Hello

Is it some undeniably daft new regulation or is there some good reason why
an awful lot of Central London buses are now going around with their
headlights seemingly permanently (and IMHO pointlessly) switched on?

Some of the lights are so bright that they are dazzling even in daylight!

Regards
John M Upton

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In message , JMUpton2000
writes
Hello

Is it some undeniably daft new regulation or is there some good reason why
an awful lot of Central London buses are now going around with their
headlights seemingly permanently (and IMHO pointlessly) switched on?

Some of the lights are so bright that they are dazzling even in daylight!


Don't know if this is the real reason for buses doing so, but I use
headlights when travelling down bus lanes in my taxi. This is because
there are so many other drivers who think that they can use the bus lane
with impunity and also on the grounds of safety - at least there is a
better chance that they will see me


--
Mike Hughes
A Taxi driver licensed for London and Brighton
at home in Tarring, West Sussex, England

"Mike Hughes" wrote in message
...
Don't know if this is the real reason for buses doing so, but I use
headlights when travelling down bus lanes in my taxi. This is because
there are so many other drivers who think that they can use the bus lane
with impunity and also on the grounds of safety - at least there is a
better chance that they will see me

What you really mean is that when you travel down a bus lane to undertake a
load of traffic and then push your way back in front of them there is a
lesser chance that they won't move out the way.

But, yes, following a number of recent incidents I now drive with my
headlights permanently on, and have recently had the car modified so that
they are on by default.

On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 21:23:56 +0100, David Splett wrote:

What you really mean is that when you travel down a bus lane to undertake a
load of traffic

He said he drives a taxi. Most bus lanes are available to taxis as well.

--
http://gallery120232.fotopic.net/p13622558.html
(An emergency alert at London King's Cross, May 1999)

"Chris Tolley" wrote in message
...
He said he drives a taxi. Most bus lanes are available to taxis as well.

I know that. Whether they *should* be is another matter, as is whether taxi
drivers use that privilege responsibly.

Is it some undeniably daft new regulation or is there some good reason why
an awful lot of Central London buses are now going around with their
headlights seemingly permanently (and IMHO pointlessly) switched on?

Perhaps they have a Volvo chassis and like the cars the lights are always
on.

On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 01:04:49 +0100, "JMUpton2000" security novels @f
ree uk.com wrote:

Hello

Is it some undeniably daft new regulation or is there some good reason why
an awful lot of Central London buses are now going around with their
headlights seemingly permanently (and IMHO pointlessly) switched on?

Some of the lights are so bright that they are dazzling even in daylight!

I understand that permanently illuminated headlights are a feature on
the vehicles of certain operators like Arriva. They found that keeping
the headlights switched on all the time reduced accidents so it is being
done for health and safety reasons.
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!

"Paul Corfield" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 01:04:49 +0100, "JMUpton2000" security novels @f
ree uk.com wrote:

Hello

Is it some undeniably daft new regulation or is there some good reason why
an awful lot of Central London buses are now going around with their
headlights seemingly permanently (and IMHO pointlessly) switched on?

Some of the lights are so bright that they are dazzling even in daylight!

I understand that permanently illuminated headlights are a feature on
the vehicles of certain operators like Arriva. They found that keeping
the headlights switched on all the time reduced accidents so it is being
done for health and safety reasons.
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!

I've driven in countries where headlights are the law and also in parts of
the USA where they are becoming the norm. I like it and I do it (even
though I don't drive a Volvo). Two particular reasons;

1) I was driving in bright sunlight approaching a wood on a narrow road when
a car coming the other way suddenly appeared from the wood (which was in
heavy shadow) and missed me by a whisker. Had he had his lights on I would
have had a better chance of seeing him.
2) When I have driven in places where headlights are the norm I have found
that I spot other vehicles earler than I would otherwise.

Graham Harrison ) gurgled happily,
sounding much like they were saying :

I've driven in countries where headlights are the law and also in
parts of the USA where they are becoming the norm.

The US is a particularly entertaining case - they've legislated Daytime
Running Lights that come on with the ignition.

But only at the front.

So what they're finding, AIUI, is that more and more people are
"forgetting" to turn their proper lights on as dark approaches - no need,
their lights are on, they can see fine - but, of course, there's no REAR
lights on...

Only in 'merkinland.

"Adrian" wrote in message
. 244.170...
Graham Harrison ) gurgled happily,
sounding much like they were saying :

I've driven in countries where headlights are the law and also in
parts of the USA where they are becoming the norm.

The US is a particularly entertaining case - they've legislated Daytime
Running Lights that come on with the ignition.

But only at the front.

So what they're finding, AIUI, is that more and more people are
"forgetting" to turn their proper lights on as dark approaches - no need,
their lights are on, they can see fine - but, of course, there's no REAR
lights on...

Only in 'merkinland.

Are the daytime running lights sidelights or headlights? I think in Sweden
they're just sidelights (certainly Volvos here only have their sidelights,
not headlights, on permanently). I hadn't realised that any countries
mandated headlights at all times. I wonder what the additional cost in extra
fuel consumption is - mind you, in America they think that gasoline "grows
on trees", don't they - limitless supply at cheap price.

I can't say I'm surprised about the situation in America: they don't require
cars to have front number plates (though many cars do have them) and they
allow cars to have flashing sidelights and tail lights rather than having
separate amber lights for indicators. My sister and her family were
rear-ended while waiting to turn left because the driver behind hadn't
noticed the flashing tail light in amongst all the other lights such as her
tail and brake lights. (I've always wondered what circuitry is required to
flash the side and tail lights while still allowing them to be switched on
and off normally: I checked her car because I was curious and it didn't have
dual-filiament bulbs: one for side light and another for indicator.)