Indicators and lane changes

[Flip]

My car has a switch that makes the LED tail lights go extra bright.

Indicating changing lanes. After being cut off many times commuting on the motorways in Chch I dont indicate to change lanes anymore. It's just too dangerous IMHO to let the cunts know what you are doing. I would in Wtn and prob Ak but not down south its just too dangerous.

[caspernz]

And while discussing the lack of need to have the glaring rear fog-light on with a motorist I have found out quite a few (a) didn't realise their car even had fog-lights and/or (b) had no idea how to turn them off.

One woman insisted she needed to pull out the light-switch knob on her Jag "Or the headlights no go".
She took some convincing that they WOULD go simply by turning the switch knob.

I know it's just my European habits, for in Holland and Germany you'd get stung quick smart by the cops once visibility was beyond 200 metres if I recall correctly, it just really grinds my gears to look at rear foggies for no good reason. Makes you wonder how many folks even read the drivers manual...

Most European cars have one rear fog light which comes on with the front ones. People think the front fog lamps are auxiliary driving lights but have no idea what they are really for so drive with them on because they look cool.

Well I've driven my share of European cars and they've all had quite separate switching functions for front and rear foggies. Most common being, pull headlight rotary switch out once for fronts and repeat for rears.

Still, almost as dumb as driving with your parklights on in the rain I guess? I reckon cars should be fitted with an internal "dumbass" loudspeaker that blares as soon as you release the parking brake with just parklights on...

[cs363]

parklights

Yep, you'd think the name would be enough of a hint....

[Trouser]

Most European cars have one rear fog light which comes on with the front ones. People think the front fog lamps are auxiliary driving lights but have no idea what they are really for so drive with them on because they look cool.

Every car with a rear fog light has a way of switching it off independantly of the front ones.

[Swoop]

Auckland's traffic was at an all time high this morning. With school holidays happening the flow was much better, which seemed to allow the tin-toppers the ability to frolick freely among the lanes.
I've never seen so much unnecessary swapping back and forth between lanes. Quite bizarre.

Couple that with a weird need to have wheels sitting hard on the white line (sometimes the left sometimes the right...) it was getting close to "taking a different approach to road manners" today.

[awa355]

I have noticed that at night time a lot of front indicators are hard to see when the car is opposite at an intersection. With some indicators built into the headlight unit, the flashing light can be hard to pickup from alongside a bright white headlight beam.

[Moi]

I have noticed that at night time a lot of front indicators are hard to see when the car is opposite at an intersection. With some indicators built into the headlight unit, the flashing light can be hard to pickup from alongside a bright white headlight beam.

Design triumphs over function...

considering past experiences with indicators and either headlights or tail-lights = Ford Falcon's nipple indicator, Chrysler Valiant's indicators under strips of bodywork - it is amazing that the same or similar mistakes are still being made = VW has replicated the nipple-style with the indicator as a ring round the brake-light: almost impossible to see...

[TheDemonLord]

Add to the rant - cars with the STUPID american style indicators

They should be banned.

[swarfie]

Add to the rant - cars with the STUPID american style indicators

They should be banned.

I'll add my
The modern way it seems is to have all the lights, front and rear, covered with a white lens and use coloured lamps to give the "impression" of brake or indicator lights. Near impossible to see in bright daylight most of the time. How the hell do some of these things get through legislation? Manufacturers should be made to go back to making indicators orange and brake lights red IMO. OK...rant over

[MisterD]

Manufacturers should be made to go back to making indicators orange and brake lights red IMO. OK...rant over

[Moi]

Add to the rant - cars with the STUPID american style indicators

They should be banned.

Which are you thinking of?

[BMWST?]

Most European cars have one rear fog light which comes on with the front ones. People think the front fog lamps are auxiliary driving lights but have no idea what they are really for so drive with them on because they look cool.

not true.All euro cars i have owned have had completely seperate front and rear fog light switching.Not only that all have also had warning lamps for front and rear fog lamps.PROPER front fog lights are useful ,rear fog lights are hardly ever required.All car dealers who sell euro cars should instruct kiwis how to work multiple light switches.

[Voltaire]

Bring back proper indicators

and decent rear lights..

[scumdog]

Add to the rant - cars with the STUPID american style indicators

They should be banned.

Describe these 'stupid American style' indicators, I may have some...

[PrincessBandit]

I hate the way people come into a roundabout indicating one thing, but actually doing something else e.g. indicating a right turn when, in fact, they are going "straight through" the roundabout but then indicate left to "cancel" the right turn Thankfully I haven't seen that for a while, but then I did have one woman slurping oblviously on her Macca's coke sail around the roundabout at Weymouth Rd the other day nearly collecting me as I read the "no indicator" as "not turning right". Stupid me. My mind reading skills weren't that great that night - at least my reaction speed was sufficient to avoid an SUV shaped dent in my drivers door...