Headlights

**dpex** · 24th May 2009, 18:50

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** · 24th May 2009, 18:56

+1 for lights on

**Mom** · 24th May 2009, 18:57

Originally Posted by dpex

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** · 24th May 2009, 18:58

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

**steve_t** · 24th May 2009, 19:10

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?** · 24th May 2009, 19:12

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** · 24th May 2009, 19:37

Originally Posted by Mom

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** · 24th May 2009, 19:38

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** · 24th May 2009, 19:39

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

Steve

**James Deuce** · 24th May 2009, 21:18

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** · 24th May 2009, 21:28

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** · 24th May 2009, 21:28

fuck the headlights

**awayatc** · 24th May 2009, 21:44

Not that desperate.....

**caseye** · 24th May 2009, 22:07

Originally Posted by 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.

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.