Driving etiquette - Another driver's lights are off

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openmedia

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# 214533 16-May-2017 13:04

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As usual for this time of year there are a number of people on the road with their lights off. What's your preferred way to indicate "politely" to the other driver so they turn their lights on.

I've tried to help two drivers recently who were both very confused why I was

Honking
Flashing my headlights
Slowed down in-front of them with my hazard lights on
On arm out of the driver window with my hand "flashing" - open/closing fist.

With one driver I tried the above with no luck and then they proceeded to give me the finger when I matched their speed and tried to get them to roll down their window so I speak to them. The drive proceeded to speed off and I finally noticed a couple of minutes later that they'd turned their lights on.

About the only time drivers take notice of a headlight flash is when they think a police speed trap might be ahead.

So what's your experience and any tips for dealing with NZ drivers?

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC a Technology Evangelist and Product Manager. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

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# 1783092 16-May-2017 13:14

I would usually just turn my headlights off to the parklights/fog lamp setting and back on again and off and on.
So my main beams are being turned off and on and my fogs stay on. I think its more effective.
Flashing high beam isn't usually noticed by many.
The one time it did recently we were in crawling traffic both directions 1 lane each way. I aimed the nose of my car directly towards the person without lights on, Turned on high beam and left it there. I could see the driver clear as day, Took him about 3 seconds from there to turn his lights on.

Linux

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# 1783093 16-May-2017 13:14

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I take it you are talking about at night when its actually dark and not during day light hours?

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Coil

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# 1783096 16-May-2017 13:18

Linux: I take it you are talking about at night when its actually dark and not during day light hours?

Linux

The transition between night and day how it happens so quick now and no one notices.
I think hes meaning that. So i leave work at 4PM and its light so i dont turn on my lights but at 5PM when im 30 minutes from home its dark and my lights are still off.

reven

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# 1783102 16-May-2017 13:28

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openmedia:

As usual for this time of year there are a number of people on the road with their lights off. What's your preferred way to indicate "politely" to the other driver so they turn their lights on.

I've tried to help two drivers recently who were both very confused why I was

Honking
Flashing my headlights
Slowed down in-front of them with my hazard lights on
On arm out of the driver window with my hand "flashing" - open/closing fist.
With one driver I tried the above with no luck and then they proceeded to give me the finger when I matched their speed and tried to get them to roll down their window so I speak to them. The drive proceeded to speed off and I finally noticed a couple of minutes later that they'd turned their lights on.

About the only time drivers take notice of a headlight flash is when they think a police speed trap might be ahead.

So what's your experience and any tips for dealing with NZ drivers?

honestly if you did those things to me, i would be thinking "what the f*** is his problem".

nzkiwiman

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# 1783134 16-May-2017 13:58

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I have had a few over the last week - in that period where it isn't dark, but still dark enough that lights should be on.

I've thought about the best way to indicate to the other driver that his lights were not on, but decide it was not worth it. Like others if the inverse was done to me, I would have wondered what the hell the driver was trying to say

alasta

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# 1783135 16-May-2017 13:59

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reven:

honestly if you did those things to me, i would be thinking "what the f*** is his problem".

Me too. If someone did that to me I would assume they were a nutter and would probably turn off the route to get away from them for my own safety.

tehgerbil

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# 1783138 16-May-2017 14:03

It depends on whether you turn on your lights to drive by - or be be seen.

If you turn your lights on to be seen, chances are it's still too bright for the other person to think their lights should be on, so flashing them just annoys them.

Personally either: sunglasses on or headlights on (most of the time.) And wipers on = headlights on.

I'll only flash when the street lights turn off (Or it's really dark and stormy) and people still have their lights off.

Oblivian

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# 1783140 16-May-2017 14:06

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I turn my lights off totally and on, and off, and on.

Works a lot better than flashing.

Now if only the guy who ended up behind me on the motorway would realise when he did eventually turn his headlights on while ahead of me the back weather light was out, then his left headlight was fullbeam and right on park light only.

yay for 12 month warrants where noone cares or actually checks until they are ticketed.

Nowadays it's a better idea to make yourself seen rather than written law. 30mins AFTER sunset doesn't include dark clouds and dusk situation.

Coil

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# 1783154 16-May-2017 14:31

Oblivian:

I turn my lights off totally and on, and off, and on.

Works a lot better than flashing.

Now if only the guy who ended up behind me on the motorway would realise when he did eventually turn his headlights on while ahead of me the back weather light was out, then his left headlight was fullbeam and right on park light only.

yay for 12 month warrants where noone cares or actually checks until they are ticketed.

Nowadays it's a better idea to make yourself seen rather than written law. 30mins AFTER sunset doesn't include dark clouds and dusk situation.

We should develop a Morse code for flashing people, Long - long - short, Back left tail lamp. short - short - long, front right dipped beam.

MikeB4

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# 1783157 16-May-2017 14:35

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I love automatic lights

Mike
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The views stated in my posts are my personal views and not that of any other organisation.

Using empathy takes no energy and can gain so much. Try it.

ubergeeknz

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# 1783158 16-May-2017 14:36

I usually try to signal drivers if they have left headlights off / no tail lights / etc. But it's a bit hit and miss. Some will realise and flick their lights on etc. Particularly if you turn your headlights off / on. However a lot of drivers remain blissfully unaware.

WyleECoyoteNZ

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# 1783159 16-May-2017 14:37

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This has to be John Key's, Bill English's or Andrew Little's fault somehow!

The Government needs to make it compulsory for all vehicles to have automatic headlight control, now!

Seriously though, I followed a vehicle in central Wellington a while back who had no lights on, and this was when it was properly dark. I can only guess that the driver figured he\she could see alright because of the street lighting.

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# 1783163 16-May-2017 14:48

TimA: The transition between night and day how it happens so quick now and no one notices.

It's also easy to get accustomed to the dark. I was driving in the country yesterday afternoon and it was getting darkish when I pulled into a shop to grab a drink. Two minutes later I'm back in the car and was amazed by how dark it was - the light from inside the shop had pulled my eyes out of "night mode" and it was only then that I realised how dark it actually was.

I'd had the lights on the whole time though; I try to have them on even in daylight when travelling between towns.

trig42

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# 1783165 16-May-2017 14:50

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Quite often people coming out of car park buildings don't turn their lights on (nice and bright in there).

I either flash full beams at them, or lights fully off then on. Not much you can do if they are following you.

I wish there was a signal for the eejits with a European car that think it is cool to drive with their fog lamps on and don't realise there car has a really bright rear fog lamp shining in everyones eyes that has to follow them.

I have my lights on Auto, though at dusk, I generally manually turn them on as the Auto will be a big laggy, or only turn on the parking lights (which is illegal isn't it?)

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# 1783166 16-May-2017 14:55

If you can see the car, why do you need it to have lights on (tongue slightly in cheek)

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