yes. Now picture that going down the street at night. And not some little gravel side-street, but a major 6-lane divided thoroughfare.
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When I was driving away he followed me for half a cilometre, and smashed the horn ALL the time.
Crystal meth is an ugly drug.
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these projector housings have a cutoff for the beam, so they do not blind other drivers.
In theory, there's no difference between practice and theory.
I hate HID projector headlamps. Fuckers usually blind me.
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In theory, there's no difference between practice and theory.
I hate HID projector headlamps. Fuckers <em>usually</em> blind me.
I don't think that you properly understand the technology. that, or they have them adjusted incorrectly. my lights are very bright, and they will not blind you.
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When I'm being blinded by some fucker with the characteristic angle-dependent color temperature characteristic of projector HIDs, I don't need to understand the technology in order to know I'm being blinded or what I'm being blinded by.
And for whatever reason, I'm blinded by fuckers with HIDs far more often than by fuckers with other kinds of headlights, despite HIDs being very much the minority option in the fleet hereabouts.
So until my local HID owners get their fucking act together and make sure they're driving cars with headlights that work properly, I shall continue to despise them and to hate their ridiculous possum-burner overkill headlights. But thank you for your concern.
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The thing is, you said "projector headlamps", which have a cutoff pattern. It's those idiots with HIDs in halogen assemblies that blind you.
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idiots with HIDs in halogen assemblies
Holy crap. Those are a thing!?
I will henceforth be on the lookout for these fabled non-blinding HID headlights so that I may think benevolent thoughts toward their owners. I have to tell you, though, that in these parts I'd expect a better success rate from a search for Bigfoot.
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My car came with normal halogen bulbs and halogen assemblies. I changed the assemblies out, and added HID light.
A lot of people do the latter without doing the former.
Before:
After:
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What's the difference in beam pattern? How much light does it throw up above numberplate level?
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Holy crap. Those are a thing!?
Thankfully now an MOT (mandatory yearly car inspection) failure in the UK. Much to the chagrin of the chavs who can't afford proper conversions.
A beam pattern check is also part of the MOT.I will henceforth be on the lookout for these fabled non-blinding HID headlights so that I may think benevolent thoughts toward their owners.
Maybe US ones have different beam patterns than other parts of the world? Here HID is extremely common and not an issue now that the shit conversions are banned.
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I've always been somewhat fond of the idea of removing all vehicular safety devices and having sharpened 12-inch spikes protrude from the center of the steering wheel. My guess is most people will suddenly realize their cell phones really aren't that important.
My anecdotal counterpoint to that is that, even with the knowledge that bikes are more dangerous than cars, I've had three hospital visits after coming off motorbikes, and one very minor car accident.
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We're talking about headlights now?
I have a '09 Kia Spectra, and my headlights seem rather dim, it's often hard to tell if they're on or not. But I don't want to be one of those assholes who blinds everyone with headlights as bright as high-beams. What kind of light am I looking for?
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hmm... well i'd suggest trying simply replacing the bulbs with new ones if this seeming dim is a relatively new thing. It could be the bulbs are on their way out and replacing them will make bright again.
if it's always been that way.... i dunno... it depends on:
- What the car can support
- how much you're willing to pay for new lights/hardware
- how much of the retrofit you're willing to do yourself rather than having the mechanic do it (not hard, but is dirty)
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It's always been that way, for values of always that represent the less than a year I've owned this car :) I don't mind getting dirty, but I'm not sure in practical terms what I'm looking for.
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hmm... well in that case i'd recommend talking to your favorite mechanic about it, but trying to replace the bulbs first might be a good idea. they're definitely the cheapest option that might work.
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I shall add that to my to-do list for the vehicle :) Thanks!
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My anecdotal counterpoint to that is that, even with the knowledge that bikes are more dangerous than cars, I've had three hospital visits after coming off motorbikes, and one very minor car accident.
And my anecdotal counterpoint to that is I have been in one car accident, though I wasn't the driver, and no on-road motorcycle accidents (I keep my bike crashes to the woods trails
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(I keep my bike crashes to the woods trails ).
my last bike crash was a "Face, Meet Tree" type crash because i got distracted by the local wildlife.....
i never did bother repairing my bike after that.
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I haven't had any serious tree impacts yet, just a few where I bounced the handlebars off a tree trunk going like 3 mph. Mudholes are my biggest enemy, as is myself when I start getting cocky and thinking I need to try drifting around corners. My bike and its street-legal tires don't drift on loose dirt, it goes down every time.
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I don't mind getting dirty, but I'm not sure in practical terms what I'm looking for.
Changing the bulbs should be relatively easy. Look in the owner's manual. It probably involves opening up the hood and popping some stuff out to get to them. Or, you could use my wife's method.
You can get replacement bulbs at any auto parts store. The last time I bought some was from Wal-Mart.
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The last time I bought some was from Wal-Mart.
PAGING THE COSTCO FANS!!! WE GOT STARTER FUEL FOR A FLAMEWAR HERE!!
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PAGING THE COSTCO FANS!!! WE GOT STARTER FUEL FOR A FLAMEWAR HERE!!
Bloody Americans and having to buy a case of bulbs when I only wanted two!
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Changing the bulbs should be relatively easy.
It should be. Depends on the car. Mine has lots of fiddly clips, springs and levers that you have to manipulate with one hand in a space less than inch across.
My mechanic looked at me like I had a screw loose when I asked him to change the headlamps on my Mazda - he didn't want to rip me off doing something so trivial.
When I picked up the car, he acted like he had the screw loose for taking on such a lousy job for so little money.
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What's the difference in beam pattern? How much light does it throw up above numberplate level?
"cutoff pattern" is exactly what it sounds like. Nothing above the line (outside of reflections from the housing). How much it throws above the number plate depends on the angle that the lights are set at. I posted this up-thread:
http://what.thedailywtf.com/t/driving-anti-patterns/3300/49?u=chubertdev
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@accalia and @Yamikuronue, you want Sylvania Silverstars.
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i'll remember that when i next go for bulbs. just had to do the rear brake lights, and since i use them as daytime running lights, the headlights can't be far behind.
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@accalia and @Yamikuronue, you want Sylvania Silverstars.
Silverstars trade brightness for bulb life. Think of them as $60 bulbs instead of $15 bulbs.
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@accalia and @Yamikuronue, you want Sylvania Silverstars.
Apparently, no you don't; you want Narva RangePower+50 or RangePower+30, GE Night Hawk, Philips Vision Plus or Osram Silver Star, not Osram Sylvania Silver Star.
