2011...all cars to have permanent lights on

Some good points made by all.

But I always have, and will always continue to use sidelights on during the daytime in the car, and will continue to use dipped beam when riding a bike.

I know its hard to say, and you can't account for other peoples driving, but you can always put yourself in a postion to be seen. I know there are always going to be instances when you cannot be in control for someone elses ignorence.

But go and stand on a motorway bridge and note the cars that have sidelights on, very very noticable, and as I say, a dipped beam on a bike is a completly different light, and IMO, as a biker, you should always have dipped beam on when getting on the bike. Luckily the bandit has them on all the time anyway, but the first thing I would do after starting my SV was to turn my lights on dipped.

TBH and IMO sidelights on cars are utterly useless except for leaving on whilst the car is parked. Unless it's dark to the extent where you should have your main lights on, you ALWAYS notice the car before noticing that it has its sidelights on. They simply don't catch your eye at all because they don't project a significant amount of light.

[the_lone_wolf]

good argument going on here, but the fact remains, regardless of how you ride, when they forced all vehicles to run with DRL in Austria the rate of motorcycle accidents increased by almost 50% - there will be instances when it doesn't matter that you were riding defensively, one of the most common filtering scenarios is that the car driver never saw the bike and turned right / did a u-turn, the bike doesn't have a chance to slow down or stop in time, quite possibly getting bumped under the HGV coming the other way. anyone who says that this type of accident would not be more likely if ALL the vehicles had lights on, as opposed to just the motorcycle, is a fool...

Am I the only one thinking that if you can't spot a car during daylight hours unless it has it's side lights on (or DRL's, or whatever they're called) then you really shouldn't be driving? Even the smallest of cars is pretty conspicuous.

I'm quite ignorant on this subject and I'll gladly be educated but is there a particular type of accident this legislation is aiming to reduce i.e. making cars more visible to pedestrians etc?

Originally Posted by glsuk1970

Am I the only one thinking that if you can't spot a car during daylight hours unless it has it's side lights on (or DRL's, or whatever they're called) then you really shouldn't be driving? Even the smallest of cars is pretty conspicuous.

I'm quite ignorant on this subject and I'll gladly be educated but is there a particular type of accident this legislation is aiming to reduce i.e. making cars more visible to pedestrians etc?

The spokespeople taking about this on the radio last night they said that it was in part to make cars more visible to pedestrians and cyclists.

[Stu]

Originally Posted by sinbad

TBH and IMO sidelights on cars are utterly useless except for leaving on whilst the car is parked. Unless it's dark to the extent where you should have your main lights on, you ALWAYS notice the car before noticing that it has its sidelights on. They simply don't catch your eye at all because they don't project a significant amount of light.

Completely disagree.

Originally Posted by glsuk1970

Am I the only one thinking that if you can't spot a car during daylight hours unless it has it's side lights on (or DRL's, or whatever they're called) then you really shouldn't be driving?

+ 10000000000000000000000000000000000!!

Originally Posted by sarah

The spokespeople taking about this on the radio last night they said that it was in part to make cars more visible to pedestrians and cyclists.

oh yes, the well known issue where peds & cyclists look but don't see a blimin great car bearing down on them...

[Stu]

Originally Posted by glsuk1970

Am I the only one thinking that if you can't spot a car during daylight hours unless it has it's side lights on (or DRL's, or whatever they're called) then you really shouldn't be driving? Even the smallest of cars is pretty conspicuous.

I'm quite ignorant on this subject and I'll gladly be educated but is there a particular type of accident this legislation is aiming to reduce i.e. making cars more visible to pedestrians etc?

The number of cars driving with no lights on during the recent fog, plus a couple of cars seen very recently driving in the middle of the night with no lights on at all plus somtimes when my visor is fogged or dirty or wet (or a car's windscreen is fogged or has frost on) makes me 100% in favour of DRLs.
I accept Fizzy fish's point that a car driver may be looking for lights before pulling out & not see a cyclist, but why would he not see a motorbike? And as for not being able to be distinguished from a car, so what? if a car sees what he thinks is a car coming he's not going to pull out is he? (and don't give me the argument that he was expecting a car at 30mph not a motorbike doing 20 over the speed limit because who's fault is that then?)

Originally Posted by glsuk1970

Am I the only one thinking that if you can't spot a car during daylight hours unless it has it's side lights on (or DRL's, or whatever they're called) then you really shouldn't be driving? Even the smallest of cars is pretty conspicuous.

Its not about making them visable, its about making them more visable....

Have you lot never looked in your mirrors and noticed the cars behined with sidelights on? Seriously, are you paying attention at all??

Ever seen the advert about people who glance but don't look. A sidelight WILL catch your eye more hence making your more observent.

It won't help the ignorent muppets who clearly shouldn't be driving, but it will help those who arn't bad drivers, but arn't good ones either.

IE driving down a country lane and a green car comes, it'll be harder to spot than a bright red one due to its surroundings, but if it had sidelights, its much easier to spot.

Frankly, im quite shocked and quite scared that those against it seem never to have noticed how much more visable a car can be with sidelights on. Quite scared indeed!!!!!!!!! Do you pay attention to whats around you at all?????

So once again we're aiding the large vehicles and neglecting those that actually need help to be seen. By evening the playing field regarding lights we become much more at risk to other road users in large vehicles. This has already been proven in trials in Australia. While I agree that it would benefit all to some extent, as per usual the minorities will have to pay, in blood if necessary. Of course once the accident stats for motorcycles shoots up the government will use those stats to campaign against bikes once more.

In my opinion this is only a very, very bad thing for bikers and cyclists. I don't need help in seeing cars or lorries, it's the other way round. Jeezuz!!