How I kept calm I'm not sure...

[TW]Fox · 24 Dec 2011 at 17:55

Lopéz said:
Okay, from the top. I didn't suggest anything.

Drivers should use main beam on unlit (or lit) roads when there is no traffic approaching. This is what main beam is designed for, this is why it exists.

When traffic approaches, you flick back to dipped beam, to avoid dazzling the oncoming driver.

On any car, Mk1 Focus or otherwise, the action of flicking the stalk cancels the dipped filament and illuminates the main beam filament. But this is virtually instantaneous - in fact in many switches the main beam element comes on fractionally before the dip extinguishes. But even if that isn't the case, we are talking hundredths if not thousandths of a second between switches. You certainly don't get 50 yards or so with no light whatsoever, in any car!

You've not spotted his point because it's so daft.

He is actually saying if you use full beam, you get a huge black hole over the entire area the dipped beam used to shine, where you cannot see anything anymore. He beleives this happens and is dangerous.

Howard · 24 Dec 2011 at 17:55

[TW]Fox;20872612 said:
DONT GO THERE ARGHHGHGGH

Why not? It's a very valid safety concern. Ford must be made aware of this.

OCCUPY DAGENHAM

Kenai · 24 Dec 2011 at 18:00

Jesus ****ing wept, this thread has made my brain literally hurt.

How can someone so retarded function in day to day life without a carer?

**** me :/

Gibbo · 24 Dec 2011 at 18:00

rossk26 said:
I live in Northumberland, you having a laugh.....

Why can't you accept a view. This has nothing to do with driving ability whatsoever, and to say you cover yourself for any inevitable hazard by having you high beams on 100% of the time is ludacris.

This guys states he knows the road well, i felt this wasn't the case as he flicks high high beams on far too much for my liking. This is my view, like it or love it you ****

Are you really arguing about this or are you here to just troll people?

Got plenty of unlit country roads in my neck of woods, some I know so well I could drive with my lights off. But do I? Of course I don't your lights are there to show you any potential hazards and so other road users know your about too.

Heres an example, your travelling a straight part of country road and you have just your dipped beams on which for the sake of comparison give you 25m of visibility. Your travelling at 70mph and all of a sudden there is a large dark object in the centre of the road, you can't swerve to avoid without risking damage to your car, so the only option is to slam your brakes on at 70mph, by the time your brain has computed to brake your only 15m from said object, needless to say you don't brake in time.

Now let's repeat this, your full beams are on and you can see a good further 25m or so but fact is full beams give more extended field of version. As such you see the potential hazard earlier and as such can brake in time and stop.

This is why good drivers use their full beams whenever and wherever possible on unlit roads.

Another example, rally drivers know the course well, but they have incredibly powerful full beams to enable them, yep you guessed it see more.

Ceiling_Cat · 24 Dec 2011 at 18:00

rossk26 said:
Not the case, when I drove the MK1 focus you lost all light that was previously offered in the area where the dipped headlights were when the high beam was activated. This was rectified in the facelift MK1.5 Focus.

OP does not drive a Focus your argument is invalid.

rossk26 · 24 Dec 2011 at 18:00

Lopéz said:
On any car, Mk1 Focus or otherwise, the action of flicking the stalk cancels the dipped filament and illuminates the main beam filament. But this is virtually instantaneous - in fact in many switches the main beam element comes on fractionally before the dip extinguishes. But even if that isn't the case, we are talking hundredths if not thousandths of a second between switches. You certainly don't get 50 yards or so with no light whatsoever, in any car!

What on earth are you on about??? My current Focus when the high beam is activated DOES NOT extinguish the dipped headlights. They are both seperate bulbs infact (Xenon's for the dipped, Halogen for the high beam).

It's not a case of for a split second there is no light. It's the FACT there is not light at all offered from the dipped beam when the high beam is activated on a MK1 focus.

So if you drive around with your high beams on all the time, there is no light infront of the car offered from front bumper up to about 50-75 yards infront until you reach the point where high beam offers it's lowest rays of light....

Comprehend?

Clown · 24 Dec 2011 at 18:01

Damn. When Gibbo doesn't say "Hi there" it must be serious.

Howard · 24 Dec 2011 at 18:01

rossk26 said:
Comprehend?

No.

No one can.

Vita · 24 Dec 2011 at 18:01

Hate idiots that do this. You did the right thing DRZ.

[TW]Fox · 24 Dec 2011 at 18:02

rossk26 said:
What on earth are you on about??? My current Focus when the high beam is activated DOES NOT extinguish the dipped headlights. They are both seperate bulbs infact (Xenon's for the dipped, Halogen for the high beam).

It's not a case of for a split second there is no light. It's the FACT there is not light at all offered from the dipped beam when the high beam is activated on a MK1 focus.

This is a non-issue though as the increased output from the high beam more than compensates!

This is just a trait of H4 bulbs - it's perfectly safe and a complete non issue.

There is overlap between the spread of the two lights!

