High beam on dual carriageways

[DAKSTER]

OK we have had fog lights, HIDs, etc.. can I ask people?

Have you noticed the large space left in the middle of dual carriageways these days? And the way they often fill them with trees?

Obviously this is for many reasons. To prevent headon collisions, to stop people from doing stupid u-turns, for drainage, and god knows how many other reasons.

One of those reasons is so that your high beam doesnt bother the driver on the other side of the highway. Unless you and the other car are at the wrong points of a bend, and there is no shrubbery or trees between you, in theory their lights shouldnt bother you at all, and vice versa. The shrubbery makes this work absolutely, but even when it isnt there, the fact that they are further to your right than normal still has the desired effect most of the time.

I drive down the Bruce pretty regularly, on long straight stretches of road. If there are no cars in front of me on my side of the dual carriageway I use high beam.

Trucks drive up the other side of the highway towards me with 20,000 watts of spotlight blazing away and those arent bothering me at all, so I reason that my lights cant be bothering other motorists either.

Of course, I use my brains about this, there certainly are times when the bends in the road or whatever makes it obvious that my lights are aiming in someones direction, and of course I dip them accordingly, but most of the time I use high beam if there is no-one ahead on my side of the road.

Although I can see other peoples high beam and spotlights blazing away on the other side of the highway, they arent blinding me at all, so I reason that although people can see my high beam is on, it cant be blinding them either. Again, this is only true on straight roads, bends make a difference. On a bend, either their lights are pointing at me, or mine are pointing at them, so if I am pointing at them, I dip my lights.

Of course, people still flash me. When they get pissed off coz I dont dip my lights, they stick their spotties on in an attempt to teach me a lesson. Since their spotties dont blind me at all in this situation, I ignore them and leave my high beam on. If their spotties arent bothering me, my standard headlights cant be bothering them... on a straight road.

So.. do people just flash and whinge because they are actually affected by this? The law says you can use high beam on a dual carriageway because thats part of the design brief of a dual carriageway.

Or are in fact they just being anal because they can see your high beam, not because its actually bothering them? I am sure its just a reflex action rather than an actual problem with being blinded.

[aaronevolution]

Probably the same reason why people flash you when you over take them because they weren't doing the speed limit. They are just trying to tell you that they think they are more important than you and having a whinge.

[franck]

maybe some people are more light sensative than others. i speak for myself when i say that at night i seem to look at on comming lights, i try not to but not easy, while on the freeway there is some obscurity with trees and bushes and so forth, but the fact remains that at times lights will get to the other driver in the on comming, so i figure that for the ease of dipping i just do it, ... when you consider your only travelling at 100 to 110, on the freeway dipping to low beem is not going to be a real risk, if on the other hand you're travelling at autobahn speed then it probably would be worth having extra light considering distance being covered so quickly

[Calaber]

I'm with Dakster on this one but after a recent visit to the optometrist, I was told something I was not previously aware of, which could have a bearing on the sensitivity of a driver's eyesight to high intensity light.

If you have light eye colouring, such as blue or light hazel, your eyes dilate more in darkness than someone who has dark eye colouring. This obviously affects your eyes' sensitivity to increases in light, particularly if confronted with an oncoming car on high beam. I've noticed that I have problems with cars at night and have to actively look away from their headlights, particularly those morons who have badly adjusted lights, where one is aimed too high and seems to bore into your head as it approaches. My eyes are light hazel so the advice I recieved makes good sense.

It could be that those dills who flash Dakster from the other side of the trees are like me with light eye colouring, and therefore are more sensitive to his headlights, despite the cover provided by the vegetation. It could also be that they are just Dudley Do-Rights, too, of course.

Dakster - it doesn't affect you, and you're not a Dudley, so do you have dark eye colouring?

[DAKSTER]

No m8. I actually also have light hazel eyes. Not particularly good ones either.

I do try to be courteous, but when someone is 6 lanes & a 20m+ median strip to my right, and only like 50-100m ahead, I just find it really hard to believe that I am actually bothering them, even without trees inbetween.

