Hey, so the last time I went to Japan, they reminded me of this little thing they do, which is when they stop at a stop light, they turn off their main beams and just go to their parking lights. This is out of courtesy. If my memory serves me, they do something similar in Europe, no? I've been prone to do it in drive thrus as well, just being nice to the guy in front of me (though my guess is they don't even get it). Does anyone know anything more about this? Should we all start a new fad here in the States?
Turning off your lights at a stop
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Imola - That is correct, in Europe it is similar as well. It was general courtesy to turn off main lights when cars are stopped head to head on an intersection. Of course there were people that would sometimes would forget, and everybody would look at them with angry eyes 
Here too, I turn off my main lights on intersections that I know is disturbing to cars on the other side waiting. As you said they don't get it, but hey, it makes me feel better.
Here too, I turn off my main lights on intersections that I know is disturbing to cars on the other side waiting. As you said they don't get it, but hey, it makes me feel better.
I've been in Germany for over 2 years now and I have never noticed anything like this. The only thing with headlights that I have noticed is during the day if you see headlights flashing on the autobahn....Move Over. Because that means that something is coming fast in the left lane. Probably some type of S-something Audi or a big E class or bigger benz. You don't see too many BMW's driving 120+ on the autobahn though. Maybe one or two riced out e36's but thats about it. During the night its the same thing only with the left blink and not the high beams. Don't ever and I mean ever pass on the right. You will get some of the meanest, dirtiest, and ugliest looks you have ever seen.
I really wish people here would appreciate when people flash their brights to pass. They just get angry, as if it's their right to drive 55 in the left lane. Well, technically it might be, but it's supposed to be the passing lane. If you're not passing, stay the hell out! It's not so hard to move over one lane while I go by. I always move out of the way if there's noone blocking me and someone's coming up fast from behind.OJ330i said:
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There's definitely a lack of driving courtesy here in CA, despite what people say about Massachusetts drivers of Jersey drivers or whatever. A number of my friends have noticed on cross-country trips that people 'keeping right' seems to only apply outside the state of California. Here, we have geezers in Buicks (or hippies in Citations or whatever) going 55 in #1 lane when traffic is going 80MPH.
As for turning off headlights at intersections in Japan, that's something that'd been done there for a long time, and its strictly out of courtesy, and there is no law regarding it, AFAIK.
Do that here, and the cops will be after you, or someone'll think you're a gangbanger or something.
As for turning off headlights at intersections in Japan, that's something that'd been done there for a long time, and its strictly out of courtesy, and there is no law regarding it, AFAIK.
Do that here, and the cops will be after you, or someone'll think you're a gangbanger or something.
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Warning! Ranting Below
I have just returned from Germany where I lived for 3 years and I never saw anyone turn off their headlights at a stop light. Nor did I observe that in Italy or the Netherlands. I lived in South Korea for one year and dimming your lights at a stop light is common or expected.
Germany definitely has some peculiarities concerning use of auto lighting though. For instance, it has to be extremely poor weather for most people to use their headlights in the daytime. Much more than your average cloudy day where in the states people use their headlights frequently, not that there is anything wrong with that. I think this comes from the Germans general attitudes of conservation and high proficiency behind the wheel. Why use them if you don't need them and "I'm paying attention to my driving" so again, they are not needed. I got the sense that the Germans definitely don't like it when you drive around with your headlights on. The only cars I noticed with DRL's were all U.S. registered cars. I'm sure some Germans have them though. I would say that when I saw someone driving with their fog-lights on while it was not foggy 98% of the time it was an American, 1% where probably forgetful Germans and the other 1% were the coffee can exhaust wide wheel crowd.
There is no way you could start a fad in the U.S. for courtesy regarding lighting or anything else. Most people who have fog-lights on their cars have them on constantly, even in the daytime if they have their headlights on. I see people driving E46's with their fog-lights on all the time and, as you know, that requires an activation each time unlike some manufacturers that make them so they come on with the headlights if you have the switch on. In the 3000 miles of driving I've done since I've been back in the U.S. it's been extremely frustrating. How can we be the greatest country in the history of the world, and we are, and have so many ignorant and stupid people driving cars and enormous SUVs? It's really sickening. I was pretty ignorant before I lived overseas though I must admit. I used to drive too fast and make passes on the right out of frustration. It's just not worth it to me now. Keep right M.F.er! Another annoying thing in the states is red light creeping. People are constantly moving forward one foot, then 6 inches, then one foot while the light is red. Is it impatience or what? Then, when the light turns green they pause before they go………..??? WTF, if you were so hot to go then go DAMNIT. Also, don't block the crosswalk and quit turning left in front of me.........aaarrrrrgggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Uuuuhhhhh………..time for a beer.
