Headlights...  

Hey Transdisc, what bothers me worse than pedestrians walking too close to the street at night, is when they cross the street in front of traffic at night! It's bad enough when they do this during the day, but I saw a group of kids almost get hit by a car (not mine), last Halloween because they didn't want to use the crosswalk and they j walked instead. How stupid is that???

I've seen other pedestrians do this as well, though this was the first time I saw a large group of people do such a thing.

Transdisc - When I learned to drive in Colorado it was a law that you had to have your headlights on if your windshield wipers were on, and they've just started that here a few years ago. Not that everyone knows it... The worst part about yesterday was that when most people started out for home they didn't really "need" headlights on, but after a couple hours it was dark and they were still on the road. Sometimes when I've driven before/after/during the dark in one trip I will notice that I can't see my dashboard and will turn the lights on then.

Oh yeah, and I totally agree with the whole parking lights thing - I have no clue why they are even in the car to start with.

Hey sacmom - I know what ya mean, it's hard enough to see cars, but when people are out walking around like that it's very dangerous. When I walk in the mornings and it's still dard out, I make sure I have light-colored clothes on (even though most of the neighborhood knows to watch out for me!).

Hey reinydawn, I wish the people around here would wear light colored clothing or reflective gear so that they can be seen a little easier when it is dark out. It's good to know you wear such clothing. Just keep a watch out for the cars! :)

Oh, I try to steer clear of the cars for my own safety. My husband works for a construction supply company right now and would really like me to wear one of the green reflective vests sometimes!

I remember years ago when they first came out with the cars whose lights were always on, the commercials were pretty cool because they showed the same car driving around a bend at the same time of day (dusk) once with the headlights and once without them. It was amazing how much easier it was to see the one with the headlights on. I don't know why all cars have that feature. It seems like they even did away with it, because I don't know that I see them any more.

Hey Goodie, I'm one of those people that drive with my headlights on during the day, but I don't use my highbeams. I haven't seen anyone around here do that, so I had no idea it could be so blinding during the daytime. Thanks for the heads up!

Hi Sacmom, I think it is actually worse in the day then it is at night.
I think people forget they have them on highbeam and in the morning do not even think to check.

I don't use my high beams at all, they actully make it harder for me to drive. I also hate having to switch back and forth for traffic so I just don't use them. I know that some people will use thier high beams when their headlight is out, they're just too lazy to get it changed. Actually, the people who leave their high beams on are basically just lazy too!

I do use my highbeams, though only when there is very light to no traffic out. I drive on country roads and there are a lot of animals that come out at night. I almost hit a possum a few months ago because I just about didn't see him due to not having my high beams on. Since I saw something moving across the road I slowed down and put them on (don't worry, there was no on coming traffic. Heck, there wasn't any traffic! LOL) I was shocked to see the possum and I remember he looked directly at me! It freaked me out! LOL

I can't stand when people cross the road at night either, sacmom. And I've seen the same thing you mentioned -- whole groups taking their time to cross as if it's broad daylight and they are easily seen when they, in fact, are barely seen.

You've got that right - people think you can see them if they can see without their lights on. I think yesterday there was more than normal though because we were on the road for hours when it's not normally that long. When people started out it was lighter out (even though it was raining and they should have had the lights on anyways). Then as it took a couple hours to get home they never realized they didn't have the lights on. I don't understand how they see their meters when their lights are out - maybe that's when they turn the "parking" lights on, to see their meters???

The emergency people were plenty busy last night with accidents - that's one of the reasons it took me an hour longer than it should have to get home. I'm sure on a normal night, they would have gotten pulled over and ticketed for not having their lights on. It is very dangerous.

Unfortunately, I was in Baltimore last night - about an hour from the office, which is about half an hour from home. I should have left my appointment earlier, but I didn't want to have to drive back up there again later in the week, so I stayed.

Well, if you are "parking" why do you want the lights on? That just doesn't make sense to me...

I have a funny story about that. Nevermind... that one is too embarrasing. You are right. I like "parking" in the dark better than with the lights on!

I think that's kinda what I meant too :)

Well, if they see you, they can pull you over. I know in some states they actually do do it, but I'm not sure about here. I remember hearing a comedian once say everyone should be given those dart guns that have suction cups. Every time you see someone doing something stupid in traffic, you shoot their car with it. Then when the cop sees them, if they have so many darts on thier car, they get pulled over for being stupid. I like that concept!

That is so true! I think of it as defensive driving. If I can make sure I am visible to others, it's less likely that they'll hit me...

Ugh, I am so glad this week has not had a repeat of Tuesday. That was just horrible! And I'm around Annapolis, where a LOT of problems were happening. When the weather is bad, you'd think that people would be extra cautious... But not here!!! Hopefully it's time for spring, I'm tired of this already...