Is anyone else finding these LED flashing lights fitted to the rear of vehicles dangerous vision wise,
they seem to be used constantly even when the vehicle is empty or loaded with minimal overhang.
Had one on the A14 the other morning that had eight flashing lamps that were so bright that I couldn’t
see past the end of the trailer when approaching it, which in turn obscured the fact that they were
very close to a vehicle in front of them, they had their indicator on to come out but the indicator was
very difficult to see due to the intensity of the flashing lights, and especially the ones directly above
the rear lamp clusters.
dave docwra:
Is anyone else finding these LED flashing lights fitted to the rear of vehicles dangerous vision wise,
they seem to be used constantly even when the vehicle is empty or loaded with minimal overhang.
Had one on the A14 the other morning that had eight flashing lamps that were so bright that I couldn’t
see past the end of the trailer when approaching it, which in turn obscured the fact that they were
very close to a vehicle in front of them, they had their indicator on to come out but the indicator was
very difficult to see due to the intensity of the flashing lights, and especially the ones directly above
the rear lamp clusters.
Lots of these LED’s are ridiculous now as well as the aforementioned.
Led headlights and DRLs.
Brake lights on some cars in particular.
Brake lights on lorries that come on even if only the barely effective exhaust brake is used so can be on for minutes or miles at a time whilst travelling at the same speed on gradualy descents, not as they are necessarily too bright but utterly pointless when no deceleration worth mentioning is happening…brake lights should mean something.
Traffic lights at night, especially pedestrian controlled lights at crossings sited at motorway junctions, incredibly bright green light at perfect height to blind lorry drivers leaving you without a clue what lies beyond the light.
Advertising billboards, especially bad at various points on the Birmingham elevated M6/5.
The one place you need decent lights is on the widest points of wide loads, but with all the flashing ■■■■■■■■ on the roof and front (look at me) blinding you even if they are there and visible they arn’t noticeable, you haven’t a clue if its a 14ft wide mobile home approaching or a standard artic with 2" hanging over one side still well inside the standard mirrors.
I notice many of the traditional crane operators have stuck to the old rotating beacons, these arn’t anywhere near so bad whilst still making the vehicle perfectly visible as a possible slower vehicle, maybe some common sense still to be found in such workshops.
Also, the light frames erected on motorway roadworks sections. They are so bright, I find myself putting my hand up to my face to try to avoid being blinded. They seem to be where the speed cameras are, so I assume they think it is more important to catch the number plate of a speeding vehicle than for the drivers to be able to actually see!
I think the blue lights on emergency vehicles are now too bright at night. I’m certain they could be fitted with a daylight sensor to reduce their intensity at night, on motorways if an ambulance overtakes you can follow it for 5+ miles as they rarely seem to exceed 60mph.
The one place you need decent lights is on the widest points of wide loads, but with all the flashing ■■■■■■■■ on the roof and front (look at me) blinding you
Oh how very true or it was last time I was in the UK. I can understand blue emergency vehicle lights being bright because they are needed to waken some of the dozy unaware twonks on the road.
But by far the most irritating are the ones that have lights flashing when they are definitely not needed at night especially. As Juddian says it’s the look at me brigade that think everyone thinks they are important where as in actual fact most think they are a dangerous nuisance with half a brain.
Just because you have them fitted doesn’t mean you have to have them on when not needed. Guilty ones include bin lorries, breakdown wagons and wide load carriers.
jakethesnake: The one place you need decent lights is on the widest points of wide loads, but with all the flashing ■■■■■■■■ on the roof and front (look at me) blinding you
Oh how very true or it was last time I was in the UK. I can understand blue emergency vehicle lights being bright because they are needed to waken some of the dozy unaware twonks on the road.
But by far the most irritating are the ones that have lights flashing when they are definitely not needed at night especially. As Juddian says it’s the look at me brigade that think everyone thinks they are important where as in actual fact most think they are a dangerous nuisance with half a brain.
Just because you have them fitted doesn’t mean you have to have them on when not needed. Guilty ones include bin lorries, breakdown wagons and wide load carriers.
We have to use the beacons when carrying wide loads as its a company order from senior management. Allegedly its for “insurance” but that could just be the catch all bollox. However as an experiment yesterday I switched the beacons off when leaving the yard and the amount of half asleep lorry drivers not moving over as I approached was shocking and down right dangerous and came very close to collision. I have white lamps on the front edge of the widest part of the load as well as marker boards so its clearly visible yet without the beacons there was no “heads up” for oncoming traffic.
