Fog lights and stuff...

Submitted: Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 13:48
ThreadID: 32479 Views:2035 Replies:7 FollowUps:16
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Took a semi to Sydney on Saturday night. As usual the number of fog lights blinding me was well up there... On getting to the M5, I noticed one of those mobile sign boards... "Fog lights are only to be used under adverse conditions... $75 fine" or words close enough to that effect... Thought it was nice to see the RTA making an effort. Coming home last night, got passed by 3 cop cars all running around in clear weather with bloody fog lights ablaze...???

Now to the age old gripe of people not dipping their lights... Between Sydney and Marulan I was getting quite agitated not only that people didn't think to dip their lights but that when I flashed them, they ignored it... I decided to start counting from Marulan to Albury, no less than 43 vehicles who failed to dip their lights. What's was more frustrating was that 31 of them were 4by's with big old spotties on them. After hooking up with my escort(as in a car with flashing lights) at Albury, I started counting again. 3 vehicles who failed to dip even though there appeared to be a relatively equal number of cars about. This is a pattern I've noticed to be fairly consistent over the last 3 or so years that I've been doing this particular Sydney run... Are NSW drivers just stupid or is there a far greater underlying issue...???

Discuss...
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Reply By: Scoey (QLD) - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 13:59

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 13:59
Hi Blue,

We seem to have a fairly high calibre of idiot up in Sunny QLD but then again there's a bloody lot of people moving up from sourth of the border.... :-P

Hmmmmm........
Scoey!
AnswerID: 164552

Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 15:53

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 15:53
I think some of us southerners are taking pity on you guy's and smartening up the gene pool for ya *ducks for cover*
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Reply By: Gramps (NSW) - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:04

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:04
Blue/Scoey,

You guys are obviously bored posting this LOLOLOL
AnswerID: 164555

Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:11

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:11
I think more fatigued than bored Al... Got in at 4:30am and home at 8:30am this morning and am trying to stay away until normal bedtime to get back into the swing for my regular job...

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Follow Up By: Gramps (NSW) - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:21

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:21
Blue,

I don't envy professional drivers at all. I get pi$$ed off enough with the same behaviour by cars/trucks/buses on my infrequent night driving jaunts. To have to put up with it day and night ..... totally beyond my patience :((((
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Follow Up By: Gramps (NSW) - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:28

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:28
Blue,

"from Marulan to Albury, no less than 43 vehicles who failed to dip their lights"

Probably Victorians going hell for leather to escape Bracksie LOLOL

Then again, if they're headed for NSW or Qld it's probably like out of the frying pan into the fire :))))))
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Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:48

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:48
Yeah, from one frying pan to the next... Well, a change is suposed to be as good as a holiday...
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FollowupID: 419442

Reply By: flappa - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:05

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:05
IMO , part of the reason , especially between Sydney and say Goulburn , is the divided road tends to give people a false sense , that they dont have to dip lights. Moreso in cars. I guess the truck guys , being higher obviously cop it more then cars.
AnswerID: 164556

Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:15

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:15
The worst part was 2 4by's who insisted on leaving hi-beam and driving lights ablaze on the single lane... I couldn't just blind them back as there were others following them... I agree people think a few blades of grass between the lanes makes for a good blockout for their lights...
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Reply By: Doctor Evil (VIC) - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:07

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:07
Totally agree.

I regularly travel long distances at night and the amount of drivers who ignore the basic lighting laws is unbelievable.

They think that a divided highway gives them the right to keep their high beams on.

As for the driving (fog) lights, most aren't too bad, the commodore's are the worst. They seem to be angled up.

However in saying that, a number of "professional drivers" have taken it upon themselves as "regulators" on our major highways and either deliberately dazzle these cars with thier driving lights on.

On a recent trip to Brisbane from Melbourne, it happened at least 4 times where I was following the offending vehicle. After a brief discussion via uhf with the "professional drivers" who blinded us, It appears they are at the end of their tether with inconsiderate "little wheel" drivers.
AnswerID: 164557

Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:21

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:21
As a semi-professional driver(I only do it as a casual for a few extra $$) I can say that being confronted by these hi-beam idiots all night is extremely draining... I've done quite a few Adelaide trips as well, where the incidence of being hi-beamed is substantially lower and I usually get to Adelaide feeling like I could load up and head straight home... When going to Sydney, I'm knackered by the time I get there and again by the time I get home.

Someone give me a badge for a night... PLEASE...???
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FollowupID: 419428

Follow Up By: Doctor Evil (VIC) - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:47

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:47
I drove the south triangle (Melb -Syd-Adelaide-Melb) for a while back in the mid '80's.

Agree "sesame street" was the worst..............Including some of the other truckies (Overniter 4x4's - 400HP and 4 tonne). However, with the influx of divided highways (and the increase in arrogant car drivers) has further irritated the "professional driver to take the law into his/her own hands, which cannot be good for their industry.

Flicking their high beam at a car with driving lights on, won't solve the problem.

Most rural cops use UHF, start warning other drivers up the line about a "little wheel" with annoying lights and the plods will take care of it............hopefully........

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FollowupID: 419441

Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:53

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:53
Doc Evil, last night I was 600Hp and 4.5T... Didn't pull it back more than one gear the whole way(with exception of towns)
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Follow Up By: Doctor Evil (VIC) - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 15:00

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 15:00
LOL

i used to drive a SBR Isusu rigid with a 903 cummins..................
Mainly carted cubic rather than tonnage. Things like empty milk bottles etc.

Shoulda seen the looks you got passing the 4x4's (400hp in '85-'86 was a lot) at 140 across the Hay plains with 2 more gears to go...............
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FollowupID: 419451

Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 15:49

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 15:49
Got me one of these...



T604, C16 and carry air freight, always light...
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Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 15:51

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 15:51
I always seem to get the pics wrong...



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Follow Up By: Doctor Evil (VIC) - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 15:59

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 15:59
Sweet.........Something nice about plain white..........

How does she steer? The old SAR I drove wasn't bad, but I notice the T604 (evolution from the SAR) front axle is back aways from the nose.

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Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 16:08

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 16:08
It steers like any other Kenworth, bloody grouse in a straight line...LOL It's a bit like every bolt in the steering assembly is a couple of thou too small... Long wheel base makes it a bit of a handfull in and around Mascot/Syd airport and the stacks right next to the window mean you can't get the damn turbo whistle out of your head for a couple of days... A few blokes have been caught out by the front over-hang. They have an SAR(an old girl, not the new T404-SAR) as well, I reckon it steers better than these.

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FollowupID: 419471

Reply By: rooscoota - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:26

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:26
hey hey g'day blue (vic)

yeah mate since i retired a few years ago (forced retirement i might add) after being in the game for more than 20 years i miss it like a hole in the head. after reading this forum now for a couple of years and seeing all the self imposed authorities on different subjects including this one, N.S.W. R.T.A. traffic regs, i really dont expect much more than a grilling, flaming and negative responses. as i have tried to explain in previous posts the offence is " unlawful use of fog lamps" and incurs an on the spot fine of over $200 plus 2 demerit points as of last july 2005 and thats from the R.T.A.'s rulings so its pretty obvious they cant get it right either, unfortuneatly it is one of those minor infringements that is rarely enforced and people remain oblivious that it is an offence, same as sitting at your mates out the front blowing your freakin horn telling them to hurry it up, IT IS AN OFFENCE.
i've just had to come to terms with the fact that no one gives a rats @$$ anymore so i just oblige the offenders with the same lack of courtesy that they show me, i dont have them you beaut fog lamps but the combo of hi beam in the standard lights plus my driving lights certainly gives em something to think about whilst they try to regain focus of their eyeballs. one day the authorities will do a blitz an these rarely enforced rules and i can everyone now complaining and whinging when they eventually get done, with no sympathy from moir.

____________________________________________________________________

lifes a garden....... dig it



AnswerID: 164561

Follow Up By: Gramps (NSW) - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:38

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:38
Rooscoota,

Have'nt seen any 'grilling, flaming and negative responses' on this thread yet :)

Agree with you re fog lights though, the sooner the better. Amazed that our local revenue collectors have'nt twigged to it yet.

Regards
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FollowupID: 419436

Reply By: Leroy - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:46

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:46
On Saturday night there was a bit of banter on the radio by the southbound traffic about cars etc not dipping lights. I didn't notice so much as i was heading north but what i did notice was the 'professional drivers' were giving as much as they were getting!! So much for professionalism.

Leroy
AnswerID: 164562

Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:57

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 14:57
North bound traffic seems to be worse than south bound... Can't explain it, just how it works out...
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FollowupID: 419449

Reply By: Wisey (NSW) - Tuesday, Apr 04, 2006 at 19:51

Tuesday, Apr 04, 2006 at 19:51
Blue

I noticed the RTA screen last wk also which I thought was great,.... BUT still so many not acknowledging courtesy/laws. But if the offenders are also cops then we all should be carefull of THEM "flicking" the fine to us.

Agree it is a, PITEye but look to the left edge of the road (hard to see/do, I know)until they pass and as suggested, broadcast it on UHF. Ya just like to reduce the amount of glare/light shining at ya at ANY time, ESP' at night.

It's time for the LAW to act on these hooligans of the road, each vehicle handbook states these are "F O G" lights to be used in FOG conditions only, same as rear (55W) FOG lights.

I need to step down!

NEXT!!

AnswerID: 164819

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