- Thread starter Bob
- Start date
uncle henry
Member
i flash hi beam once if they don"t dim theirs i run hi beams til they dim theirs are we pass each other which ever comes first p.s. have been known to use a spot light on tailgaters with hi beams on
MarkB_MI
Well-known Member
- Location
- Motown USA
You should count your blessings. Most drivers in North America are at least familiar with the concept of dimming headlights, although perhaps not the practice.
I spent some time in the Arab Republic of Egypt. Out in the desert, Egyptian drivers keep their headlamps on high beam. When two cars meet, one will turn his lights out while the other keeps his high beams on. After a few seconds, the driver on high beam will extinguish his lights and the other driver will turn his high beams back on. They will continue this rotation until they pass. I asked my driver why he did this, and he explained that it was so the other driver wouldn't be blinded. When I told him that American drivers use the dimmer switch, he shook his head in disbelief.
I spent some time in the Arab Republic of Egypt. Out in the desert, Egyptian drivers keep their headlamps on high beam. When two cars meet, one will turn his lights out while the other keeps his high beams on. After a few seconds, the driver on high beam will extinguish his lights and the other driver will turn his high beams back on. They will continue this rotation until they pass. I asked my driver why he did this, and he explained that it was so the other driver wouldn't be blinded. When I told him that American drivers use the dimmer switch, he shook his head in disbelief.
Bob Bancroft
Well-known Member
- Location
- Aurora NY
I don't know that it's really intelligence that's lacking in this situation, but then ignorance and arrogance do go together.
I think it's the general degradation of our society. As individuals concentrate more and more on themselves, anything, and anyone around them disappear from view!
I think it's the general degradation of our society. As individuals concentrate more and more on themselves, anything, and anyone around them disappear from view!
RickieBlue
Member
I remember reading that a very high percent of drivers (something like 83%) that are stopped for failing to dim their headlights are above the legal limit for alcohol in their system.
just another old geezer
Member
Around here 75% of the people failing to dim are the police trying to intice you to flash your high beams at them so that they can give you a ticket.
Mike(NEOhio)
Well-known Member
- Location
- Newbury, Ohio
I've used the spotlight, too, or turned the rear view back on them till they get it.
survival my friend.
Not referring to you, but with some drivers out there, I'd rather they be mad at me, than not SEE me.
(cage drivers #1 excuse when they waste us..."I didn't see him")
funny, My Heritage HD has driving lights that only work with the low beams = 3 lights. A car flashes their lights at me cuz of the 3.
OK, I hit the high beam which makes the driving lights go off.
They are now happy. funny
and don't forget, us bikers like fat chicks.
big girl on the back and the light is up there a bit
Prawn Farmer
Member
The 3-B Rule: Beams, Butt-cracks, Big fat gals wearing spandex. Look away and you will be better off.
Of course I can't actually see the other on-coming driver per se, but, noticed some seniors I've ridden with tend to not dim their lights - maybe they have cataracts and shouldn't be driving at night.
john in la
Well-known Member
My son totaled a new car with less than 500 miles on it for doing just what you are saying.
He bought a car that I personally thought the low beams were extra bright. He was meeting a pickup on a small country road posted 35mph but most run 50mph.
The pickup put his high beams on thinking my sons high beams were on; so my son put his high beams on. It blinded the old man and he crossed the center line hitting my son head on.
He bought a car that I personally thought the low beams were extra bright. He was meeting a pickup on a small country road posted 35mph but most run 50mph.
The pickup put his high beams on thinking my sons high beams were on; so my son put his high beams on. It blinded the old man and he crossed the center line hitting my son head on.
john in la
Well-known Member
Do you really think it is IQ and not arrogance?
My pet peeve; mostly because I pull a 53 foot trailer threw city streets all day every day: is the disregard of stop here lines at a intersection.
My pet peeve; mostly because I pull a 53 foot trailer threw city streets all day every day: is the disregard of stop here lines at a intersection.
