why no lights?

[sirmy]

I saw an interesting one tonight. I came up behind a cyclist on a bank with no rear light, except he was out of the saddle and wearing a back pack. When he sat down again a flashing red LED suddenly appeared. It seems that when out of the saddle his back pack crumpled and his rear light pointed at the road surface! He had no lights on the rear end of his frame. He was probaly totally unaware of this.

[reohn2]

Are you aware that on a lot of newer cars these days changing a bulb is not possible at the roadside? We'd need a change in the law to make that sort of design illegal first.

Yep,though thats no excuse,shouldn't the UK government make it law that a bulb can be changed at the roadside? and that it should be part of the driving test if its a safety issue? Also if a driver is an AA or RAC or Green Flag member shouldn't they be able to phone for assistance in such a situation especially if its an offside headlight bulb?
Shouldn't it (like in most European countries) be law that a motorist should carry spare bulbs,then atleast if they need to call for assistance they'll have the bulb with them?

All if buts and changes of law but which are we interested in the "couldn't give a toss" approach presently in full and widespread use or the "responsible citizen/motorist" approach so absent in the UK ?

[DavidT]

Due to the ridiculous design of car headlamp fittings these days, we need to have some sympathy with drivers with a headlamp out. Of course there are numpties who drive around for ages either oblivious or not caring, but due to the fitting problems, even for the conscientious many car lamps simply cannot be corrected as a quick fix.

Funnily enough, one of mine went at the weekend (I noticed it working on the trip out, then less light on the way back). I've not needed to change a bulb on this car before so having looked at the handbook, and youtube videos, I decided I couldn't change it and fortunately managed to get it into a dealer within 24hrs. Due to work commitments I was very fortunate indeed to achieve that turnaround. I know Halfords will fit bulbs, but they messed up my wife's car when that needed one changing (although given the complexity of the fitting I'm more inclined to blame Citroen than Halfords - whose operative had pieces of skin taken off his hand by the way).

I think the design of headlamp units, given that bulbs are a consumable (and will fail) as well as safety critical, is nothing short of scandalous. How accessibility for lamp changes is apparently not subject to some sort of BS EN ISO requirement is beyond me.

[reohn2]

.............How accessibility for lamp changes is apparently not subject to some sort of BS EN ISO requirement is beyond me.

Exactly! and as a result safety is potentially compromised.

[drossall]

Oh that's all right. The manufacturers are all fitting lamps that are twice as bright as they ought to be if they were safe. That way, when one goes, the other can provide the missing light.

[mark a.]

Since many modern headlights on cars are HID, there aren't bulbs to fail as such. There are high voltages involved too, so there is no longer anything you can deal with yourself.

The idea as that they last much longer than normal bulbs (and are much brighter) but when they do fail, they are very expensive to replace.

The point is, there's no point in creating a law that people should always carry a spare bulb when it's impossible with modern bi-xenon headlights anyway.

[[XAP]Bob]

Since many modern headlights on cars are HID, there aren't bulbs to fail as such. There are high voltages involved too, so there is no longer anything you can deal with yourself.

The idea as that they last much longer than normal bulbs (and are much brighter) but when they do fail, they are very expensive to replace.

The point is, there's no point in creating a law that people should always carry a spare bulb when it's impossible with modern bi-xenon headlights anyway.

No but the renault garage I use told me that the Modus (i think) needs the front bumper removed to replace the headlights???!!!

[gentlegreen]

Since many modern headlights on cars are HID, there aren't bulbs to fail as such. .

They're lamps all the same - presumably the car's electronics prevents them being turned on and off too frequently - which really does shorten their lives significantly .. it strikes me now that I don't know how dip / high and flash works with HIDs.

LEDs are be a different kettle of fish - hyped up though they are, they're very long-lived and robust.

[reohn2]

..........The point is, there's no point in creating a law that people should always carry a spare bulb when it's impossible with modern bi-xenon headlights anyway.

That just proves that Bi-xenon lights are all part of the same problem.
BTW its not just H/light bulbs that are the problm.

[reohn2]

Tonight around 4pm light blue Fiat Doblo estate/utility vehicle,middle aged couple,he driving she front passenger seat with bright BLUE front lights . Whats all that about? And why is he allowed to drive a round for more than a mile without being stopped fined and the vehicle impounded ?

[stewartpratt]

Most people who have one front light out seem to compensate by sticking the other permanently on main beam. So that's alright then. (Grr.)

[Si]

Most people who have one front light out seem to compensate by sticking the other permanently on main beam. So that's alright then. (Grr.)

I don't think that the other is on full beam, rather I suspect that when one goes the other gets an extra whallop of power making it appear too bright. Somewhat annoying that the designers make it like this if my suspicion is right.

[karlt]

Most people who have one front light out seem to compensate by sticking the other permanently on main beam. So that's alright then. (Grr.)

I don't think that the other is on full beam, rather I suspect that when one goes the other gets an extra whallop of power making it appear too bright. Somewhat annoying that the designers make it like this if my suspicion is right.

They're connected in parallel so they won't get any extra power. If they did, they'd blow pretty quickly.

[[XAP]Bob]

Most people who have one front light out seem to compensate by sticking the other permanently on main beam. So that's alright then. (Grr.)

I don't think that the other is on full beam, rather I suspect that when one goes the other gets an extra whallop of power making it appear too bright. Somewhat annoying that the designers make it like this if my suspicion is right.

They're connected in parallel so they won't get any extra power. If they did, they'd blow pretty quickly.

They will get extra power - the load on the alternator will be lower, so the voltage will be slightly higher (shouldn't be a huge effect I'll grant)

The reason they are in parallel is two fold - it allows you to tell which lamp has failed, and allows you to at least limp onwards when one does fail.

[AlanD]

My son is a Ninja Cyclist!
There, I've confessed.

He came round to see me yesterday evening, wearing a dark coat and no lights. Not a scrap of hi-viz on him. Arrived from his place of work, during peak going-home time along busy main roads.
"Where's your lights? " I asked.
"Forgot them" he replied. "It's OK, I'll cycle home on the pavements"
So at the end of his visit, all I could do was bundle him and bike into the car and drive him home.
Not hide or hair of his mother, and as worrying was keeping me awake, during the night sent a text message to his mother.
I cant tell him off... Whenever he is told something he does not want to hear, he throws a major wobbly.
What is it with youngsters, do they really think they are invincible ??? I would sit outside his place of work and escort him home, but I have to be elsewhere and it would probably enrage him anyway.

So if you do see a ninja around W Berkshire, please dont hesitate to say "Oi, get lights before you get killed"

Alan (somewhat unhappy)