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Come Inside... => Petrol/Diesel/Red Diesel/Aviation Fuel Head Zone => Topic started by: The Moan Ranger on January 30, 2012, 07:36:33 AM

Title: Headlamps
Post by: The Moan Ranger on January 30, 2012, 07:36:33 AM
I don't know if this is a phenomenon particular to this north east corner of Surrey, but it staggers me how many cars I see who have defective headlamps.

Only this morning, on a 4.4 mile (7km, BM) round trip, I counted FOURTEEN cars who had a headlamp out. FOURTEEN!  It's particularly dangerous when it is the offside as from a distance, it appears that a motorcycle is approaching and only at the last second you realise it's a car - and you have to adjust your road position accordingly. And if it's not feckin' headlamps then it's feckwits who drive along on side lights with their foglights on. I'm pretty sure that that's an offence. Doubtless our resident Chisholm will advise.

When I was younger you simply wouldn't get away with it - there were a lot more patrol cars and they'd pull you straight away. Nowadays though, there are hardly any patrol cars as they jut rely on the speed/red light jumping cameras, so there's scant enforcement.

Is it because there's no enforcement or is it because these new-fangled Xenon lamps cost a bleedin' fortune? Either way, it's bleddy dangerous and plod should e doing more  evil:
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Barman on January 30, 2012, 08:15:02 AM
I don't know if this is a phenomenon particular to this north east corner of Surrey, but it staggers me how many cars I see who have defective headlamps.

Only this morning, on a 4.4 mile (7km, BM) round trip, I counted FOURTEEN cars who had a headlamp out. FOURTEEN!  It's particularly dangerous when it is the offside as from a distance, it appears that a motorcycle is approaching and only at the last second you realise it's a car - and you have to adjust your road position accordingly. And if it's not feckin' headlamps then it's feckwits who drive along on side lights with their foglights on. I'm pretty sure that that's an offence. Doubtless our resident Chisholm will advise.

When I was younger you simply wouldn't get away with it - there were a lot more patrol cars and they'd pull you straight away. Nowadays though, there are hardly any patrol cars as they jut rely on the speed/red light jumping cameras, so there's scant enforcement.

Is it because there's no enforcement or is it because these new-fangled Xenon lamps cost a bleedin' fortune? Either way, it's bleddy dangerous and plod should e doing more  evil:

Good rant!  :thumbsup:

I think it is the outrageous lack of enforcement. As you say, plod rely on scameras and are too busy waiting outside pubs to catch somebody that has had a couple of glasses of wine to bother about such things...

That is also why (when we lived in Maidenhead) scum raced around the backstreets (no scameras) in their Corsas with complete impunity...
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Just One More on January 30, 2012, 06:11:39 PM
It's not confined to your neck of the woods TMR. Maybe they could get the four coppers off the A33 last week to nab a few. Two coppers in nice shiny BMW No. 1 sat on the verge N/bound, 400m further on, two other coppers in nice shiny BMW No. 2 sat on the other verge S/bound, clocking passing motorists. Thank god there's no proper crime around here and that they can now concentrate on these revenue raising henious crimes  ::)
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Tipsy Gipsy on January 30, 2012, 07:13:36 PM
I rant about this every morning and most evenings.  It recently cost me £2 for a back light and Saturday £16 for a dipped headlight plus other illuminating lights, this is at the main dealerships.
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Nick on January 30, 2012, 07:15:29 PM
It's not confined to your neck of the woods TMR. Maybe they could get the four coppers off the A33 last week to nab a few. Two coppers in nice shiny BMW No. 1 sat on the verge N/bound, 400m further on, two other coppers in nice shiny BMW No. 2 sat on the other verge S/bound, clocking passing motorists. Thank god there's no proper crime around here and that they can now concentrate on these revenue raising henious crimes  ::)
You are Growler and I claim my £5 angel1
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: The Moan Ranger on January 30, 2012, 07:26:08 PM
Same journey this evening, I counted a further 11. I'd suggest that it is unlikely that they were the same ones I saw this morning, going the other way...

