Volvo Estate drivers + lights on during the day

[tarannau]

Do you ever think you get things out of perspective T&P?

I mean, they're some fairly dim lights, not exactly the threat to international relations you seem to be making them out to be. Can't you just ignore them surely better than fixating on the little lights, working yourself up into a froth by describing them as 'rude pointless and indeed distracting and annoying.'

 

[Roadkill]

"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

Ha

'Tis a fair point, though, T & P. You've got this way out of proportion. There's no safety issue here at all - and if you're so anxious as a driver that the odd car with day-running lights is a dangerous distraction to you, you'd be best off surrendering your licence forthwith...

 

[Boris Sprinkler]

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:


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

nannystate ffs. If it stops accidents yeah terrbile offence on civil liberties. I suppose you think speed humps are for pussies too. (not you pie 1)

 

[T & P]

Ha

'Tis a fair point, though, T & P. You've got this way out of proportion. There's no safety issue here at all - and if you're so anxious as a driver that the odd car with day-running lights is a dangerous distraction to you, you'd be best off surrendering your licence forthwith...

How about common courtesy to the nation you are visiting?

Nobody, but NOBODY has the lights on in Spain in bright conditions. They don't like it. So why the fuck would anyone switch their lights on? At the very least they're going to get regular flashes from other drivers warning them their lights are on.

Anyone who feels unprotected or unsecure if their lights are not on in perfect daylight conditions and when nobody else does is the one who should either work out on their confidence or quit driving.

But even if you think it does not harm to have them all, look at it at least from the point of view that you are a guest in other people's country. I would switch my lights on in Sweden (regardless of what the law might say) if that is what drivers do there. Is it too much to ask that others adhere to the customs of the country they're driving through?

 

[tarannau]

Pfft. Customs of the country indeed. They're some fucking car lights, not an embodiment of a nation's civic pride or a heritage dancing display.

"Up yours degos' said the rude German, 'I'm using my headlights.... in the day. A pox on you and your country's traditional ways'

 

[Roadkill]

How about common courtesy to the nation you are visiting?

Nobody, but NOBODY has the lights on in Spain in bright conditions. They don't like it. So why the fuck would anyone switch their lights on? At the very least they're going to get regular flashes from other drivers warning them their lights are on.

Anyone who feels unprotected or unsecure if their lights are not on in perfect daylight conditions and when nobody else does is the one who should either work out on their confidence or quit driving.

But even if you think it does not harm to have them all, look at it at least from the point of view that you are a guest in other people's country. I would switch my lights on in Sweden (regardless of what the law might say) if that is what drivers do there. Is it too much to ask that others adhere to the customs of the country they're driving through?

You don't gte this, do you?

Let me spell it out simply. It's the law in Sweden (and I believe Norway as well) that drivers must keep their headlights on even in daylight. Therefore, Volvo and Saab cars are fitted with lights that remain perpetually on. That remains the case whichever market they are sold in, including Spain and Portugal. Presumably, if it were regarded as that serious, the day-running lights could be deactivated for those markets: the fact that they are not suggests that it's you who's getting het up about it, rather than Spanish drivers in general. And, for people driving Scandinavian cars, how can it be discourtesy (or nervousness) on their part if it's not possible to switch the lights off?

Personally, I wouldn't switch my lights on in daylight (barring heavy rain or fog, of course), because I don't see the need. But nor would I consider it a gross breach of courtesy if I happened to be driving through Spain in a car fitted with day-running lights.

Again, if you're so nervous a driver that you get distracted by dipped lights, you shouldn't be driving.

 

[T & P]

If he has the option to turn them off and continues to keep them on despite repeated flashes from other drivers then he's being a twat, yes.

Just as I'd be a twat if I keep my lights off when everyone else have theirs on, even if it is bright daylight and the law does not require to have them on.

Is it really that bizarre a concept that so long as it is safe and legal to do so you blend in with the locals and adhere to the local customs?

Christ.