I accept that some people have vision problems, hey I'm one of them. I apologize profusely to those who I may in fact be bothering on the freeway... but I am willing to bet its a tiny percentage of those who are flashing me. I think most are just annoyed because I have the brights turned on, and if they stopped to actually think about it they would realise that its not really bothering them after all.....

I hate to say it, but if a shining light 50m to your right, not shining at you, is affecting your vision badly enough to be a problem you probably need to stop driving at night.

I believe most are Dudley Do-Rights alright.. love the term lol think I'll keep it.

[Calaber]

I hate to say it, but if a shining light 50m to your right, not shining at you, is affecting your vision badly enough to be a problem you probably need to stop driving at night.

Nah, I was actually referring to oncoming drivers on single lane roads, not multi's but didn't make that point clear. Have to admit though, that as I age, I have started to detest driving at night and I can see the time when it will be something I avoid like the plague.

I can't lay claim to the Dudley monicker either - it was an old cartoon character that I used to see on telly in my early years.

[monkeys437]

No m8. I actually also have light hazel eyes. Not particularly good ones either.

I do try to be courteous, but when someone is 6 lanes & a 20m+ median strip to my right, and only like 50-100m ahead, I just find it really hard to believe that I am actually bothering them, even without trees inbetween.

I accept that some people have vision problems, hey I'm one of them. I apologize profusely to those who I may in fact be bothering on the freeway... but I am willing to bet its a tiny percentage of those who are flashing me.

I hate to say it, but if a shining light 50m to your right, not shining at you, is affecting your vision badly enough to be a problem you probably need to stop driving at night.

I believe most are Dudley Do-Rights alright.. love the term lol think I'll keep it.

Its strange that they don't affect you. I have awesome eyesight (crap hearing tho lol) yet I get really bothered by high beams and foggies. Even on the dual carriage ways like your talking about with trees and a 20m gap, if someone has high beams on I cant see anything except for a big bright light blinding me, even if they're a fairway in the distance. My missus on the other hand is half blind. She cant even read a street sign from 10m away without contacts and struggles at night judging distance and speed of oncoming cars and which lane other cars are travelling in. Yet when someones driving right towards her with high beams on she doesn't even flash them coz she says they don't bother her.
I think its safer just to leave them off since standard headlights are more than capable of lighting up the road. I live a fair way out of the city with no streetlights and county roads and I rarely flick the highs on, its just not needed

[DAKSTER]

Nah, I was actually referring to oncoming drivers on single lane roads, not multi's but didn't make that point clear. Have to admit though, that as I age, I have started to detest driving at night and I can see the time when it will be something I avoid like the plague.

I can't lay claim to the Dudley monicker either - it was an old cartoon character that I used to see on telly in my early years.

I agree - as I have got older I am starting to enjoy driving at night less than I used to. I'm fine on the highways, but too many lights around town certainly do get to me, regardless of whether they are foggies, HIDs, or street lights lol.

On a normal undivided and unlit road at night, even when the approaching traffic is doing the right thing, as they approach I have to focus on the white line on my left, to ensure I am following the road correctly. Looking straight ahead can be impossible, my eyes just arent up to adapting to the sudden changes in light anymore.

Thats a different situation than the divided road scenario though..

[DAKSTER]

Its strange that they don't affect you. I have awesome eyesight (crap hearing tho lol) yet I get really bothered by high beams and foggies. Even on the dual carriage ways like your talking about with trees and a 20m gap, if someone has high beams on I cant see anything except for a big bright light blinding me, even if they're a fairway in the distance. My missus on the other hand is half blind. She cant even read a street sign from 10m away without contacts and struggles at night judging distance and speed of oncoming cars and which lane other cars are travelling in. Yet when someones driving right towards her with high beams on she doesn't even flash them coz she says they don't bother her.
I think its safer just to leave them off since standard headlights are more than capable of lighting up the road. I live a fair way out of the city with no streetlights and county roads and I rarely flick the highs on, its just not needed

I'm the same as your missus. I literally walk into walls without my glasses, I have trouble judging where the edge of the door is. I cant recognise my kids from 2m away, they are just shapes (until one of them opens its female teenage mouth grrrrr).

