auto-lights nearly caused a crash

[Martin_172]

one thing i noticed too when my girlfriend had a shot of my 172 is that if you stall the lights go off (if their on auto), wonder how long it is before someone stalls at a dark junction and someone comes round the corner and smashes into them because their lights are off!

 

[Stuart182]

good point :rasp:

 

[123stevevw]

It doesn't. Flashing lights is exactly the same as beeping your horn - it lets other drivers know you are there.

The truth /\ /\ /\

 

[jujuju]

one thing i noticed too when my girlfriend had a shot of my 172 is that if you stall the lights go off (if their on auto), wonder how long it is before someone stalls at a dark junction and someone comes round the corner and smashes into them because their lights are off!

My auto lights don't go off if I stall, they stay on until you turn the ignition off to restart the car.

 

[Sam]

When i go under a tunnel or anything like that it has a delay by about 15 seconds to turn on. Its not as soon as its dark they come on.

Try putting your hand over the sensor and see how long it takes for them to come on.

 

[benmore]

if I enter a bridge, granted, they do come on, but they do not turn off as soon as I exit

it will take 20 seconds or so for them to turn off

so the c**k in the lorry saw the lights come on, and stay on

this does not mean a flash does it? if they stayed on?

maybe he was tired.

 

[jujuju]

loved my autolights ,a real lazy man gadget

+1

if I enter a bridge, granted, they do come on, but they do not turn off as soon as I exit

it will take 20 seconds or so for them to turn off

so the c**k in the lorry saw the lights come on, and stay on

this does not mean a flash does it? if they stayed on?

maybe he was tired.

Mine do exactly the same! Come on and then stay on for a bit after i've left the tunnel.

 

[Munson]

Auto lights FTL. Just another reason for the full fat heroes to bang on about their 'auto-xenons'

Rain or shine, morning noon or night, mine come on when I start a journey, and go off when I finish it. Done.

 

[MazzaR26]

Your Auto-lights should not be that sensitive and should not turn off that quickly either.

I usually assume flashing of lights as a warning of something up ahead.

 

[@rt]

It doesn't. Flashing lights is exactly the same as beeping your horn - it lets other drivers know you are there.

isn't horn to let someone know you're there, and lights to show there is something wrong with the other persons vehical or to warn of a hazard ahead? lol

 

[Pen66]

Also, with everyone sueing the f*** out of everyone else these days, do you really want to have a claim against you becasue you flashed someone out of a junction, who then had an accident, and then blames you because you said they could go with a flash of your lights?

Im pretty sure the highway code states that a flash of lights is not considered as an indication to pull out/right of way.

In the interests of the law it would be the driver who makes the decision to pull out who would be at fault.

 

[Pen66]

Why though?

You're already slowing, that's visible to them, let them make a decision based on that.

Just slowing down may not be enough for some drivers to understand though, i.e. there may be a hazard ahead that you're slowing down for instead.

Slowing down + a wave/flash of lights clearly indicates your intentions.

 

[Nomad]

^ Agreed.

I never flash for people;, I'll leave a gap, slow down, even come to a stop sometimes and it's incredible how many people just sit there looking at you waiting for a wave or flash to say they can go.

HELLO! I've left you the space - can't you decide if it's safe???

Totally wrong attitude imo. You might just be slowing down to turn into the junction I'm pulling out of and are too dozy/lazy to indicate or don't have working indicators. Maybe thats me being too defensive when I drive but I always see other drivers to being a possible threat.

 

[tim124]

I think the point being made is that if you wave/flash to other road users, many think that you are indicating that it is safe to pull out, where as all you are saying is that you are letting them out.

If you see a motorbike coming in the other direction or in your right hand mirror would you still flash to let somebody out? Do you always check for other hazards before letting people out?

Its not your responsibility to do so, but what you have to remember is when many people see a flash, they completely forget all their normal checks when pulling out. Your arse might be covered by the law, but you might get somebody killed.

The worst culprits for taking waving/flashing too literally are pedestrians, especially children. You flash your lights at them and they cross the road without looking the other way. That is why it would fail you your driving test!

 

[Lagerlout]

lol @ the IAM on their high horse!

You're not going to get sued for flashing someone (or slowing down to let them out - The priniciples exactly the same!) out of a junction. The ball is still in their court as to whether or not they consider it safe.

And auto lights are ok. If it was a real problem they'd have investigated it, no doubt.

And lights on all the time tbh. Especially when the sun is low and behind you this time of year!!