Headlights

[dpex]

I know this issue has been traversed again and again, but today, I saw a perfect reason why we should all travel with our headlights on.

Went down to Rotovegas to haul fish. I knew bad front was coming in so I took my cage. Thank Christ I did. On the return trip my feet began to thaw at about Patetonga.

Anyway. It was pissing down so the up-flush from the vehicle ahead (traveling at 70/75Ks and general pissing me off) was such that any thought of overtaking was restricted to waiting for a well-known, long straight.

Many of you will know the long, down-hill straight (heading north up SH27) just before the Paeroa TO.

I saw, way at the start of the straight, two sets of headlights. That gave me a time-on-distance map for the overtake. I carefully inspected the rest of the space between me and those headlights and decided the road was clear.

I pulled out, snapped down into third, and was about to floor it when, out of the gloom, less than 100M ahead was some dick on a GN 250 or some-such. No lights on. Dark bike, dark gear. He blended in splendidly with the background. Any wild beast would have been proud of such excellent camouflage. Believe me. He just appeared out of the gloom, like some wraith in a child's nightmare.

The closing speed was around 180K. Said dick-brain came within maybe two seconds of learning his one last great lesson of life.

Put ya fuckin' headlight on or become road-kill!

Jesus but it freaked me out. In those micro-seconds of realisation then regaining my side of the road, I saw myself having to poke this bloke in the eye to see if he was still alive after flying a hundred metres.

Of course, I would have been entirely liable had I hit the dopey prick, despite the fact he'd taken zero actions to readily identify his presence during such appalling weather.

Personally, I think a law needs passing requiring all vehicles to run headlights on the open road.

[hayd3n]

+1 for lights on

[Mom]

Personally, I think a law needs passing requiring all vehicles to run headlights on the open road.


The day that happens I will start runing red and blue flashing lights on my bike. Seriously. To a less and less degree as bikers we have a tiny point of difference, we run our headlights all the time. That at least lets some more observant road users know we are around. If every vehicle has lights on all the time we become even more invisible than we are now.

Congratulations on getting out of the way of the biker that had no headlights on today, must have given you a hell of a fright.

[awayatc]

Well he is obviously a learner.....
So he will either learn,
or he will perish....

[steve_t]

Agree with Mom. Bikes should always have their lights on. Cars only when it's getting dark of visibility is low. Bikes need to stand out. They're hard enough to see as it is

[BMWST?]

i think that headlights should NOT be compulsory for all as it make bikes less conspicuous,and think that ALL bikes should run withthem on.I wonder sometimes why people dont put their lights on when visibility is limited.I have proper foglights in my car and use them as running lights in the above mentioned conditions.and as soon as it starts to get dark they go off and headlights go on.Driving lights called foglights piss me off

[dpex]

The day that happens I will start runing red and blue flashing lights on my bike. Seriously. To a less and less degree as bikers we have a tiny point of difference, we run our headlights all the time. That at least lets some more observant road users know we are around. If every vehicle has lights on all the time we become even more invisible than we are now.

Congratulations on getting out of the way of the biker that had no headlights on today, must have given you a hell of a fright.

I take you point, Mom, but the fact is, lights are way more obvious than the colour of any vehicle of any size.

I'd be interested to know what the law is regarding having some sort of flashing light up front, like pedal-bikers have. These days, many of those beggars look like a Christmas decoration on wheels, at night.

[bogan]

i find shop windows etc highlight the visibility of vehicles, maybe they should set a few big mirrors up on the roadside to show motorist how visible they are. Or plonk a big stainless one in the middle of the road, will be evolution at its finest!

[CookMySock]

and get a real bright biarch one, too. none of this namby pamby woossey candle headlights.

Steve

[James Deuce]

Why does every Kiwi demand compulsory, legislated solutions for problems that are simply a lack of common sense or education?

I'd say it was an argument for compulsory rider training, but then I find compulsion repulsive.

[YellowDog]

I don't know anyone who rides without headlights in any conditions.

Hopefully this guy was a rare exception.

Well done on not spoiling both of your afternoons.

[crazefox]

fuck the headlights

[awayatc]

Not that desperate.....:chase:

[caseye]

I don't know anyone who rides without headlights in any conditions.

Hopefully this guy was a rare exception.

Well done on not spoiling both of your afternoons.

Hopefully he turns his bloody headlight on SOON otherwise he's going to be dead riding in that area without it!The pity is the numbskull doesn't know any better and someone else is going to be involved in HIS Learning experience.:stupid:

[nallac]

Hey lay off the poor GN rider...

