DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - What you think right before you might get into a car crash

**kSmica** · 01-13-2011, 07:47 PM

I have standard 55W headlamps and I drive at the speed limit of 70mph on motorways. Does that make me an idiot?

If, as you've been saying, you're driving too fast to stop in the road distance you can see, then it does - haven't you realised that's what I've been saying? It may not be another vehicle, I've seen all sorts of struff on roads - spare wheels, bits of wood, bits of exhaust, horses and cattle, rocks, etc.
At 70mph, at night, you should be able to either find a vehicle to follow at a safe distance, which will give warning of a problem and allow you to stop safely, or if the roads are quiet, to use high beam. That's assuming the motorway isn't lit, of course.

Have the headlight alignment checked and check the voltage at the bulb vs at the battery - effective light output is to the third power of the voltage, ie, if battery is 12.5 V and the bulb is 11V, you're getting less than 70% of what you should be getting with some decent wiring and relays, and it'll be a yellower colour. Enough dirt on the lights or windscreen to be noticed will reduce that a further 5+% for each - just a good clean can make a big difference, especially as many people don't keep the inside of the windscreen clean - which is also really bad for sunstrike*, the loss of visability when the sun lights up the screen when it's close to the horizon.

Sorry if it seems I'm giving you a hard time, just don't want you to be another person hurt or killed through a careless action - known too many killed in avoidable crashes.

* As a learner driver, nearly drove off the road when coming round a bend on a strange road and straight into the sun and completely lost track or where the road went.

01-13-2011, 07:47 PM	#8
kSmica Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 631 Senior Member	I have standard 55W headlamps and I drive at the speed limit of 70mph on motorways. Does that make me an idiot? If, as you've been saying, you're driving too fast to stop in the road distance you can see, then it does - haven't you realised that's what I've been saying? It may not be another vehicle, I've seen all sorts of struff on roads - spare wheels, bits of wood, bits of exhaust, horses and cattle, rocks, etc. At 70mph, at night, you should be able to either find a vehicle to follow at a safe distance, which will give warning of a problem and allow you to stop safely, or if the roads are quiet, to use high beam. That's assuming the motorway isn't lit, of course. Have the headlight alignment checked and check the voltage at the bulb vs at the battery - effective light output is to the third power of the voltage, ie, if battery is 12.5 V and the bulb is 11V, you're getting less than 70% of what you should be getting with some decent wiring and relays, and it'll be a yellower colour. Enough dirt on the lights or windscreen to be noticed will reduce that a further 5+% for each - just a good clean can make a big difference, especially as many people don't keep the inside of the windscreen clean - which is also really bad for sunstrike, the loss of visability when the sun lights up the screen when it's close to the horizon. Sorry if it seems I'm giving you a hard time, just don't want you to be another person hurt or killed through a careless action - known too many killed in avoidable crashes. As a learner driver, nearly drove off the road when coming round a bend on a strange road and straight into the sun and completely lost track or where the road went.
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