 

[Roadkill]

You cannot switch the day-running lights off on a Volvo!

How hard can that be to understand?

 

[T & P]

You don't gte this, do you?

Let me spell it out simply. It's the law in Sweden (and I believe Norway as well) that drivers must keep their headlights on even in daylight. Therefore, Volvo and Saab cars are fitted with lights that remain perpetually on. That remains the case whichever market they are sold in, including Spain and Portugal. Presumably, if it were regarded as that serious, the day-running lights could be deactivated for those markets: the fact that they are not suggests that it's you who's getting het up about it, rather than Spanish drivers in general. And, for people driving Scandinavian cars, how can it be discourtesy (or nervousness) on their part if it's not possible to switch the lights off?

Personally, I wouldn't switch my lights on in daylight (barring heavy rain or fog, of course), because I don't see the need. But nor would I consider it a gross breach of courtesy if I happened to be driving through Spain in a car fitted with day-running lights.

Again, if you're so nervous a driver that you get distracted by dipped lights, you shouldn't be driving.

I'm not ranting about those whose lights are fixed on at all times (as I'm sured I've said earlier). I'm ranting about those who have the option to switch them off but don't, in countries and conditions where it is neither needed nor required by law or observed by anybody at all.

And again, it is those who feel their lights must be on when it is completely uncalled for to have them on who should consider quit driving.

 

[T & P]

You cannot switch the day-running lights off on a Volvo!

How hard can that be to understand?

As I've just said above at no point on this thread I was complaining about those who cannot switch their lights off.

 

[Roadkill]

I'm not ranting about those whose lights are fixed on at all times (as I'm sured I've said earlier). I'm ranting about those who have the option to switch them off but don't, in countries and conditions where it is neither needed nor required by law or observed by anybody at all.

Well what are you doing on this thread, then? This is/was about cars whose lights are wired to stay on all the time.

Incidentally, I think pretty much any driving instructor would tell you that it's better to err on the side of caution regarding visibility and put your lights on when they're not really needed, as opposed to driving around in poor visibility with no lights at all...

 

[Pie 1]

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.

Oh for fucks sake - Shut up!

 

[T & P]

 

[Chz]

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

Not quite correct.
In Canada, it is the law that all new cars must be sold with Daytime Running Lights as standard. (I don't know how Sweden et.al. do it, but in .ca DRLs are half-power high beams) There is no law requiring you to drive with them on, but it's generally difficult/impossible to disable them.

If you've got a car pre-1990something when the law was passed, there's no requirement whatsoever for you to drive with your lights on.
(Or at least that's how it is in Ontario - it's fucked up that the provinces get to write their own laws about things like this)

And you don't notice it at all when 98% of the cars have them.

 

[ICB]

A few points to add to this reasoned and calm discussion

I've seen plenty of Volvos driving around without lights on

It wouldn't exactly be a major tweak to disable DRLs for different markets

Some motorcyclists argue that there is a legitimate safety concern in that they have their lights on to make them more visible during the day and cars having them on dilutes this effect but personally I can't see the legitimacy of this argument and get mildly annoyed by bright motorcycle lights in hilly areas.

 

[ymu]

Some motorcyclists argue that there is a legitimate safety concern in that they have their lights on to make them more visible during the day and cars having them on dilutes this effect but personally I can't see the legitimacy of this argument and get mildly annoyed by bright motorcycle lights in hilly areas.

This is the first good point I've seen against DRLs on cars. You should never see a biker without their lights on - it's about the first thing you get taught these days, and there are several studies showing quite clearly that it reduces injury-causing accidents by 5-10%. Bikers will usually flash other bikers if they're doing something silly (like riding in shorts and flip flops), or to let them know something they may be unaware of is amiss - I'd certainly expect to get flashed if my lights were off. It's just stupid to add 10% to an already high risk.

I've no idea why anybody could object on the grounds that you should be able to see perfectly well in broad daylight. It's not my ability to spot other road users that I'm worrying about when I stick the lights on.