The problem is I have it in my head now and I start counting as soon as I get in the car. I didn't really notice it when I was on the 4pm-4am shift as it was light when I was going in and there were very few cars on the road when I was coming back. Now it's turned into some sort of psychotic fixation  eeek:
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Pastis on January 30, 2012, 07:59:59 PM
My loud expletives are getting louder.  Not so much the missing lamp but the full-beam feckers, the dented front wing which has sent the beam higher and of course the high-style 4x4s in the rear view mirror  evil:
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Barman on January 30, 2012, 08:33:34 PM
My loud expletives are getting louder.  Not so much the missing lamp but the full-beam feckers, the dented front wing which has sent the beam higher and of course the high-style 4x4s in the rear view mirror  evil:

And front fecking fog lights!  cussing:
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Barman on January 30, 2012, 08:34:08 PM
Same journey this evening, I counted a further 11. I'd suggest that it is unlikely that they were the same ones I saw this morning, going the other way...

The problem is I have it in my head now and I start counting as soon as I get in the car. I didn't really notice it when I was on the 4pm-4am shift as it was light when I was going in and there were very few cars on the road when I was coming back. Now it's turned into some sort of psychotic fixation  eeek:

What do the voices tell you to do...?  eveilgrin:
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Miss Demeanour on January 30, 2012, 08:35:56 PM
"Don't dazzle , dip " of course  lol:
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Darwins Selection on January 30, 2012, 09:39:27 PM
On the other side of the coin, what about these super-bright LED bicycle headlights? I can't see a thing after one flash of those going the other way.
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: The Moan Ranger on January 31, 2012, 06:01:50 AM
Right, I'm driving up to London in half an hour's time. How many will I count?
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Barman on January 31, 2012, 06:57:00 AM
Right, I'm driving up to London in half an hour's time. How many will I count?

Thirty-seven!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Barman on January 31, 2012, 06:57:37 AM
On the other side of the coin, what about these super-bright LED bicycle headlights? I can't see a thing after one flash of those going the other way.

Cyclists should not be allowed on the roads...  noooo:
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: The Moan Ranger on January 31, 2012, 08:05:52 AM
Right, I'm driving up to London in half an hour's time. How many will I count?

Thirty-seven!  :thumbsup:

Feck moi  eeek:   Spot on BM!
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Barman on January 31, 2012, 08:13:20 AM
Right, I'm driving up to London in half an hour's time. How many will I count?

Thirty-seven!  :thumbsup:

Feck moi  eeek:   Spot on BM!

 eeek:

What is my prize like...?  cloud9:
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Barman on January 31, 2012, 08:16:22 AM
I should buy a lottery ticket today like....  rubschin:
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: The Moan Ranger on January 31, 2012, 08:18:17 AM
Right, I'm driving up to London in half an hour's time. How many will I count?

Thirty-seven!  :thumbsup:

Feck moi  eeek:   Spot on BM!

 eeek:

What is my prize like...?  cloud9:

A medal. All you need now is a chest to pin it on  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Barman on January 31, 2012, 08:40:53 AM
Right, I'm driving up to London in half an hour's time. How many will I count?

Thirty-seven!  :thumbsup:

Feck moi  eeek:   Spot on BM!

 eeek:

What is my prize like...?  cloud9:

A medal. All you need now is a chest to pin it on  :thumbsup:

happy001 happy001 happy001 happy001 happy001 happy001 happy001










 ::)
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Tipsy Gipsy on January 31, 2012, 06:35:22 PM
On the other side of the coin, what about these super-bright LED bicycle headlights? I can't see a thing after one flash of those going the other way.

I have those on my bike and use them so that those country types in their 4x4s can see me down the lanes.  whistle:
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Nick on January 31, 2012, 06:42:43 PM
Just wear fluorescent lycra, like
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Barman on January 31, 2012, 07:55:03 PM
On the other side of the coin, what about these super-bright LED bicycle headlights? I can't see a thing after one flash of those going the other way.

