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From: niland@hpfcms.HP.COM ( Bob Niland )
Newsgroups: net.cycle
Subject: Re: Daytime high vs low beam
Message-ID: <730007@hpfcms.HP.COM>
Date: Thu, 9-Oct-86 02:50:22 EDT
Article-I.D.: hpfcms.730007
Posted: Thu Oct  9 02:50:22 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 12-Oct-86 13:18:05 EDT
References: <730004@hpfcms.HP.COM>
Organization: Hewlett-Packard
Lines: 48

re: daylights

> I agree, high beams on at night is very obnoxious, but during the day ...
> hell if you have the sun behind you, that means the sun, all 3 bazillion
> watts of it is shining directly on *ME*, so do you think my 60 watts pointed
> at you will really make me so much brighter as to be annoying?!!!

  I agree, and on paper I would probably say "hi beams + day = no problem",
  but, if it actually made only a small difference, I would never have
  noticed.  (I saw two more today, and I'm not really looking for them.)

> Watching something does not imply staring at it!  If you can't keep track of
> objects in your peripheral vision, you shouldn't be allowed to drive anyway!

> Are you implying that vehicles going straight should yield the right of way
> to vehicles that have expressed a desire to turn left?!!

  I don't like to rely that heavily on my peripheral vision.  I got hit a
  few years ago by an auto driver who simply turned left into my path
  without signalling.  So, I like to pay attention to what's going on, e.g.
  Do I have eye contact with the oncoming driver?  If not, where is that
  driver looking?  Is the vehicle at a steady speed, or slowing as if to
  turn?  (Sometimes you can only tell by a gentle forward pitch or the
  cyclist's left foot downshifting.)  Is the oncoming vehicle under active
  control, or just an unguided missile?  I like to be in touch with all the
  cues I can get, and high beams during the day discourages me from
  collecting them.

> If the difference between having too much light and having too little light
> is my life, then I want enough candlepower to bring the shuttle in for a
> night landing!!!

  12/14 volt aircraft landing lights are available over the counter at your
  local airport.  Use of them on a highway vehicle will get you promptly
  arrested.  Deliberately running high beams at night into oncoming traffic
  will get you a ticket.

  Running high beams during the day is not covered by statute, nor does it
  need to be; we have too many laws already.  My postings here are NOT in
  the nature of "there oughta be a law" or "you are wrong" or "stop it or
  I'll throw a tantrum".

  What's true is that: you do what you do - and there are consequences.
  Running high beams in the day may not serve your intention (which is
  safety) and it puts you out of agreement with me (and perhaps others).
  It is a simple matter:  are these the results you want?

Bob Niland             hpu*!hpfcse!rjn             [ihnp4|hplabs]!hpfcla!rjn