When you are driving at speed what is 20 yards in front of your car is irrelevent. If there is something 20 yards ahead and you've not seen it already, you are hitting it, end of story. What matters is whats further ahead of you!

It takes less than 1 second for a car to travel 20 yards when travelling at 60mph. Under a second. Yet you think being able to see there not only allows you to spot something you were so daft you didnt spot when it was illuminated 200 yards ahead, but that you could also react in time AND avoid it?

LOLOLOLOLOLOL

MisChief · 24 Dec 2011 at 18:03

rossk26.. lol.
Why do people even bother disagreeing or trying to talk sense into this guy :confused:

It's clear to see that he's the ONLY person in here who thinks he's right.

Anyway, DRZ I'm surprised you didn't swear! I shout "you ******* idiot" at least 5 times a day

ScoobyDoo69 · 24 Dec 2011 at 18:03

Funnily enough I've had a CTR do this to me before too? Pulled out of a junction, didn't accelerate up to speed and sat there doing 25mph, again it was night so he probably wasn't aware of what car I was driving. I pulled out to do a nice progressive overtake without hoofing it past, and next thing I know I can hear "VTEC Yo" next to me.. thankfully a bit of heavier foot and I was comfortably past him.

I remember thinking to myself why was he going so slow if he was planning to try and not let me past? Even if he knew I was in an Impreza behind him, surely he would have known that I would still get past anyway?

Weird people on the road..

Lopéz · 24 Dec 2011 at 18:10

rossk26 said:
What on earth are you on about??? My current Focus when the high beam is activated DOES NOT extinguish the dipped headlights. They are both seperate bulbs infact (Xenon's for the dipped, Halogen for the high beam).

It's not a case of for a split second there is no light. It's the FACT there is not light at all offered from the dipped beam when the high beam is activated on a MK1 focus.

So if you drive around with your high beams on all the time, there is no light infront of the car offered from front bumper up to about 50-75 yards infront until you reach the point where high beam offers it's lowest rays of light....

Comprehend?

That's just how an H4 bulb works.

The Focus 1.5 had nothing to do with "rectifying the issue" because it was never an issue that needed rectifying in the first place. It's just a different design.

LSPIII · 24 Dec 2011 at 18:10

rossk26 said:
My current Focus when the high beam is activated DOES NOT extinguish the dipped headlights. They are both seperate bulbs infact (Xenon's for the dipped, Halogen for the high beam).

With Xenon lights I believe it is a legal requirement to leave the main beam on when turning on the full beam. As I recall, something to do with warm up time for Xenon lights. That's why you experience this behaviour with your current setup. With Halogen only bulbs there is no such requirement.

P.S. I'm with everyone else here. You'd be doing yourself a favour if you just pipe down...

Gaijin · 24 Dec 2011 at 18:14

I would love to contribute to this awesome thread. However, I'm off out - to walk down the pub.

Tonight though, I'm going to opt to not use shoes and socks.

Sure, using shoes and socks will make the journey much more comfortable, warm and indeed safer. However, because I know the way to the pub, I do not need them.

Have a wonderful evening chaps.

rossk26 · 24 Dec 2011 at 18:14

LSPIII said:
P.S. I'm with everyone else here. You'd be doing yourself a favour if you just pipe down...

Will do. I shall continue to drive along the british roads in my council fuelled terribly lit vehicle. Putting the lives at risk for every mile I drive. Call the police and inform them of my dangerous driving habits, I'm pretty sure they would just laugh at you...

Gibbo · 24 Dec 2011 at 18:16

Regarding this CTR driver, well idiot.

Fact if you want to play with another car you don't do so by driving like an OAP or holding them up, you just do one and it's unto car behind if he wants to try and keep up.

If a car is overtaking you the correct, polite and sensible thing to do is back off allowing them to pass quicker and safer.

This is why when I do overtake a car I do so in my fastest accelerating gear for the overtake using as much throttle as I safely can allowing me to pass ad quickly as possible and should they be a nob chances are I am still getting past easily.

DRZ braking was the right thing to do otherwise you'd have been on the wrong side of the road for longer and with what was clearly a dangerous driver on your tail. If people think their cars are so great and they have such amazing skills then show them off on a track day where it's safer.

LiE · 24 Dec 2011 at 18:16

As I said in the high octane thread.

LiE said:
ross doing some serious trollin here.

Princey · 24 Dec 2011 at 18:16

I don't even use lights. I just have a blinds man stick on the front of my car.

rossk26 · 24 Dec 2011 at 18:17

Gayjin said:
I would love to contribute to this awesome thread. However, I'm off out - to walk down the pub.

Tonight though, I'm going to opt to not use shoes and socks.

Sure, using shoes and socks will make the journey much more comfortable, warm and indeed safer. However, because I know the way to the pub, I do not need them.

Have a wonderful evening chaps.

Really your going to risk walking when there are thousands upon thousands of drivers out there that are willing to take your life because they don't wish to use their high beams.

Enjoy your funeral.