Forgetting to dim headlights has been true since at least the 1960's, probably since high/low beams were developed. Today's headlights are brighter so it's more aggravating now than in the past. Other than light brightness, I don't think the frequency has gotten much worse or much better in all that time. My eyes have gotten worse, so it does bother me more now than it did years ago.
Way back when I was in high school, I was driving home from a beer party at about 1 am on a gravel road. I met a car that would not dim his lights. I flashed the brights and he still wouldn't dim them. That was very rare on the back gravel roads in our neighborhood. I was about a mile from home and knew the road well so I let it ride. Just as we were about to meet the other driver finally dimmed his lights. It was a deputy sheriff, likely patrolling for drunks. I was lucky I didn't have to tangle with him that night.
Way back when I was in high school, I was driving home from a beer party at about 1 am on a gravel road. I met a car that would not dim his lights. I flashed the brights and he still wouldn't dim them. That was very rare on the back gravel roads in our neighborhood. I was about a mile from home and knew the road well so I let it ride. Just as we were about to meet the other driver finally dimmed his lights. It was a deputy sheriff, likely patrolling for drunks. I was lucky I didn't have to tangle with him that night.
pete black
Well-known Member
i fully believe failure to dim is a direct result of their hands being to busy; cell phone, radios, gps, makeup, hair, drinks, food. it is time for the dimmer switch to return to the floor.
smallercrawler
Member
Around here it's the young, "hey look at me, DRIVING WHILE TEXTING set"; with their 4000 watt blue halogens, 600 db bass, and mosquito f*rting mufflers; and total disregard for laws, others, and in fact themselves! Don't forget the obligatory CD hanging from the rear view mirror!
Yep, this one hit a nerve.
Each morning on the way to work I have to cross a divided four lane highway where the speed limit is 70. My crossing is kinda wide and I can pull into the middle and wait for the oncoming traffic to clear without having to cross all four lanes at once. I have identified several cars, trucks, and one motorcycle that, at 7:00AM, think they don't need headlights on. They are coming out of the sun from my perspective and I have several times been ready to pull out only to see them at the last second.
Also, in Texas, the vehicle inspection procedure does not require aiming of the headlights now. They have to work, that's all. So, many have lights that hunt birds or armadillos instead of lighting the way. The low beams are all over the place. That, coupled with the intensity of the lights on newer cars, makes for really dangerous situations on two lane roads. I called one of the local children's homes that has a 15 passenger van that I meet all the time with the driver headlight aimed really bad and asked them if I could aim it for them. They said it was inspected and OK and I was wrong. No recourse except to give them the brights every time we meet. Then who's at fault???
Each morning on the way to work I have to cross a divided four lane highway where the speed limit is 70. My crossing is kinda wide and I can pull into the middle and wait for the oncoming traffic to clear without having to cross all four lanes at once. I have identified several cars, trucks, and one motorcycle that, at 7:00AM, think they don't need headlights on. They are coming out of the sun from my perspective and I have several times been ready to pull out only to see them at the last second.
Also, in Texas, the vehicle inspection procedure does not require aiming of the headlights now. They have to work, that's all. So, many have lights that hunt birds or armadillos instead of lighting the way. The low beams are all over the place. That, coupled with the intensity of the lights on newer cars, makes for really dangerous situations on two lane roads. I called one of the local children's homes that has a 15 passenger van that I meet all the time with the driver headlight aimed really bad and asked them if I could aim it for them. They said it was inspected and OK and I was wrong. No recourse except to give them the brights every time we meet. Then who's at fault???
One morning, I dimmed my lights, but they were dim and so it appeared that I was flashing the other driver. My mistake. So, if I can make a mistake, others can as well. I try to be forgiving of others and so I will put my hand up by the windshield to block the glare of the bright lights . WHAT REALLY PISSES ME OFF IS WHEN THE ASKHOLE FOLLOWING ME PUTS HIS BRIGHTS ON, because of the approaching cars lights. Makes me want to brake VERY VERY hard and right now.
The law was that you had too dim your lights at a distant of 500ft. Some people think 3 tenths of a mile is too close.
