"
livingstreets: Taxi driving campaigner @lightmare_ leads call to ban headlights that dazzle and endanger other road users http://bit.ly/g6wCaI
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Original Tweet: http://twitter.com/livingstreets/status/34580097486823424
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
"call to ban headlights that dazzle and endanger other road users"
(12 posts)-
Posted 14 years ago #
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You can tell this dude is a taxi driver with a statement like "Blinding vehicle lights are surely the most pressing road safety problem of modern times"
Being dazzled is a serious problem but hardly the most pressing road safety problem of modern times.
Posted 14 years ago # -
...and here was I thinking that's another idiot car driver with their lights on beam in a built up area with adequate street lighting!! Nice of the taxi driver to consider cyclists though. The state of Edinburgh roads and it's environs and fixing them is far more pressing one would have thought, however, I am all for this too.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Certainly strikes a chord with me.
The advent of HID lamps sometimes with beam adjustment fitted to high vehicles with soft suspension and lots of power(4x4s), and very low vehicles (sports cars) have had two effects:
*Poor beam aiming
*Very intense, sharply defined beams so that the consequence of poor aiming is severe dazzle.I find this is a bigger problem driving than riding; I don't have a rear view mirror on my bike and an oncoming car is quickly passed whereas a car can follow for miles.
Some cyclists seem to use HID and LED lamps to dazzle approaching cyclists and pedestrians on the canal tow path too. I prefer to see the path, not what's miles ahead. What's the point of aiming the beam straight ahead?
Posted 14 years ago # -
I'm finding head mounted lights increasingly annoying (not to start the light war thing again). Some folks wearing them seem to always want to look you in the eye while passing you.
Nearly came off the roseburn path one evening cos of one.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Fit a (forward-facing) mirror to your helmet?
Posted 14 years ago # -
Forward facing mirror or petzl ultra should sort a few folk out. The Ultra always shocks a few drivers when I am out running and they don't dip...
Posted 14 years ago # -
A suit made from respro reflectives so they thing you're Tronguy
Posted 14 years ago # -
I find it annoying but wouldn't ever describe it as a critical hazard, not while we have motorists drink-driving, speeding at 50mph past primary schools, jumping red lights, doing sudden u-turns right in front of you (not that taxi drivers are particularly prone to that, eh!) and so on.
But then, I infamously suggested that pavement cyclists were not a "major" problem while the above list of driver behaviour prevailed, and discovered YMMV. So..!
Posted 14 years ago # -
its perceptual bias again, people get riled up about something annoying that occurs regularly than something dangerous that is more rare.
Posted 14 years ago # -
The law is clear: Highway Code rule 114 [Law RVLR reg 27] You MUST NOT use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders. It just needs to be enforced...
Posted 14 years ago # -
back in the news today (edit, just noticed it's an old article that's obviously trending for some reason)
Posted 14 years ago #
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