Yes I agree LEDs are way to bright but having no beacons is a daft idea with todays poor driving skills of others.
dave docwra:
Is anyone else finding these LED flashing lights fitted to the rear of vehicles dangerous vision wise
The same can be said about car fog lights.
It now seems to be the norm to switch them on with the slightest hint of poor visibility, when they learn to drive they must teach em switch them on. But then you can’t see their brake lights coming on. Maybe they should rerun the old road safely advert about don’t dazzle.
On a slight different note, has anyone else seen convoys of plain white transit/sprinter vans running around at speed on the motorway network under blue and white lights in the windows?
I’ve also seen a few grey merc vans/people carriers running in convoy along the M5/M42 with blue lights on, which has got my curiosity working overtime wondering what they are doing
jakethesnake: The one place you need decent lights is on the widest points of wide loads, but with all the flashing ■■■■■■■■ on the roof and front (look at me) blinding you
Oh how very true or it was last time I was in the UK. I can understand blue emergency vehicle lights being bright because they are needed to waken some of the dozy unaware twonks on the road.
But by far the most irritating are the ones that have lights flashing when they are definitely not needed at night especially. As Juddian says it’s the look at me brigade that think everyone thinks they are important where as in actual fact most think they are a dangerous nuisance with half a brain.
Just because you have them fitted doesn’t mean you have to have them on when not needed. Guilty ones include bin lorries, breakdown wagons and wide load carriers.
We have to use the beacons when carrying wide loads as its a company order from senior management. Allegedly its for “insurance” but that could just be the catch all bollox. However as an experiment yesterday I switched the beacons off when leaving the yard and the amount of half asleep lorry drivers not moving over as I approached was shocking and down right dangerous and came very close to collision. I have white lamps on the front edge of the widest part of the load as well as marker boards so its clearly visible yet without the beacons there was no “heads up” for oncoming traffic.
Yes I agree LEDs are way to bright but having no beacons is a daft idea with todays poor driving skills of others.
I wasn’t meaning when they were carrying a load I was meaning when they were not however I do think some of them are way OTT. Especially some of these ■■■■■■ drivers driving like complete twonks to block traffic again when it’s not necessary.
Two problems I have with these lights is I find them a bit harsh on my tired old eyes at night (wish they had a day/night setting) and also I find them distracting me from noticing an actual indicator.
WhiteTruckMan:
Two problems I have with these lights is I find them a bit harsh on my tired old eyes at night (wish they had a day/night setting) and also I find them distracting me from noticing an actual indicator.
Exactly right, totally distracting from seeing far more important things like as you say an indicator.
Look at me blinding everyone with my fancy lights.
grumpybum:
Also, the light frames erected on motorway roadworks sections. They are so bright, I find myself putting my hand up to my face to try to avoid being blinded. They seem to be where the speed cameras are, so I assume they think it is more important to catch the number plate of a speeding vehicle than for the drivers to be able to actually see!
The bright lights you are referring to are to light up the vehicle interior to get a picture of the driver. They do not need the lights to read the number plate.
About 5 years ago I made a complaint about them being dangerous, as you are experiencing, at a location on the M62.
The complaint was accepted & I was informed the lights would be removed.
I then requested they be removed at all locations where they were installed & was informed I would have to make a complaint about each individual location separately!
Had I been driving regularly I would have, but I was only doing an odd shift.
If you find the lights dangerous, please take the time to complain to the telephone number listed on the roadworks section (as it used to be & I assume still is).
grumpybum:
Also, the light frames erected on motorway roadworks sections. They are so bright, I find myself putting my hand up to my face to try to avoid being blinded. They seem to be where the speed cameras are, so I assume they think it is more important to catch the number plate of a speeding vehicle than for the drivers to be able to actually see!
The bright lights you are referring to are to light up the vehicle interior to get a picture of the driver. They do not need the lights to read the number plate.
About 5 years ago I made a complaint about them being dangerous, as you are experiencing, at a location on the M62.
The complaint was accepted & I was informed the lights would be removed.
I then requested they be removed at all locations where they were installed & was informed I would have to make a complaint about each individual location separately!
Had I been driving regularly I would have, but I was only doing an odd shift.
If you find the lights dangerous, please take the time to complain to the telephone number listed on the roadworks section (as it used to be & I assume still is).
That’s really useful - thanks. All they’ll be getting is a picture of my hand over my face! I will make a note of the number next time I encounter them.