|
|
This topic comprises 4 pages: 1 2 3 4
|
|
Author
|
Topic: So how many hours do you spend in traffic each week?
|
Tony Bandiera Jr
Film God
Posts: 3067
From: Moreland Idaho
Registered: Apr 2004
|
posted 06-30-2013 12:20 PM
quote: Leo Enticknap
The way to solve that problem would be to fit some sort of timing device whereby the brake light automatically goes out after, say, ten seconds of the car being stationary and the brake pedal remaining pressed.
quote: Sean McKinnon
Leo, that is a GREAT idea.
Sorry, that is a very STUPID idea. Consider this:
There are plenty of times where, even here in L.A. with all it's horrendous traffic, I have been at a full stop for an extended period of time either on surface roads or the freeway with NO ONE behind me.
Now, have someone approach the back of my car/truck at speed, seeing no brake lights and they WILL automatically assume that I am either moving or about to move. The end result will be ugly for all parties involved.
Tell you what Leo, you be the first to outfit that kit on your car and if you survive at least three years without getting your car totaled, I will change my comment about it from "stupid" to simply "really bad." ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
That said, my average commute here in L.A. is about 2025 miles and I spend at least 2.5-3 hours per day round trip.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leo Enticknap
Film God
Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000
|
posted 07-01-2013 04:30 AM
quote: Tony Bandeira Jr
Now, have someone approach the back of my car/truck at speed, seeing no brake lights and they WILL automatically assume that I am either moving or about to move. The end result will be ugly for all parties involved.
I always apply the handbrake and release the footbrake while stopped at lights (i.e. no brake lights showing), and have never had that happened to me in 19 years of driving. In the dark, tail lights will still be showing. I suppose that could be more of a risk in sparsely populated rural areas, though.
quote: Rick Raskin
Add to that, there should be a modification that turns on the headlights when the wipers are activated. A simple diode would do the trick.
Sort of agreed, but in light and/or intermittent drizzle I guess there might be the risks that headlights would be constantly going on and off (with the wipers).
In Sweden, dipped beam headlights have to be on by law whenever the car is moving. That's why you can't turn them off in Volvos - the dipped beam headlights are on whenever the engine is running. Can't be good for fuel efficiency, having to generate 100w or so of power even in the middle of the day when you don't need it (I reckon at a rough guess that on my Fiesta, having the headlights on costs 1-2 miles per gallon).
I've noticed that some newer rental cars I've driven over the last couple of years have a light meter built into the headlamp assembly: the headlights have an auto mode, in which they will automatically come on when the ambient light level goes below a certain point. I quite like that idea: if everybody had them and they were set to a standard lux level, it would get rid of the situation whereby during the hour or two around dusk and dawn, some people are driving around with headlights on and others not (thereby creating a hazard, as you have to be looking carefully for the unlit ones).
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leo Enticknap
Film God
Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000
|
posted 07-07-2013 06:33 PM
quote: Rick Raskin
In the US many states require headlights on when the wipers are active. I'm simply amazed at how many people still haven't figured it out. Or, maybe its just the atrocious driving culture here in the East.
I've just (as in, last week) got back to Southern California to spend the summer with my fiancee, and the intervening few days have reinforced my belief that atrocious driving is something that transcends national, regional and cultural boundaries: anywhere in the world the horseless carriage has reached, the braindead driver arrived along with it.
The local variant I've noticed most often here is that everyone ignores the California state law which prohibits suction cap-mounted GPS units (or suction cap-mounted anything, for that matter) on the windshield. The first time I ever drove in California, about 10 years ago, I bought the California map data download for my British GPS and took the unit with me, having been forewarned that the rental car companies charge an arm and a leg to supply one with the car. At the Hertz desk I was asked if I wanted a GPS, explained politely that there was no need, as I had my own, and was told in response that I wasn't allowed to mount it on the windshield with a suction cap, or I'd probably be pulled over by the CHP. No problem - it stuck onto the glovebox quite happily, and off I went. But in the years since I've seen hundreds of cars with suction caps in their windshields, and furthermore the auto parts stores around here (e.g. O'Reilly's and Pep Boys) all sell GPS units with suction caps.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
All times are Central (GMT -6:00)
|
This topic comprises 4 pages: 1 2 3 4
|
Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classicTM
6.3.1.2
The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion
and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.
|
Home
Printer-friendly view of this topic