Its most likely a chinese one and the headlight has either rusted off
or fallen to peaces....:doh:

[caseye]

LOL ewe could be right there! The mental picture is amusing I must admit.

[steve_t]

I take you point, Mom, but the fact is, lights are way more obvious than the colour of any vehicle of any size.

I'd be interested to know what the law is regarding having some sort of flashing light up front, like pedal-bikers have. These days, many of those beggars look like a Christmas decoration on wheels, at night.

Bicycle front headlights by law should be white and not flashing. Rear must be red and can be flashing. All the front lights I've ever owned have a flashing function and they definitely make you more visible using the flashing function. They're pretty crap for actually lighting the way unless u get the high powered ones. I think flashing front lights coming towards you can be distracting and not allow you to judge the speed of the bike as easily as it approaches. Motorbikes should all come with HID lights :soon:

[dpex]

Hey lay off the poor GN rider...

Its most likely a chinese one and the headlight has either rusted off
or fallen to peaces....:doh:

Nar. Everything about the polished bike, the matching duds and his riding position screamed 'Learner', although I did notice he didn't have an L-plate.

[nallac]

Nar. Everything about the polished bike, the matching duds and his riding position screamed 'Learner', although I did notice he didn't have an L-plate.

If thats the case, are you sure it wasn't a Harley rider just being soooo
coooool that didn't need his/her lights?...

[dpex]

Why does every Kiwi demand compulsory, legislated solutions for problems that are simply a lack of common sense or education?

I'd say it was an argument for compulsory rider training, but then I find compulsion repulsive.

I think you answered your own question....lack of common sense.

But for the record I agree with you about compulsion. Personally, the moment someone tries to compel me to act the wondrous writings of John Stuart Mill swarm into my consciousness, quickly followed by a call to arms. But then, for the most part, I don't lack common sense, which is probably why I survived this long without ever having had a road crash.

The problem, really, James is; there's no longer any real penalty for messing up, apart from the obvious resulting physical penalty for crash on a bike.

For example, some uninsured tit, riding a Honda, could smash into and cause a $100,000 vehicle to get totaled.

What happens to him? He gets a bit of a fine....which gets to pay at $5 pw when he's in the mood to do so. The flash vehicle's insurers 'pursue' him through the courts. The courts order full repayment. What does the tit do?

Files for bankruptcy. Changes his name by deed-poll and the problem just goes away. BTW: Credit agencies do not check on name-changes.

Yet, not so long ago, such a debt would have seen the malefactor in a debtor's prison for a very long time.

But to take your/our argument against compulsion to the point of reductio ad absurd um, you we could argue that it would be perfectly acceptable to allow any person to ride a bike sans brakes or lights, and with totally bald tyres.

Granted, there are some who probably do. But can you mount a reasonable argument against compelling bike-riders to ride only a road-fit bike?

Should we compel riders to ride road-safe bikes?

Now take that argument to the compulsory use of lights at all times. Is the compulsion behind such a concept any less valid than requiring riders to ride a road-fit bike?

[CookMySock]

No one should compel any person to do anything. If folks don't want to ride on the road coz its too dangerous, then don't. Ya rolls ya dice and ya pays ya money.

Everyone does just what they choose. Don't you?


Steve

[GMcC]

I don't know anyone who rides without headlights in any conditions.

Hopefully this guy was a rare exception.

Well done on not spoiling both of your afternoons.

Fuked if I know bout that
Ive seen a few geezers who seem to exist by pootling along at a rather sedate pace and are totally oblivious to their surroundings !
Far as they concerned ' There are NO concerns '
They always ride with head up open face blank looks
Car ! What Car ?
Bike ! What Bike ?
Bring back the firken nut houses !
( and yeah come to think of it they all ride smaller type bikes )

[dpex]

Fuked if I know bout that
Ive seen a few geezers who seem to exist by pootling along at a rather sedate pace and are totally oblivious to their surroundings !
Far as they concerned ' There are NO concerns '
They always ride with head up open face blank looks
Car ! What Car ?
Bike ! What Bike ?
Bring back the firken nut houses !
( and yeah come to think of it they all ride smaller type bikes )

GMcC. You describe the tit I mentioned, perfectly.

[FROSTY]

of course its not possible that the poor bugger was unaware his headlight wasn't working?

[caseye]

Frosty, we , well almost all of us check, repeatedly that we are visible,(headlight on) if this turkey hadn't it just makes him/her even more undeserving of a bike licence.