REARVIEW:IRISH MOTORISTS and cyclists have a strange relationship with lighting up their vehicles on the roads. Certain among our flock chose to keep their lights switched off until the last hint of daylight has disappeared and so, the thinking goes, save on replacement bulbs. Others, however, feel it necessary to light up at all times with dipped headlights and front fogs come hail, rain, snow, fog, starry nights and even come clear blue skies.
The Road Safety Authority has recently completed a public consultation on the possible mandatory use of daytime running lights for car drivers, where motorists would be required by law to have their lights switched on at all times. They figure it would cost about €41 million to implement such a policy annually, but this would be offset by saving 14 lives and the associated financial costs over those 12 months.
But before we get going on such a law, maybe we need to get the basics right first.
1. Use your fog lights – front and back – for when it is foggy and switch them off when it’s not. Front fog lights won’t turn your Mondeo into a Mustang and will probably just annoy road users.
2. Replace your bulbs when they blow. It’s nice to know the full width of a car is approaching rather than thinking it is a motorbike until the last minute.
3. Dip your headlights when you’re driving behind another car. If you can see the back lights of the car in front, your headlights are probably blinding that driver.
4. Your lights are not so much for showing the way, but to alert others that you are coming. Light up when it starts getting dark (approximately 4pm in the winter, 7-8pm in the summer and any time if it’s foggy, raining or unusually dark).
5. Stop flashing me for lighting up during these times.