Martin Underwood ) gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying :

The US is a particularly entertaining case - they've legislated
Daytime Running Lights that come on with the ignition.

snip

Only in 'merkinland.

Are the daytime running lights sidelights or headlights?

Not sure.

I think in
Sweden they're just sidelights (certainly Volvos here only have their
sidelights, not headlights, on permanently).

Scandi ones are brighter than sidies - sidies tend to be a 5w bulb, whereas
the Saab/Volvo daytime lights are 21w (or were on proper Saab 900s, IIRC) -
I think most tend to use dip beam now.

I wonder what the additional cost in extra fuel consumption is

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/question424.htm

I can't say I'm surprised about the situation in America: they don't
require cars to have front number plates (though many cars do have
them)

Nor do they have MOTs.

On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 17:06:12 +0100, Paul Corfield
wrote:

I understand that permanently illuminated headlights are a feature on
the vehicles of certain operators like Arriva. They found that keeping
the headlights switched on all the time reduced accidents so it is being
done for health and safety reasons.

However, it is actually dangerous for other vehicles because it
artificially (subconsciously) distracts attention towards that vehicle
only, and away from others.

Daytime headlights should either be a legal requirement or switched
off.

Neil

--
Neil Williams in Milton Keynes, UK
When replying please use neil at the above domain
'wensleydale' is a spam trap and is not read.

"Neil Williams" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 17:06:12 +0100, Paul Corfield
wrote:

I understand that permanently illuminated headlights are a feature on
the vehicles of certain operators like Arriva. They found that keeping
the headlights switched on all the time reduced accidents so it is being
done for health and safety reasons.

However, it is actually dangerous for other vehicles because it
artificially (subconsciously) distracts attention towards that vehicle
only, and away from others.

Daytime headlights should either be a legal requirement or switched
off.

Neil

We have had a ruling in Blackpool for about 18 months now, saying that all
buses must use dipped headlights during daytime. Personally, I *never*
drive with dipped headlights in daylight, except :- Spray conditions (legal
requirement), pedestrianised areas, and bus/taxi only areas.
Dashe

"Dashe" wrote in message
...

"Neil Williams" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 17:06:12 +0100, Paul Corfield
wrote:

I understand that permanently illuminated headlights are a feature on
the vehicles of certain operators like Arriva. They found that keeping
the headlights switched on all the time reduced accidents so it is being
done for health and safety reasons.

However, it is actually dangerous for other vehicles because it
artificially (subconsciously) distracts attention towards that vehicle
only, and away from others.

Daytime headlights should either be a legal requirement or switched
off.

Neil

We have had a ruling in Blackpool for about 18 months now, saying that all
buses must use dipped headlights during daytime. Personally, I *never*
drive with dipped headlights in daylight, except :- Spray conditions
(legal
requirement), pedestrianised areas, and bus/taxi only areas.

I also use dipped headlights in tunnels and multi-storey car parks. I've
never driven in a pedestrianised area or a bus/taxi lane (it would be
illegal for me) but I can see the sense in authorised vehicles doing this -
at least for the pedestrianised area.

For some reason, the instructions in the Mersey tunnel specifically say
"don't turn on your headlights" which seems strange to me - if you're
driving at night, are you actually expected to turn them off as you enter
the tunnel and remember to turn them back on when you leave? If the exit is
well-illuminated by street lights, it will be very easy to forget to turn
them back on...


I didn't realise that some countries mandated dipped headlights at all
times. I know that some Scandinavian countries mandate side/tail lights.

Martin Underwood wrote:

For some reason, the instructions in the Mersey tunnel specifically say
"don't turn on your headlights" which seems strange to me - if you're
driving at night, are you actually expected to turn them off as you enter
the tunnel and remember to turn them back on when you leave? If the exit is
well-illuminated by street lights, it will be very easy to forget to turn
them back on...

Bizarre - since on most cars the instrument backlighting is linked to
the headlights, this would also mean you wouldn't be able to see your
speedometer properly. Marvellous.

back on topic I use sidelights or dipped headlights in the Blackwall
Tunnel for exactly that reason. /

In message , Martin
Underwood writes
I didn't realise that some countries mandated dipped headlights at all
times. I know that some Scandinavian countries mandate side/tail
lights.
I noticed as we crossed from Germany to Denmark that the speed limit
went down and all drivers had dipped beam.
--
Clive

On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 21:04:26 +0100, Martin Underwood
wrote in :

I also use dipped headlights in tunnels and multi-storey car parks. I've
never driven in a pedestrianised area or a bus/taxi lane (it would be
illegal for me) but I can see the sense in authorised vehicles doing this -
at least for the pedestrianised area.

For some reason, the instructions in the Mersey tunnel specifically say
"don't turn on your headlights" which seems strange to me - if you're
driving at night, are you actually expected to turn them off as you enter
the tunnel and remember to turn them back on when you leave? If the exit is
well-illuminated by street lights, it will be very easy to forget to turn
them back on...

In (continental) Europe (as a generalisation...) you _must_ switch
on your headlights in a tunnel.

I didn't realise that some countries mandated dipped headlights at all
times.

Neither did I until a nice Danish (IIRC) policeman pointed at
my headlight and then his eyes as I passed a radar trap on the way from
Switzerland to Trondheim. I gave him a cheery wave as I accelerated back
up to reasonable speed while also switching on the headlamp.

--
Ivan Reid, Electronic & Computer Engineering, ___ CMS Collaboration,
Brunel University. Room 40-1-B12, CERN
KotPT -- "for stupidity above and beyond the call of duty".