I only use high when necessary, but then again, I probably need to more than you given that your eyes are better. Poses an interesting question doesnt it.. maybe we need two sets of highways, some for old farts like me n calaber and some for younger people with decent eyes lol

Just waiting now for the barrage of nongs who will tell me that because my eyes arent as good as they used to be, I need to hand in my license and buy a mobility scooter. Sorry guys, too late... I have one already

[Calaber]

On the Central Coast, there is one particular single lane road that I despise driving on in the dark. Tumbi Road, from Tumbi Umbi to Wamberal, is poorly lit, poorly constructed and narrows in places, has sections where bends have no illumination at all, parts of the road are elevated above the surrounding fields by a meter or two and yet there is no safety railing and traffic is heavy in the morning around 6am with commuters heading out to work. On Saturday mornings, you have to watch out for the Terrigal Trotters, a large group of runners who insist on using this road as their regular group running route. There are no footpaths, so they run on the road in large groups, with only a few having the sense to wear flouro clothing or warning lights. That makes the trip real fun for motorists.

Other Central Coast forum members will know this road well. I dread driving on it because I can't sit on high beam for more than about ten seconds before the next car comes along (and half of them seem to have those friggin' foggies on too). That one bastard of a road has me convinced my night-time driving is nearly done.

[franck]

you think tumbi rd is bad, what about the ridgeway?....makes tumbi rd look like a race track

On the Central Coast, there is one particular single lane road that I despise driving on in the dark. Tumbi Road, from Tumbi Umbi to Wamberal, is poorly lit, poorly constructed and narrows in places, has sections where bends have no illumination at all, parts of the road are elevated above the surrounding fields by a meter or two and yet there is no safety railing and traffic is heavy in the morning around 6am with commuters heading out to work. On Saturday mornings, you have to watch out for the Terrigal Trotters, a large group of runners who insist on using this road as their regular group running route. There are no footpaths, so they run on the road in large groups, with only a few having the sense to wear flouro clothing or warning lights. That makes the trip real fun for motorists.

Other Central Coast forum members will know this road well. I dread driving on it because I can't sit on high beam for more than about ten seconds before the next car comes along (and half of them seem to have those friggin' foggies on too). That one bastard of a road has me convinced my night-time driving is nearly done.

[Calaber]

you think tumbi rd is bad, what about the ridgeway?....makes tumbi rd look like a race track

True, but Tumbi Road carries much more traffic than the Ridgeway, and anybody who doesn't treat the Ridgeway with respect is a dill.

[vkberlina]

I think a simple rule should be if you see the other persons lights you dip yours.


scott

[allthis4what]

Hi guys, i would like to throw in here a thought on this issue.. i am short sighted i have glasses for far away stuff but i can pass my driving eye test no worries so i dont have to wear them at all.. funny thing is lights at night high beam or low i find really bright infact almost blinding sometimes! I have light eyes also. However when i put my glasses on at night (which arent tinted or anything)... the lights are not half as blinding .. maybe its a comibination of light eyes and short sightedness that contributes to this? Just a thought..

[DAKSTER]

Maybe? I am long sighted, like the majority of people with vision problems. Maybe people who are short sighted are prone to this? I have light eyes, that seems to make no difference.

[Decicrate]

218 Using headlights on high-beam
(1) The driver of a vehicle must not use the vehicle’s headlights on high-beam, or allow the vehicle’s headlights to be used
on high-beam, if the driver is driving—
(a) less than 200 m behind a vehicle traveling in the same direction as the driver; or
(b) less than 200 m from an oncoming vehicle.
Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.
(2) However, if the driver is overtaking a vehicle, the driver may briefly switch the headlights from low-beam to high-beam
immediately before the driver begins to overtake the vehicle.

But hey its only a small road rule.

[pjdm1980]

If your VS lights are anything my old VS Statesman then I'm surprised that anyone can tell you've got them on, on that point maybe try to get a brighter low beam to avoid using your high beam so much?

