Some have missed the point - if one brake / rear light has failed then it does matter as there is a likelihood that the other might also fail. Then the situation really is serious.
Having any faults increases the likelihood of Plod stopping you - so therefore I would expect people to show a bit more gratitude when such a fault is pointed out - together with a bit more willingness to fix such a simple fault.
Probably if the fault was pointed out by someone else than Plod. A Plod stopping you always makes you think he's going to do you over, so a defensive (neutral) attitude is taken.
Driving with faulty brake lights is in nobody's interest, so I'm happy being told. My car also has a diagnostic display that will show if a brake lamp is not working.
My lights are usually checked daily, either by reflection from my garage door or from the window of the house opposite. I'm amazed by the mumber of motorists who drive around with faulty lights. Headlights are the worst, especially a faulty offside bulb.
Terry D.
[...]
Sometimes (but not often I suspect), this can be explained by the lights failing during the journey. I think that in France, all cars must carry a spare set of bulbs in the car. I usually have some spare bulbs in the car.
I absolutely agree with the points made that having blown bulbs or lights that don't work is not a great idea - not something I would do intentionally, and I carry a spare set of bulbs in the car to avoid this happening. We were just discussing what is required for MOT inspection, and many things will get through MOT which are neither a good idea, safe, or even legal (case in point being a bald spare tyre.)
As to the situation in France, I have hired rental cars and even purchased new vehicles there, all came without spare bulbs. As I understand it, it is not a legal requirement to have a spare bulb set, however having a blown bulb is an offence which will be dealt with by on-the-spot fine - your only way to avoid this is to have the spare with you, and if you can remedy the fault on the spot you are OK. I could be wrong here, but if I am it is a rule which is widely ignored.
What is even worse than that is those that seem to knowingly drive with the blown bulb but use main beam on the remaining bulb to compensate for the lack of light.
Phil
Only time I've ever been pulled over by the Police is for blown headlight beam... and I know for a fact it was fine when I left my house... 10 minutes later came off the motorway and they were doin roadside checks and stopped me... At least they were doing something sensible with their time...
Yes.... ever tried a Ka headlamp......
Get real. If an LED illuminated brake light doesn't glow with sufficient brightness, then it will fail, in the same way that a 21W filament bulb fitted in a rear light cluster with a duff earth...
/john Been there with a 1990 Escort...
In article , "Stuart Gray" I've seen a few already with a couple of
Early ones designed as panel indicators on electronics etc were - pretty well. High intensity types are a different matter.
When one of my dipped beam bulbs go I swap a full beam bulb for it, since they are separate bulbs of the same type and I don't get to use the full beams that much.
-- James
Hi Tom
Thats cheating!! 8~)
Hi Terry
Even more fun when the sidelight and headlight bulb is out, in some conditions the vehicle then looks like a motorbike.
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