Volvo Estate drivers + lights on during the day

[Pie 1]

I find it distracting and annoying as fuck in equal measures to see cars with their lights on during the day.

Bizzare.

Do you like middle lanes too?

 

[pembrokestephen]

Just wanted to piggyback onto this thread...I tend to drive with my lights on, even during the day, but noticed I was getting flashed a lot in France. I don't know if this was about the lights, or something else, so was wondering whether anyone with experience of the French way of doing things might have any insight...?

To answer the OP's question, AFAIK quite a lot of Volvos default to lights-on. It's a "safety feature".

 

[pembrokestephen]

Most of my extended family have driven Volvos for the past 6000 years.

Natch.

Fuse-pullers to a man and woman.
Another case of nanny stateism.

If it is raining, in Frog, you have to put your headlights on. Not that everyone does, because they're often too pissed to dare to take a hand off the steering wheel.

Also, it's never easy to work the lights on a Renault when you're on the wrong side of the bloody road.


Ooh, I once read a scifi-short. An alien spaceship of advanced design is trying to matter transport a 'spy' in a Volvo estate onto the Earths' surface.

The alien matter transporter refuses to work until the driver has put her seat-belt on.

The Volvos' protocols had over-ridden it.

Amused me, in a spot bursting way.

Calva, please start an "Ask me questions about motoring in France" thread. I have loads of stuff to ask you

 

[chymaera]

I don't know if this was about the lights, or something else, so was wondering whether anyone with experience of the French way of doing things might have any insight...?
".

Did you have an "English" car without dipped beam deflectors? French drivers and the French plod tend to get a bit pissed off if you don't as the dipped beam still dazzles them.
(I just blank the dipped beam area of lights off with electrical tape, proper beam deflecors cost £5 and are a use once only item)

 

[mauvais]

I assume you're driving either a LHD car or have fitted headlight adjusters for a start. I don't really know but I'd have thought it was lights - you don't see many Volvos or other makes with daytime running lights in France IMO, so it's probably a bit unusual. This is only a guess -I'm no expert!

 

[pembrokestephen]

I assume you're driving either a LHD car or have fitted headlight adjusters for a start. I don't really know but I'd have thought it was lights - you don't see many Volvos or other makes with daytime running lights in France IMO, so it's probably a bit unusual. This is only a guess -I'm no expert!

Yep, I put beam benders on. Given that I actually travelled to France 3 times in the 2 weeks, I KNOW I had beam benders on, mainly because I left 'em on for the brief sojourns back to blighty.

 

[i_hate_beckham]

I hadnt noticed this untill reading this thread but yeah all volvo estates have headlights on.

 

[DrRingDing]

I think in Sweden you have to have your lights on all the time regardless of night or day.

That's how it is in Denmark.

 

[Boris Sprinkler]

yeah we covered that

 

[DrRingDing]

Forgive me for not reading a thread thoroughly on Volvo Estates headlamps

 

[gentlegreen]

I drove from Exeter to Bristol on the M5 yesterday, and apart from the usual lane-hogging, and caravans overtaking at 70 in the wet with 50mph warnings active, I was amazed to see how few cars had their lights on - including Volvos.

I soon realised why I so hate driving.

After a week in Cornwall it was a major culture shock to get back to Bristol ... though I was almost hit by another tourist charging around a blind corner on a single track lane on my way out of Treyarnon - just to get me in the mood

It'll be a relief to get back on my pushbike tomorrow.

 

[1927]

I hadnt noticed this untill reading this thread but yeah all volvo estates have headlights on.

Aint just estates, all Volvos period.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

In Spain it's illegal to have your lights on during the day! (I think).

Whenever there was slight rain, fog, mist or, fading light for whatever reason I turn my lights on. Took ages to figure out why police cars that passed me kept flashing their lights at me.

Apparently, you are only supposed to use your lights when the police have their lights lit. I have no idea what the logic is behind this.

There are plenty of overnight continental drivers who forget to turn their lights off in the morning. Total giveaway that they've probably been driving for way to long without taking a break. Perhaps it's something to do with this

 

[gentlegreen]

I wondered once or twice yesterday whether having tail lights burning might reduce the effectiveness of brakelights - though it makes sod all difference to the sort of morons who race towards you from behind in any case.

 

[T & P]

In heavy rain, fog etc I can understand the reasons behind it, but frankly anyone who might actually fail to see a car in daylight and clear conditions shouldn't be driving at all.

Should we paint the front and back of all cars yellow a la train locomotive as well? I might prevent one or two accidents a year.

 

[bi0boy]

My car is grey so I often put my lights on if it's a grey day, especially on the motorway because it makes people think you are going really fast so they are less likely to pull out in front of you.

 

[Pie 1]

In Spain it's illegal to have your lights on during the day! (I think). I have no idea what the logic is behind this.