I expect you remember the old acetylene lamps you used to have to urinate in eh Darwin...?  happy100
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Nick on January 31, 2012, 07:57:57 PM
Is "urinate" some sort of euphemism?
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Barman on January 31, 2012, 08:00:00 PM
Is "urinate" some sort of euphemism?

Yes... for 'piss'...
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Barman on January 31, 2012, 08:02:56 PM
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Carbide lamps, or acetylene gas lamps, are simple lamps that produce and burn acetylene (C2H2) which is created by the reaction of calcium carbide (CaC2) with water.

Acetylene gas lamps were used to illuminate buildings, as lighthouse beacons, and as headlights on motor-cars and bicycles. Portable carbide lamps, worn on the hat or carried by hand, were widely used in mining in the early twentieth century. They are still employed by cavers, hunters, and cataphiles.
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Nick on January 31, 2012, 08:10:40 PM
Is "urinate" some sort of euphemism?

Yes... for 'piss'...

A pint of the usual then please  ::)
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Barman on January 31, 2012, 08:11:49 PM
Is "urinate" some sort of euphemism?

Yes... for 'piss'...

A pint of the usual then please  ::)

Long journey ahead then...?  rubschin:
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: apc2010 on January 31, 2012, 09:03:57 PM
Am I the only bloke ... redface:..........that thought it was about bikini top sun tan marks ....... whistle:
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Barman on January 31, 2012, 09:05:29 PM
Am I the only bloke ... redface:..........that thought it was about bikini top sun tan marks ....... whistle:

Yes.
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Darwins Selection on January 31, 2012, 09:35:17 PM
On the other side of the coin, what about these super-bright LED bicycle headlights? I can't see a thing after one flash of those going the other way.

I expect you remember the old acetylene lamps you used to have to urinate in eh Darwin...?  happy100

I still do it on electric lamps out of habit

Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: apc2010 on January 31, 2012, 09:39:03 PM
Am I the only bloke ... redface:..........that thought it was about bikini top sun tan marks ....... whistle:

Yes.

 redface:
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Nick on January 31, 2012, 09:48:38 PM
Now you mention, there was that holiday in Turkey in the hot summer of 1986  cloud9:
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Uncle Mort on January 31, 2012, 09:54:02 PM
Well basted?
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Darwins Selection on January 31, 2012, 09:55:18 PM
Well basted?

Chestnut stuffing
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Nick on January 31, 2012, 09:55:34 PM
Vaseline was involved  eyes: eyes: eyes:

Ooh, dead on cue, here is Tipsy  ::)
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Barman on February 01, 2012, 06:57:13 AM
On the other side of the coin, what about these super-bright LED bicycle headlights? I can't see a thing after one flash of those going the other way.

I expect you remember the old acetylene lamps you used to have to urinate in eh Darwin...?  happy100

I still do it on electric lamps out of habit

 lol: lol: lol:
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Marley's Ghost (Imbiber of Spirits) on March 19, 2012, 12:22:34 PM
There are obviously very few DIY types here - 'cos if you were, you'd have worked out the cause of the problem of duff headlamps yourselves.

Just go and try and replace the bulb in any modern car. Go on - I dare you! Remember, it will almost certainly be a halogen bulb that you must NOT touch with skin and you need arms like an octopus to gain access to the rear of the housing

Some cars advise it as a main stealer job!

Then, when you look at the costs - and weigh that up against the fine and the potential for getting caught, it becomes blindingly obvious.
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Tipsy Gipsy on March 19, 2012, 08:53:41 PM
Vaseline was involved  eyes: eyes: eyes:

Ooh, dead on cue, here is Tipsy  ::)


Oi!   I missed this at the time.    evil:
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Uncle Mort on March 19, 2012, 09:11:50 PM
Too late ~ Statute of Limitations
Title: Re: Headlamps
Post by: Marley's Ghost (Imbiber of Spirits) on March 20, 2012, 12:07:47 AM
Oh Bugger!!