Was just wondering if I am not the only one who raises my headlights whenever going through busy intersections, streets, etc when you know there is a lot going on? I do this to ensure people see me coming. My Fiero is much lower than the average car out there and I get a little paranoid about people not seeing me. I don't flip them up in every intersection & street, just really busy ones where there is a lot going on. Ya, I'm putting more wear and tear on the motors but I feel it's worth the extra margin of safety.
Does anyone else do this? Or am I just paranoid ? Kit
[This message has been edited by Kitskaboodle (edited 07-19-2013).]
On the way to & from work there are a few intersections that I would. I have had so many dumb bunnies making left hand turns in front of me, that I just put the lights up, some times I turn the brights on for them, there coffee may not have awaken them yet! LOL
I'm with rbell on this one....I regularly use my parking lights as DRLs. About 95% of my Fiero driving is done on twisty mountain roads...and I usually turn the parking lights on when cruising the Blue Ridge Parkway or other routes that I take. I do a lot of in and out of the shade...so I like to think that helps. I don't like to use the full headlights for cosmetic reasons...plus it kills the aerodynamics to have those two parachutes sticking up (my duke/auto needs all the help it can get).
Here I am at Run For The Hills 17 with the parking lights on (I have since fixed the side marker lights)...
Here is more of the group....as you can see, some of them agree with running with full headlights...
My Fiero is much lower than the average car out there and I get a little paranoid about people not seeing me.
Yeah, no doubt. Sometimes it seems we are invisible based on the stupid stuff people do in traffic. Makes me wonder if people have forgotten how to watch for small cars.
Also, never ride alongside or in someone's blind spot. I live in DuPage County IL which has firmly embraced America's love affair with the SUV and they are everywhere. I'm certain they cannot see a short car like a Fiero adjacent to them or in their mirrors.
I always turn my lights on. Right after startup. All my vehicles. But, I kind of do it more so in the Fiero. But, then again, my lights look like this...
Kitsakboodle....your drinking the wrong cool aid. Drive with your light on if your worried.amd drive defensively. You've got to be kidding about big vehicles in traffic..whats your driving problem ???
Kitsakboodle....your drinking the wrong cool aid. Drive with your light on if your worried.amd drive defensively. You've got to be kidding about big vehicles in traffic..whats your driving problem ???
I can easily attest to being nearly run over by drivers not seeing my low slung car. Heck, and this is most embarrassing, but I ran over the front of my GT two weeks ago. My GT was in the drive along side my F150. I got in the truck, checked my mirrors, and looked over my shoulder forgetting that my Fiero was parked next to the truck on the passenger side. My fault! :0 I ended up driving over the left front fender, over the mirror, and the truck tire slid off of the drivers door. After some serious polishing, the only damage was to the drivers mirror. It bent the shat out of it.
I pay more attention than most, and still made a mistake. At least it was mine, and not someone else's.
Ive never been a fan of turning lights on for daytime visibility. People just dont pay attention anymore. Ive had people pull out right in front of me driving my stretch limo. I even had one pull out litterally 20' ahead of me going 55mph in my 35 foot motorhome. Ya my 8 tons almost flattened him....figure he crapped his pants.
i hear ya. when my 84 finally reached daily driver status (it still had a few "bugs" to work out) and i took it to work for the first time. 3 people pulled out right in front of me within a few blocks. "fix the horn" instantly moved to the top of my "to do" list :-)
Ive never been a fan of turning lights on for daytime visibility. People just dont pay attention anymore. Ive had people pull out right in front of me driving my stretch limo. I even had one pull out litterally 20' ahead of me going 55mph in my 35 foot motorhome. Ya my 8 tons almost flattened him....figure he crapped his pants.
All the more reason to turn them on. Anything that increases your chances of being seen helps. Its free.
I only use the lights/markers in the rain (state law) or when it is dark. In my opinion, using them any other time starts to lessen (or numb) the lights on benefit for the motorcyclists and they need it more than I do.
I get cut off more while driving my full size 4x4 truck than I do driving the fiero... so I don't think the size of the fiero has anything to do with people just not paying attention.
There are at least three reasons you don't want to ride around with your brights on during the day.
1. While it's true you will be more visible, other drivers will have a harder time judging your speed. All they will see is two (or one if you're on a motorcycle) bright fuzzy balls coming toward them.
2. The headlights themselves were not designed to operate continuously on high beams. The extra heat over time can shorten the life of the bulbs and damage the reflective surface inside. The cooler night air helps to keep the heat from high beams managable.
3. You can get a ticket for failure to dim your lights.
I do have an issue at night where since the head lamps are so close together that people will pull out in front of you as they think you are just some small car driving slow.
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