An amazing number of cars about with only one brake light working. (I wonder how many have none working). What amazes me is that if I get the chance to tell the driver the usual response is "I know".
Why don't they fix it? It can be done for less that £2.00 - on most cars you don't even need any tools. It seems that dumbing down the way of changing bulbs has been met by an increase in apathy. (soapbox session ended)
John
You don't live in/near Bournemouth by any chance? I've long been of the opinion that the percentage of cars with one brake light was higher here than elsewhere.
Steve
Same here along the Brighton - Worthing corridor....... :o(
PDH
I will look out for this as I am down that way next week, something to pass the time.
DAve
10-1 there's a little old fruitbat peering over the steering wheel.
PDH
The message from "John" contains these words:
I pointed out to a girl who lives over the road that she had no brake lights at all.
That was three weeks ago - and they're still out despite her driving it every day.
Worse are the ones who get aggresive. "What the f*ck's it got to do with you?" and so on.
They'd be more inclined to do something about it if the police pulled them.
I have to admit it's a pet peeve of mine, especially when, like you say, they know about the fault. Maybe I'm just too anal but I always carry spare bulbs in the car (apart, now, from front headlights, but that's a different story)
Although... I seem to remember the process for the wife's Ford Ka involves some serious strip-down (is that for indicators, I forget?) so maybe not the 5-minute work's car-park activity for some cars. Although I'll be surprised if rear lights / brake lights on any car are that difficult to replace.
I used to use a certain shop window that was angled so i can see my lights without getting out to check the rears, but i agree, i see so many with none of the fitted as standard working yet those aftermarket strip lights one do. I used to beep my horn and tell them but like you most would say yeah i know....
seen a lot with just the hi level one working.
On some cars it may involve removing the rear bumper, but in most cases the driver doesn't know and telling them there's something wrong with their car is akin to accusing them of having a very, very small knob.
The trouble with getting out to check them is that your foot leaves the brake pedal and they go out anyway.
Re-read Jules' post. Park with your rears towards a shop window and then look behind you.
I pulled up next to a police Transit last week with a brake light out, I don't normally say owt as long as the high-level light is working too, but with it being a van the was only 1 working. When I told the driver I got such a look from the 3 plod in the cab, I won't be doing it again...
I saw that but he says that he does it "so i can see my lights without getting out to check the rears". Just my sense of humour, I'm afraid. :-)
On a more serious note, I live about 8 miles from the nearest shop or other suitable reflective surface. I usually put a large stone on the brake pedal. Can anyone think of a more sophisticated way (assuming there is nobody there to help)?
Tell the Chief Constable instead. And about the 'look'.
Do it at night, against a fence or whatever. You can see in your mirrors if they're working. Personally I use the shop window method, especially as I live close to the shops. When you're going for an MOT, it helps to know they're all working, but usually can't check the no plate light, check that manually.
Steve
The message from "Tony Bond \(UncleFista\)" contains these words:
Funny, last time I did it to the dibbles I got "Shit, we've been rumbled" and a wide grin.
A long time ago a friend's father was pulled over by the plod for some minor defect or possibly going a tad too fast. So he told them he was going to check their car and found a defective light. So they called it quits and sent him on his way.
No - young males and females
You can often see them reflected in cars that are behind you at traffic lights. I suppose that when LEDs become standard they will no longer fail. Personally I take the view that if one has gone - the chances are that the other will fail as:
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