This is not directed at any one person, BUT,if driving makes you mad, quit driving. If you allow your self to be angry because of the actions of other people, you have issues you need to resolve. As adults we are supposed to be able to have control of our emotions. Ask me how I know that.
STEVE
The law was that you had too dim your lights at a distant of 500ft. Some people think 3 tenths of a mile is too close.
This is not directed at any one person, BUT,if driving makes you mad, quit driving. If you allow your self to be angry because of the actions of other people, you have issues you need to resolve. As adults we are supposed to be able to have control of our emotions. Ask me how I know that.
STEVE
old popper
Well-known Member
I am for putting the dimmer switch on the floor where it should be. Very few have a clutch pedal to operate with their left foot, why let it sit there with nothing to do?
Brent Zappe
Member
Hey where I live I understand that most people do not know how to drive. I travel threw high ways that ask for people to run head lights on during the day. Why because cars can hide in to the road. I understand that this is for there and my safty. There are some like me who do but there are alot of them that do not. Head lights on a car is there for you and them to be seen, safty to keep away from harm. Brent
I love the upscale Crossovers or whatever with the HID? lights. You know, the ones that look like they're flashing on and off as they go over bumps. I get nervous thinking an emergency vehicle or someone in distress is behind me flashing its headlights only to find out its just the bumps. Or the loud Harley with the stack of 4-5 headlights of which only one or two are aimed correctly blinding everyone on low beam.
T in NE
Well-known Member
- Location
- Cambridge, Nebraska
Your driving lights are probably pointed at their eyes, and your high beam isn"t.
What I really hated was all the bikes with two high beams and a strobe above it.
OK, run a couple lights in the daytime. Fine, go for it. But point the dam things at the road, you don"t need to point them where they"re blinding people and causing another hazard. That"s the beauty of a headlight, it doesn"t have to shine in your eyes to see it!!!!!!!
Only thing worse is the new LED-lit busses with 20 acres of flat, sloped glass on the front. You don"t want to meet one in the morning while you"re westbound, or in the afternoon while eastbound. They were starting to run them in North Carolina when I was driving, and there were mornings on 2-lane highways I literally threw on the 4-ways and stopped til they passed, before moving again. All I could tell was I had the sun in my mirror and coming down the road at me, too!
What I really hated was all the bikes with two high beams and a strobe above it.
OK, run a couple lights in the daytime. Fine, go for it. But point the dam things at the road, you don"t need to point them where they"re blinding people and causing another hazard. That"s the beauty of a headlight, it doesn"t have to shine in your eyes to see it!!!!!!!
Only thing worse is the new LED-lit busses with 20 acres of flat, sloped glass on the front. You don"t want to meet one in the morning while you"re westbound, or in the afternoon while eastbound. They were starting to run them in North Carolina when I was driving, and there were mornings on 2-lane highways I literally threw on the 4-ways and stopped til they passed, before moving again. All I could tell was I had the sun in my mirror and coming down the road at me, too!
Most pickups, cars and SUVs have that problem to one degree or another. The weight of a load or trailer tongue pitches the back end down and the headlight aim higher. Sometime I think three headlight settings in my pickup would help.
How long do you think it will be before some manufacturer introduces "self-leveling" headlights, or do they already exist?
How long do you think it will be before some manufacturer introduces "self-leveling" headlights, or do they already exist?
Prawn Farmer
Member
Self leveling and self turning both have been around for at least 12 years that I know of.
You know the old saying, you and I are the only good drivers on the road, and sometimes I'm not so sure about you. I plead guilty to making the mistake of putting my headlights on high beam when I intended to put them on low. Depends on the other driver what reaction that brings. I try to not be too critical of others driving errors unless they are intentional.
I have ridden since 1973, you are part of why a bunch of cage drivers have no respect for bikes. Sounds like you need to aim those driving lights. they are supposed to hit the road low. Having a headlight on makes you visible, having your high beams on makes you a law breaking jerk.
Similar threads
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.
Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy