Prius At Work

[RNS]

Hello all

was working last night

15 hour shift...... day staff didn't come out for some reason i cannot think why..... ;)

[Phoenix999]

Can you please do a favour for me Keep ALL the snow up your way ;)

[RNS]

I spent the start of the night telling people we never get snow around here.... erm...... i was wrong. :(

[Grumpy Cabbie]

I didn't realise you had a white one!

[Seamaster73]

Why did you have your fog lamps on?

[RNS]

Why did you have your fog lamps on?

coz when the snow came down it was a white out and after being one bad crash i'd rather be seen than not.

although u cannot tell u got them on the led lights are so bright..

[kevin h]

Why did you have your fog lamps on?

coz when the snow came down it was a white out and after being one bad crash i'd rather be seen than not.

although u cannot tell u got them on the led lights are so bright..

You meen, "sod other drivers if I blind them and they have an accident".

[Chris Dance]

Just shows how sturdy the Prius is in such conditions. Do you have snow tyres on?

[RNS]

Nope just normal just get the passagers out to push lol works fine

[johalareewi]

You meen, "sod other drivers if I blind them and they have an accident".

I've got some night driving glasses which are great for cutting down oncoming headlights

[r04drunner1]

You meen, "sod other drivers if I blind them and they have an accident".

I personally don't have an issue with oncoming cars driving with their front fog lamps on. Properly adjusted fog lamps don't dazzle because they spread their beam low down, onto the ground.

Unlike my first VW Scirocco; when I tested the fog lamps, they did a beautiful job of lighting up the tops of the trees! Thankfully they were externally mounted and the problem was easily fixed. B)

[Jan&tone]

You meen, "sod other drivers if I blind them and they have an accident".

I personally don't have an issue with oncoming cars driving with their front fog lamps on. Properly adjusted fog lamps don't dazzle because they spread their beam low down, onto the ground.

Unlike my first VW Scirocco; when I tested the fog lamps, they did a beautiful job of lighting up the tops of the trees! Thankfully they were externally mounted and the problem was easily fixed. B)

Isnt it illegal to use fog lamps unless visibility is less than 100metres??

[r04drunner1]

Isnt it illegal to use fog lamps unless visibility is less than 100metres??

Yes it is illegal to use fog lamps (front or rear) "unless visibility is seriously reduced"; defined as "generally when you cannot see for more than 100 metres". I was making clear a personal preference.

I also note that the law has other anti-dazzle requirements:

In stationary queues of traffic, drivers should apply the

parking brake and, once the following traffic has stopped,

take their foot off the footbrake to deactivate the vehicle

brake lights. This will minimise glare to road users behind

until the traffic moves again.

(Rule 114)

This has implications for the thread on what to do when the Prius is stationary.

(Quotes from the NI Highway Code.)

R04drunner1

[Sagitar]

Here is what Rule 114 actually says:

114

You MUST NOT

* use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders

* use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves to avoid dazzling other road users (see Rule 226)

In stationary queues of traffic, drivers should apply the parking brake and, once the following traffic has stopped, take their foot off the footbrake to deactivate the vehicle brake lights. This will minimise glare to road users behind until the traffic moves again.

[Law RVLR reg 27]

* Driving in adverse weather conditions (226-237)

The part of 226-237 that relates to lights says:

226

You MUST use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced, generally when you cannot see for more than 100 metres (328 feet). You may also use front or rear fog lights but you MUST switch them off when visibility improves (see Rule 236).

[Law RVLR regs 25 & 27]

236

You MUST NOT use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226) as they dazzle other road users and can obscure your brake lights. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves.

[Law RVLR regs 25 & 27]

You have to note the distinction between the use of word "MUST" and the word "should".

"MUST" means it is a legal requirement. If you fail to comply you are breaking the law.

On the other hand, "should" indicates that the detail is advisory. Failure to follow an advisory element does not entail breaking the law but may be used in evidence in any court proceedings under the Traffic Acts to establish liabilty.

I think the part of 114 that advises on the use of the parking brake in stationary traffic is very subtle. As I read it, if you are stationary and there is no vehicle behind you, or the vehicle behind you is moving, then your brake lights should be showing. If you are stationary and have a vehicle behind you that is not moving, then your brake lights should not be showing.

It still leaves a number of interesting avenues for speculation - when there is traffic in more than one lane for example and one lane is moving and the other stationary?

[r04drunner1]

You have to note the distinction between the use of word "MUST" and the word "should".

"MUST" means it is a legal requirement. If you fail to comply you are breaking the law.

On the other hand, "should" indicates that the detail is advisory. Failure to follow an advisory element does not entail breaking the law but may be used in evidence in any court proceedings under the Traffic Acts to establish liabilty.

Quite right, Sagitar. I didn't mean to imply that keeping one's foot on the brake pedal when stationary and with cars behind you is breaking the law. That's not quite the case, as your post points out. But on rereading my post I realised that a false impression could have been given. So I am grateful you posted the clarification.

I still think the photo from the OP is ace!

[Jan&tone]

As you say, MUST/MUST NOT are compulsory, SHOULD/SHOULD NOT are advisory.

Unfortunately with the advent of so called SAFETY cameras the police seem to have abrogated a large number of their road traffic duties and certainly here in South Essex the rule seems to be "I paid for my spot lights, i'm going ro use them and bugger the law!!

In fact, yes correctly adjusted spot/fog lights do not cause dazzle unless it is raining or snowing when the light is reflected badly directly into the eyes of some poor sod approaching in the opposite direction.

As for my Prius and stopping procedure, I ALWAYS put it into park if I am stopped for more than 10 seconds at lights and there is someone behind me that has also stopped.

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Visibility looked seriously reduced to me in the photo, so front fogs are appropriate. Also, front fogs help greatly when in heavy snow as they light up the road lower down and stop that mesmerising effect of the snow tunneling towards you that you'd get with full beam.

Anyhow, front fogs correctly adjusted arn't that much of a problem - rear fogs however are a right royal pain in the a*** when left on when it isn't foggy.

Personally I'd prefer the cops to spend their time stopping the uninsured and drunk drivers rather than the ones who may have their front fogs on.

On this subject, I wonder what will happen when the daylight running lights law comes into effect in the next year or so? I know some use LED lights such as Audi, others use their main beam on a reduced output such as VW and Skoda, but don't other manufacturers use their front fogs? Does that mean the front fogs meet the relevant light output requirements? Or am I opening a tin of worms? :!Removed!:

[Jan&tone]

lol can of worms I think Grumpy!