Daytime running lights... like or dislike???

rdam · Dec 19, 2003

With a name like GatorBoy, I just assumed you lived or went to school in the Florida Mountains!!! Get the snowshoes and oxygen tanks ready...The highest point is Britton Hill near Paxton. North of DeFuniak Springs. 345 feet !!!!!

I'm trying to put together an expedition for the summer. Conditions are brutal in the winter /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Gatorboy · Dec 19, 2003

I stand corrected -- I was giving the highest point in peninsular Florida.

I did graduate from the University of Florida -- hence the name Gatorboy -- and lived in the State for 15 years.

rdam · Dec 19, 2003

( "I'm not aware of any jurisdiction (In the U.S.)where "travelling below a certain speed requires the use of hazard lights""

Pennsylvania and Maryland do...if the vehicle is moving below a certain speed (40 MPH on a highway, for example). )

I think I've seen the signs on the Interstate in the Northeast that say "minimum speed 40 MPH". I would think if your going to go less than the minimum posted speed, your a hazard and you should pull over.

If thats the law then it's not well thought out. If there is a driving rain, and ALL the vehicles slow to under 40 MPH, and ALL the vehicles turn on their flashers, everyone is driving into a Christmas tree. Nobody can tell who is braking, signalling a lane change or just cruising with their hazards on. I respond to crashes daily in the rainy season and hear people all the time say "I didn't know he was braking...he had his flashers on". True, but the problem is he is following too close which doesn't leave enough assessment (of the flashing lights) and reaction time.

I think the circumstance of a heavily loaded semi, climbing a hill, under the posted speed limit is a good use of hazard lights. My concern is MASS use of hazard lights, primarily in DRIVING rain. It's dangerous and distracting. Driving slow, with head/tail lights and appropriate spacing (2 second rule... minimum) allows for better concentration on the surrounding vehicles without the constant, unnecessary assessment of dozens or hundreds of "flashing lights".

The human eye is attracted to movement as well as a flashing light. It's natural. Conciously or not, you ARE assessing each of those flashing lights for what they MAY be...Brake lights. And while your brain is pretty fast, it's not fast enough to assess ALL those lights in time to prevent a collision.

Gatorboy · Dec 19, 2003

( If there is a driving rain, and ALL the vehicles slow to under 40 MPH )

Speed Limits are for normal driving conditions.

rdam · Dec 20, 2003

And other driving conditions, like too much traffic. You can actually get a ticket in Florida titled "Too fast for conditions".

Junkman · Dec 20, 2003

( And other driving conditions, like too much traffic. You can actually get a ticket in Florida titled "Too fast for conditions". )

In Florida, you can get a ticket for just about anything if you have out of state plates and are headed North. They know you are on the way home and have left all you are going to spend behind you. Florida..... the PROFILE capital of the Nation!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

OkeeDon · Dec 20, 2003

My concern is MASS use of hazard lights, primarily in DRIVING rain.

Rick, I think part of the problem is that our ffiends from the North may not know exactly what a DRIVING rain is, unless they have experienced a typical Florida tropical rainstorm.

I had lived in Pennsylvania and Masschusetts all my life until I moved to Florida in 1972. As I was driving for the first time to my new home, one of those tropical downbursts came at me head-on. I had never experienced anything like it. That first day, I joined all the tourists on the side of the road until it passed, while all the experienced Florida drivers motored on at a reduced speed. Since then, I've also learned to take them in my stride, but you're right -- there is nothing more confusing than the mass of flashing lights from people who think they're being helpful by letting the rest of us know there is a little rain around.

Anything with visibility of more than 50 feet is just a damp mist, and if you can see 100 feet, it's just dew... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Bird · Dec 20, 2003

( nothing more confusing than the mass of flashing lights )

I just never considered it confusing; just thought that it was quite clear that you better slow down and be prepared to stop or you might be involved in something you ain't gonna like. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

rdam · Dec 20, 2003

( ( And other driving conditions, like too much traffic. You can actually get a ticket in Florida titled "Too fast for conditions". )

In Florida, you can get a ticket for just about anything if you have out of state plates and are headed North. They know you are on the way home and have left all you are going to spend behind you. Florida..... the PROFILE capital of the Nation!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif )

Ummmmmm..........I'm not touching that with a 10 foot post hole digger! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Trev · Dec 20, 2003

( Prior to retirement I drove heavy trucks for a living and found those lights to be distracting at times....you know how people sometimes signal you with their lights after you pass them?)

I always thought the drivers of the big rigs appreciated it when cars flashed them that it's now safe to pull back into the right lane, or, turned their headlights off and on at night to signal the same thing? Often the truckers flash their lights as a "thank you." Are you saying it's more annoying than helpful when cars do this?

I like having my lights on.. purely from experience, I get cut off a lot less when they're on. I do sympathize with motorcyclists, though.. it used to be one of the only advantages to noticeablility they had.. the other being loud pipes which they claim helps them be noticed. Never been sure if that offsets the nuisance to everybody else. Ever been trying to sleep when 30 Harleys with straight pipes go by your house? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Best,
Bob