No logic - just stupidity if it's correct.
Esspecially near you. A car without headlights on in the heat you get, will be invisible through the heat haze on a straight road until it's about half a k away therefore making overtaking in those conditions rather dangerous.

 

[Pie 1]

but frankly anyone who might actually fail to see a car in daylight and clear conditions shouldn't be driving at all.

See above post.

But frankly anyone who might actually fail to grasp the concept that making one's self more visible in a speeding lump of metal to other speeding lumps of metal by executing a small manouver involving forefinger. thumb & lightswitch, probably shouldn't be driving either IMO.

 

[T & P]

Where do you stop? Do you advocate painting all cars in flourescent yellow? And if not, why? Failure to do so doubtlessly costs lives evey year.

I've driven for many years in Spain, being from there, and I have never failed to see approaching cars even in the hottest of days.

There is absolutely no need to have the lights on. Not any more than painting cars in bright yellow anyway.

 

[Pie 1]

There is absolutely no need to have the lights on.

But no-ono's talking of making it law, it's not some nanny state thing, no ones eroding your civil liberties by switching on lights
Why are you so pissed of that people who choose to use use lights during the day, do so.

Genuinely


E2A:

Where do you stop? Do you advocate painting all cars in flourescent yellow?

<bangs head on desk - realising that in fact, T&P is an idiot.>

 

[T & P]

But no-ono's talking of making it law, it's not some nanny state thing, no ones eroding your civil liberties by switching on lights
Why are you so pissed of that people who choose to use use lights during the day, do so.

Genuinely

Because it is annoying. And it is distracting. And distraction can lead to accidents. So it is counterproductive at the least.

Thanks for the insult btw

 

[Pie 1]

Because it is annoying. And it is distracting.

Thank you for proving that frankly, you shouldn't be driving.

 

[T & P]

Oh I think I should. It's those who have difficulty in seeing cars in perfect daylight conditions who should perhaps give up.

I have no doubt in Nordic countries there might be good reason for having your lights on during the day. In Southern Europe there isn't. And I can assure you the automatic reaction a car with its lights on provokes- certainly in areas where you would not see many foreign cars travelling through- is "why is that twat driving with his lights on? Is he a copper? A pisshead? Or a 'kamikaze driver' driving the wrong way on the highway?"

It is a distraction and it is annoying. Before you start judging who should or shouldn't drive you should perhaps consider the different driving customs observed in different countries. Because in the likes of Spain you stick out like a sore thumb for the wrong reasons, and even if you yourself might perhaps be safer (if only because every other driver on the road notices you and thinks "what a twat") you're not making anyone else on the road any safer actually.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

I was on my way back from a festival a few weeks ago and noticed that the only people on the road with their lights on during the day (in bright sunshine too!) were Volvo Estate drivers.

I counted 7 in the one journey...

Now, having never driven, or wanted to drive a Volvo Estate i'm curious to know if this trend i have noticed is actually a feature of the car i.e. the lights are always on 'for saftey reasons' or is it down to the over cautious nature of the driver i.e they are a bit of a numpty for thinking they need their lights on in bright sunshine 'just in case'

If it's the driver that's decided that they need to have their lights on during the day can someone tell me why on earth it's necessary to do this if it's not in any way dark because i just don't get it at all

Here, the cars' lights come on automatically, as it's against the law to drive with no lights, day or night.

 

[Addy]

Nowt wrong with Volvo's or the drivers
If the lights come on automatically, regardless of what country your driving in... who gives a fuck?
I'm quite proud to be driving a grandad car with excess of 200BHP and all the safety and reasurance that it offers.

...dreading my first service bill though....

 

[Roadkill]

Would this be the wrong place to admit to having a big soft spot for old Volvos? My dad used to have them when I was a kid. One of the first cars I ever drove was a big, clunky old 240 estate identical to this one...

And even the racing version kept its day-running lights:

 

[Pie 1]

you're not making anyone else on the road any safer actually.

Christ almighty - you've talked such a load of old bollocks on this thread, you really have.

 

[The Groke]

It is a distraction and it is annoying.

How is it a distraction?

Dipped headlights during the day are barely noticeable......if it is dark enough for them to show prominently then it must follow that it is then actually dark enough to need them on?






I would frankly worry about being on the same road with someone who is so easily distracted as to be disturbed by daytime headlights....

 

[T & P]

Christ almighty - you've talked such a load of old bollocks on this thread, you really have.

Listen, it's very simple. If you are visiting the likes of Spain where absolutely nobody at all has the lights on during bright and clear codition it is rude, pointless and indeed distracting and annoying if you switch yours on.

You know how the saying goes. When in Rome...

If only out of respect to your hosts.

 

[jusali]

"I find people who have pink cars distracting it makes me think of Barbie and when I think of barbie I get a hardon which inhibits my steering wheel usage"

^^That's the natural conclusion of your statements on this matter T&P^^

Jeez