I have just returned from Germany where I lived for 3 years and I never saw anyone turn off their headlights at a stop light. Nor did I observe that in Italy or the Netherlands. I lived in South Korea for one year and dimming your lights at a stop light is common or expected.
Germany definitely has some peculiarities concerning use of auto lighting though. For instance, it has to be extremely poor weather for most people to use their headlights in the daytime. Much more than your average cloudy day where in the states people use their headlights frequently, not that there is anything wrong with that. I think this comes from the Germans general attitudes of conservation and high proficiency behind the wheel. Why use them if you don't need them and "I'm paying attention to my driving" so again, they are not needed. I got the sense that the Germans definitely don't like it when you drive around with your headlights on. The only cars I noticed with DRL's were all U.S. registered cars. I'm sure some Germans have them though. I would say that when I saw someone driving with their fog-lights on while it was not foggy 98% of the time it was an American, 1% where probably forgetful Germans and the other 1% were the coffee can exhaust wide wheel crowd.
There is no way you could start a fad in the U.S. for courtesy regarding lighting or anything else. Most people who have fog-lights on their cars have them on constantly, even in the daytime if they have their headlights on. I see people driving E46's with their fog-lights on all the time and, as you know, that requires an activation each time unlike some manufacturers that make them so they come on with the headlights if you have the switch on. In the 3000 miles of driving I've done since I've been back in the U.S. it's been extremely frustrating. How can we be the greatest country in the history of the world, and we are, and have so many ignorant and stupid people driving cars and enormous SUVs? It's really sickening. I was pretty ignorant before I lived overseas though I must admit. I used to drive too fast and make passes on the right out of frustration. It's just not worth it to me now. Keep right M.F.er! Another annoying thing in the states is red light creeping. People are constantly moving forward one foot, then 6 inches, then one foot while the light is red. Is it impatience or what? Then, when the light turns green they pause before they go………..??? WTF, if you were so hot to go then go DAMNIT. Also, don't block the crosswalk and quit turning left in front of me.........aaarrrrrgggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Uuuuhhhhh………..time for a beer.
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Re: Warning! Ranting Below
BTW, I am not deluding myself with any thoughts that we're about to start some new fad, but I guess I'm just dreaming of how nice it would be to be courteous to one another on the road. Too bad we're the only people even talking about it.
OMG, yes! I hate that. I also hate it when people leave a full car gap or more between themselves and the car in front of them when we're at a light. Pull up!Wingboot said:
BTW, I am not deluding myself with any thoughts that we're about to start some new fad, but I guess I'm just dreaming of how nice it would be to be courteous to one another on the road. Too bad we're the only people even talking about it.
Re: Warning! Ranting Below
This is so true. You will never see a German drive with their fogs on. And if you turn yours on during the day or night without fog you will get some Germans to flash you to let you know you have them on. This is the weirdest thing though because my wife drives with her headlights and fogs on 24/7 in her Contour SE. It really pisses me off but one thing it does do is help me Identify her car from a distance. All I have to do is look for "HID look" headlights and fogs on a light colored car and I know its her. I can tell her car apart from at least a 1/4 mile or more away. It still pisses me off though.Wingboot said:I would say that when I saw someone driving with their fog-lights on while it was not foggy 98% of the time it was an American, 1% where probably forgetful Germans and the other 1% were the coffee can exhaust wide wheel crowd.
Yep, the beam patteren for the US has a little bleed at the top compared to the euro pattern so that road signs will be lit up by your headlamps, rather than having the government pay for lighted signs. (How do you get electricity to the middle of death valley and other remote areas?)
It's a pretty neat idea, but when the law it was made many MANY years ago, I don't think they had xenons in mind.
It's a pretty neat idea, but when the law it was made many MANY years ago, I don't think they had xenons in mind.
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