Headlights on full beam in fog?

[PrincessBandit]

After reading this earlier,
Teens 'horsing around' before cop car crash
...Earlier that night, Wilson had been seen smoking cannabis and consuming alcohol.
Travelling in foggy conditions, the officer driving the police car that struck Wilson did not have his vehicle's lights on high beam.
The IPCA said while the officer's actions were not unlawful, it stated "his failure to have his headlights on high beam were unreasonable and undesirable pursuant to the Independent Police Conduct Authority Act 1988".
It added that driving in fog with lights on low beam were not the actions of a "reasonable and prudent driver''...


I was wondering what is going on here. I've always been under the impression that driving at night with headlights on full beam in fog isn't what you'd normally do (reflection and all that).

I guess that it probably depends on a raft of mitigating circumstances at the time, and this is no doubt high profile due to the fact that a death ensued in this case.

Nevertheless, what is the almighty KB opinion out there on this issue? Headlights on full beam in fog or not?

[Crasherfromwayback]

I was gonna post that! I say 100% fucking bullshit, the cop was doing the right thing. It does depend on how bad it is...but in HEAVY fog...headlights on high beam fucking blinds you!

[scumdog]

I was gonna post that! I say 100% fucking bullshit, the cop was doing the right thing. It does depend on how bad it is...but in HEAVY fog...headlights on high beam fucking blinds you!

Im with you on this.

The ONLY time high-beam possibly could give you an advantage is it can pick up things with reflectors more readily...

This generally does not include people though...

[Elysium]

From experience high-beam makes things worse in heavy fog.

[Pussy]

The cop was doing the RIGHT thing! Bugger riding/driving in fog with the headlights on high!

[FJRider]

The cop was doing the RIGHT thing! Bugger riding/driving in fog with the headlights on high!

Maybe ... the cop was travelling too fast for the conditions ...

[sinfull]

Walking on the road = fail

Family stating on national television that they are not happy with the report as and i quote " we didn't get anything out of it " = major fail

[Scuba_Steve]

The IPCA are morons!!!

[JimO]

bet he was wearing dark clothing, real hard to see on a good night, invisible on a bad night

[Oakie]

the cop was doing the right thing. It does depend on how bad it is...but in HEAVY fog...headlights on high beam fucking blinds you!

Thats what I thought too.

[98tls]

Amazing,The only people that could condone driving in heavy fog with high beam are people that have surely never driven in heavy fog.Utter bullshit.

[steve_t]

Maybe ... the cop was travelling too fast for the conditions ...

Exactly!!

Amazing,The only people that could condone driving in heavy fog with high beam are people that have surely never driven in heavy fog.Utter bullshit.

Being from Hamiltron, I am extremely experienced in driving in all sorts of fog. While the road code says you should always dip your lights in foggy conditions to prevent yourself from blinded, I always find that my high beam increases visibility. Of course, use of the high beam needs to be as if there was no fog ie never while following or with oncoming traffic. Sorry to disagree with you guys but that's just my experience.

[scumdog]

bet he was wearing dark clothing, real hard to see on a good night, invisible on a bad night

Hmmm, drinking, tokin', walking along an unlit winding open road at night, appraoching car would have been heard approaching...didn't hear TOO much criticism of the dead guys actions...


And I've seen plenty of ding-a-lings around here who walk home from the pub pissed - and walk right out on the road to thumb a lift.

Even if the car's going in the opposite direction.

[98tls]

Exactly!!



Being from Hamiltron, I am extremely experienced in driving in all sorts of fog. While the road code says you should always dip your lights in foggy conditions to prevent yourself from blinded, I always find that my high beam increases visibility. Of course, use of the high beam needs to be as if there was no fog ie never while following or with oncoming traffic. Sorry to disagree with you guys but that's just my experience.

Hamiltonthats not fog thats smog

[Crasherfromwayback]

Amazing,The only people that could condone driving in heavy fog with high beam are people that have surely never driven in heavy fog.Utter bullshit.

I think that particular 'coroner' is a dork anyway. I've seen more than enough of his 'expert opinions' to decide that. They are only judges after all. The same guy thinks rollcages on quads would save lives.

Years ago I got done for careless use of a motor vehicle after I'd been taken out by a silly bitch that didn't look, and u turned right into the side of me. Fucking lucky I didn't lose my left lower leg (ripped the radiator header tank and left footrest/gear lever assembly clean off) as I tried to accelerate past her. I got done for it, even though she admitted she didn't look properly, as Iused the motorcycle in a way in which a normal 'prudent road user wouldn't', by accelerating instead of braking.

This, despite me explaining how much easier it is on an FZR 1000 to accelerate at short notice than stop.

A lot of judges are really quite simple.