[DAKSTER]

218 Using headlights on high-beam
(1) The driver of a vehicle must not use the vehicle’s headlights on high-beam, or allow the vehicle’s headlights to be used
on high-beam, if the driver is driving—
(a) less than 200 m behind a vehicle traveling in the same direction as the driver; or
(b) less than 200 m from an oncoming vehicle.
Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.
(2) However, if the driver is overtaking a vehicle, the driver may briefly switch the headlights from low-beam to high-beam
immediately before the driver begins to overtake the vehicle.

But hey its only a small road rule.

Pretty confident different laws apply to dual carriageways. Not 100% sure though, I will look that up out of interest.

If your VS lights are anything my old VS Statesman then I'm surprised that anyone can tell you've got them on, on that point maybe try to get a brighter low beam to avoid using your high beam so much?

My VS lights are HID, they dont need to be brighter...

[Decicrate]

Pretty confident different laws apply to dual carriageways. Not 100% sure though, I will look that up out of interest.



My VS lights are HID, they dont need to be brighter...

There is no mention of duel carriageways in the Road Regulations.

http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LE...ntOpRURR09.pdf

Page 219 section 218 and 219

[pjdm1980]

My VS lights are HID, they dont need to be brighter...

That could be the issue then, Those HID's can be a real pain in the arse for some people if they are installed in the wrong head light or not adjusted properly.

[DAKSTER]

They can, but they arent. My lights bother no-one, they are adjusted that way. I get the same results driving down the same roads with factory lights on all of my other cars, all of which have good, modern, OEM lights.

Like I said, I will research the legal side. Not all facts are always contained in one document, often there is a separate document that covers exceptions. Not saying you are wrong, but I'd just like to know for sure.

In the meantime, if you see me coming down the other side of a dual carriageway, feel free to switch on every driving light you have. Wont bother me none.

[Decicrate]

They can, but they arent. My lights bother no-one, they are adjusted that way. I get the same results driving down the same roads with factory lights on all of my other cars, all of which have good, modern, OEM lights.

Like I said, I will research the legal side. Not all facts are always contained in one document, often there is a separate document that covers exceptions. Not saying you are wrong, but I'd just like to know for sure.

In the meantime, if you see me coming down the other side of a dual carriageway, feel free to switch on every driving light you have. Wont bother me none.

So because you are not 100% sure about the law and because it doesn't affect you its quite fine to do.?


I accept that some people have vision problems, hey I'm one of them. I apologize profusely to those who I may in fact be bothering on the freeway... but I am willing to bet its a tiny percentage of those who are flashing me. I think most are just annoyed because I have the brights turned on, and if they stopped to actually think about it they would realise that its not really bothering them after all.....

Again because its only a small number of people that are affected its okay?
What is the number of people that is deemed acceptable to affect in this way before it becomes wrong?

[DAKSTER]

I drive down the Bruce Highway at night, and many cars have their brights on going down the other side of the road. I dont think I am alone here....

Tell me you have 353rwhp because you are a responsible motorist ... you're spending all that cash to make your car go faster than the law allows.. dont judge me because I need my lights to see at legal speeds.

I maintain that I bother no-one. If there are people 50m to my right that are bothered by my headlights pointing forward, then I apologise, but you probably shouldnt be on the road without some kind of vision correction.

[Decicrate]

I have a 353rwhp car because I can. I use it where it is meant to be used, it does more KM's at race tracks than it does on the road. Its my money I will spend it how I want.
With more HP comes greater responsibility
Don't hate the power!

You have admitted that other people flash you and yet you continue your to leave your high beams on and justify it by saying they are only annoyed because your lights are bright?
But again as long as YOU are not affected all is all right.?

ddont judge me because I need my lights to see at legal speeds.

What ever happened to driving to conditions?
You say you need you high beams to be able to see safely far enough ahead to do the speed limit, maybe it is you that needs to get his eyes checked.

How hard is it to drop your lights if some one flashes you.?

[pjdm1980]

Agreed, I drive from Melbourne to Geelong and back for work five nights a week and have no need for high beams.